This document discusses opportunities for restoring degraded peatlands in Indonesia through growing biofuel crops. Preliminary research has identified several native plant species that can grow well in degraded peatlands, including Nyamplung and Kemiri sunan. Field trials of these species show potential for ecological restoration and economic benefits. A 50-hectare planting of Nyamplung in Central Kalimantan aims to restore peatlands while providing resources and income to local communities. Further research is still needed to fully realize the potential of biofuel crops for large-scale peatland restoration and meeting Indonesia's growing energy needs in a sustainable way.

2. Background
Restoring Peatland and Growing Renewable Energy:
Opportunities, Challenges and The Way Forward in
Indonesia
Siti Maimunah
Kampus Instiper Yogyakarta, jl Nangka 2 (Ringroad Utara) Maguwoharjo Yogyakarta
sitimararil@gmail.com

3. Background
1. This program provides an overview of identified
potential and challenges associated with biofuel
production from degraded land in Indonesia.
2. Our preliminary findings highlighted that some
biofuel species in Indonesia are suitable to grow in
degraded land and potentially restore the land that
may not be suitable for current agricultural
production and/or reforestation.
3. The project area are in 3 sites : Buntoi Pulang Pisau;
Kalampangan Palangka Raya; and Mangkatip
(Damparan; Mahajandau; Sungai Jaya) East Barito
Central Kalimantan.

4. Bioenergy Spesies Trial :
 Preliminary research to trying the bioenergy plant species in degraded peatlands
begins in 2016 (colaboration with CIFOR-NIFOS) with 4 species in agroforestry and
monoculture system :
 Gamal (Gliricidia sepium),
 Kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus),
 Kemiri sunan (Reutealis trisperma) and
 Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum).
 Nyamplung is the most adoptable species followed by kemiri sunan, however, both
species performed very well in an agroforestry treatment comparing monoculture.
 Further study is needed to assess their production performance
 2017 funded by CIFOR, NIFOS and MoEF carrying out plantings in bioenergy plots on
degraded peatlands in Kalampangan Palangka Raya Central Kalimantan
 2018 funded by UNOPS (UNEP) carried out a 50 ha planting for peat restoration
program in Mangkatip District, East Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan

5. PEAT RESTORATION -ENERGY SECURITY- BIOENERGY
• The existence of world peatlands plays an important role in
storing more than 30% of terrestrial carbon (an important role in
the hydrological cycle), It is necessary to take special measures in
treating peat according to its characteristics (specific and fragile,
acid, biodiversity, water storage and carbon storage) and efforts
to restore degraded peatlands with crops that have economic
value to the community in addition to ecological recovery.
• Indonesia's energy demand has increased significantly mainly
due to population growth, urbanization and economic
development (IEA, 2015), fossil fuel sources have been depleted
and unable to meet the increasing demand for energy (Firdaus et
al., 2011) and it is necessary to use renewable energy, while
restoring degraded peatlands with bioenergy producing types of
local species.

6. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY
• Peat swamp management and protection activities
are inseparable from the participation of
communities around the forest
• Need concepts and methods of empowerment of
local communities oriented towards peatland
conservation and environmental sustainability
• Development of NTFP producing species for
bioenergy intercropping and with other production
activities such as honey bees
• Meanwhile, a vast area of degraded land in
Indonesia also created an opportunity for biofuel
production, fulfilling energy demand, as well as
restoring the land with environmental and socio-
economic benefits.

7. Nyamplung-Peat Restoration-Socioeconomic aspect
1. The initial finding also shows that culturally familiar species and stable
markets are favorable terms of biofuel species selection for the landowners.
2. Supportive agricultural extension services such as knowledge and technology
for honey production can providing an added value in this concept, in addition
to social (e.g. strengthening social solidarity, employment opportunities) and
environmental (e.g. carbon storage, soil moisture, erosion control,
biodiversity) benefits.
3. Meanwhile, to create this overall initiative to be successful, a supportive
measure from the policymakers is needed.
4. Further research on the capacity of biofuel species to restore degraded lands
in different biophysical profiles.
5. Analysis of biofuel production feedstocks and potential co-benefits viable
business models, and the stable market is necessary to maximize benefit from
biofuel production and to restore degraded lands in Indonesia

8. Bioenergy Species Trial in Buntoi Pulang Pisau 2016

9. Bioenergy Species Trial establish in 2016

10. Peat Restoration Program in Kalampangan Palangka Raya 2017

11. Activities carried out with UNOPS :
1. Making 8 canal blocking in the village of Sungai Jaya,
complete with a agreement document and compensation
to the owner of handil with the new of livelihoods from
fishing to other economic activities like make a minimarket
2. Planting nyamplung trees in 50 ha - for 3 locations, namely
20 ha in Mahajandau village and 30 ha in Damparan village
in 2 areas owned by the village
• Implementation December 2018-January 2019

12. Field Conditions :

13. Socio -Economic of
Community

14. Survey of planting locations and Canal
Blocking

15. Planting Activities

16. Monitoring Activities :

17. Further activity opportunities:
1. Support to continue to manage restored peat areas.
2. Mentoring and transfer of science and skills and technology to care for,
harvest and process the fruit into tamanu oil and provide real economic
benefits to the community.
3. Establish a system to connect farmers with private sectors, research institutes
and markets.
Challenges and obstacles :
1. It will take a long time to prove this program as a sustainable activity, not
just a short project by cooperating with local champions.
2. Need appropriate technology and a best market.
3. Need a large budget to replicate this bioenergy program on a large scale.
4. Need support for government policies to guard this program to become a
successful program and aplicable.

18. Publications :
1. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/7/4/115 Assessment of Suitability of Tree
Species for Bioenergy Production on Burned and Degraded Peatlands in Central
Kalimantan, Indonesia. by Siti Maimunah et all Published: 7 October 2018
2. Blog: Restoration belong to the community (Blog)
https://forestsnews.cifor.org/60951/restoration-belongs-to-thecommunity?fnl=en
3. One of the assessment points for Champion Asis Pacific Forest 2019, Kalpataru
awards 2017 & 2019 and Pioneer Women of Forest Rehabilitation from MoEF 2018
4. forestsnews@cgiar.org
5. UNEP Publication about Peat Restoration base on Bioenergy
https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/unep-supports-project-
restore-peatlands-indonesia
6. Publishing in https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/8500
7. Invite speaker of international seminar in Italy 2022; People for Peat 2021; FAO 2021,
IPB Student forum 2021; LIPI International Seminar 2019 and national seminar in
Indonesia.

19. Thank you