Indonesia’s tropical peatlands revisited: area, depth, carbon potential, and their importance

Putra A. B., . and Lee, C. B. (2024) Indonesia’s tropical peatlands revisited: area, depth, carbon potential, and their importance. Journal of Tropical Forest Science (JTFS) (Malaysia), 36 (1). pp. 105-116. ISSN 0128-1283

Indonesia has the largest tropical peatlands in the Asia-Pacific region and the world’s second largest tropical peatlands. Growing concerns on peatland conservation and restoration emphasise the importance of these ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Although Indonesia’s peatlands are well-studied compared with other tropical countries, there are still uncertainties regarding its peat volume and carbon stock estimations, and how important it is locally and globally. To solve these uncertainties, this study estimated peat volume and carbon stock in Indonesia using the national peatlands data published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia and analysed greenhouse gas emissions among the major industrial sectors in the country and global emissions by peatland degradation. Our study posited that anthropogenic disturbance degraded Indonesian peatlands and that the country could become the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Therefore, successful conservation and restoration of Indonesia’s peatlands could significantly contribute to global climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://jtfs.frim.gov.my/jtfs/article/view/2627/19...

Abstract

Indonesia has the largest tropical peatlands in the Asia-Pacific region and the world’s second largest tropical peatlands. Growing concerns on peatland conservation and restoration emphasise the importance of these ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Although Indonesia’s peatlands are well-studied compared with other tropical countries, there are still uncertainties regarding its peat volume and carbon stock estimations, and how important it is locally and globally. To solve these uncertainties, this study estimated peat volume and carbon stock in Indonesia using the national peatlands data published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia and analysed greenhouse gas emissions among the major industrial sectors in the country and global emissions by peatland degradation. Our study posited that anthropogenic disturbance degraded Indonesian peatlands and that the country could become the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Therefore, successful conservation and restoration of Indonesia’s peatlands could significantly contribute to global climate change mitigation and adaptation.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	peat
AGROVOC Term:	carbon
AGROVOC Term:	ecosystems
AGROVOC Term:	peatlands
AGROVOC Term:	carbon stock assessments
AGROVOC Term:	conservation tillage
AGROVOC Term:	restoration
AGROVOC Term:	degradation
AGROVOC Term:	climate change
AGROVOC Term:	climate change mitigation
Geographical Term:	Indonesia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Carbon stock, climate change mitigation, greenhouse gas emissions, peatland conservation and restoration
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	22 Apr 2026 00:58
Last Modified:	22 Apr 2026 00:58
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2962

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