Beyond Fires and Deforestation: Tackling Land Subsidence in Peatland Areas, a Case Study from Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

Peatland plays an important ecological and economic role in many countries all over the world. At the same time, due to various human and non-human interventions, peatland is also a fragile ecosystem, which is currently facing severe problems, such as deforestation, fires, and peat subsidence. Peat subsidence is currently one of the most severe but least recognized issues. Because of its interconnectedness with other peatland problems, peat subsidence intensifies when there is a lack of proper interventions. In this paper, types of problems that arise along with and from peat subsidence and how various actors deal with it are going to be analysed. This paper illustrates an example from peatland areas in Indonesia and addresses two questions: (1) what kinds of problems are related to peat subsidence? In addition, (2) how do various actors deal with peat subsidence and what are the consequences of their interventions? Based on in-depth interviews with key persons from government institutions and NGOs, followed by focus group discussions with communities, analyses of policies, and desk study, this research discovered that peat subsidence is a hidden problem that is highly interconnected with other peatland problems that have caused severe physical-environment and socioeconomic impacts. While various actors have taken numerous interventions to deal with deforestation and fires, those concerning peat subsidence are still limited. Since dealing with peatland problems as a whole requires an ecosystem-based intervention, a more comprehensive approach is needed to manage peat subsidence.

Land Governance from a Mobilities Perspective

“…These enable the EU to govern beyond its territorial borders together with mechanisms that render land uses and values measurable and accountable to global actors. How much local land uses are affected with often detrimental effects on both environment and livelihoods in places far away from the EU is demonstrated by Saputra's study of land subsidence in peatland areas of Indonesia [22] (in this special issue). As a consequence of these relations, Menge argues, the political community to which EU citizens belong reaches far beyond the EU's official borders.…”

Stakeholders' Mapping and Strategy for Restoring Peatland Forest in West Tanjung Jabung Jambi, Indonesia

“…Most literature on international development projects emphasizes the importance of those who are affected by projects to be considered key stakeholders (Mathur, Price, & Austin, 2008). Based on the information, it can conclude that the term stakeholders always involve the interests, influence, and power of individuals or groups affected (Saputra, 2019). It is also clear that stakeholders need further analysis.…”

Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals Program in Indonesia

“…Peat subsidence can cause more complicated problems because peat soils have perishable characteristics. Aside from carbon emissions, there are also expensive consequences for physical, social, cultural, economic, and community changes, in the form of increased drought and flood potential, reduction of freshwater storage caused by saltwater intrusion, destruction of buildings, roads, utilities, economic losses, and increased loss of permanent peatlands (Saputra 2019;Noor et al 2014).…”