Peatlands and the Pulp and Paper Industry in Indonesia EPN Webinar, 21 November 2016 Bas Tinhout, Wetlands International

About Wetlands International Mission: “We safeguard and restore wetlands for people and nature” 17 offices; peatland countries Bas Tinhout Climate Smart Land Use South East Asia Member steering committee EPN E-mail: bas.tinhout@wetlands.org

Peatlands and climate change mitigation Peatlands (~organic soils) store twice as much carbon in comparison with forests Cover only 1/10 of the land 15% drained for agriculture and forestry Result in 5% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions; only cover 0.4% of the land For some countries peatland emissions are a significant part of total emissions Peatland are build from organic materials; in temparate zone moss; in tropics debris form forest Twice as much carbon than in forests, only 10th of the land

CO2 emissions from peatlands EU 174 Mt Russia160 Mt USA 72 Mt 115 Mt Central Asia 1 Gt SE Asia CO2

GHG emissions from peatlands

Significant part of total emissions 1) 40 % of global GHG emissions from peatlands by Indonesia 2) 15 countries degrading organic soils emissions higher than energy & cement 3) Organic soils Source: Greifswald University

Peatlands in Indonesia

Degradation of Indonesia’s peatlands Peatlands are naturally wet

Drainage and subsidence Peatland subsidence and flooding in the Rajang Delta

Pulp wood on peatlands in Indonesia Two large companies: APP and APRIL 50-75% of their plantations on peatlands Acacia crassicarpa 5-7 years rotation cycle “no new peat”- pledges insufficiently address peatland issues

APP’s new mill in South Sumatra Pulp (2.8 million tons/yr) Tissue (500,000 tons/yr) Investment > US$ 2.639 billion Start production: November 2016 Report: https://www.wetlands.org/publications/will-asia-pulp-paper-default-on-its-zero-deforestation-commitment/

APP’s new mill in South Sumatra

APP’s new mill in South Sumatra With pulp capacity of 2.8 million tons/yr, OKI will need 13.16 million m3 per year Planted area needed: “High-growth” scenario: 543,000 ha (net) MAI = 28.5 m3 /ha/year “Medium-growth” scenario: 673,000 ha (net) MAI = 23 m3 /ha/year Area planted in South Sumatra, per Oct. 2015: 328,956 ha (net) Estimated gap in planted area: 214,000 – 344,000 ha (depending on growth scenario)

APP’s new mill in South Sumatra 77% of APP’s plantation land in South Sumatra is on peat 293,000 ha in APP’s South Sumatra concessions burned in 2015 alone Major risks of land subsidence, flooding, and acid-sulphate soils

APRILs Sustainable drainage claim APRILs “Eko-Hydro” approach Used in support of APRILs Kampar Ring approach Claims to protect the core peat swamp forest Does not concur with government regulations

APRILs Sustainable drainage claim “Eko Hidro” cannot control subsidence Off-site impacts up to 2 km into peatdome and progressing Scenario will result in peatland collapse Scenario with peatland rewetting not considered Publication: https://www.wetlands.org/publications/peatland-brief-an-assessment-of-the-eko-hidro-water-management-approach/ Publication: https://www.wetlands.org/news/a-new-report-on-impacts-of-plantations-on-the-kampar-peninsula-peatland-confirms-that-drained-plantations-on-peatland-cannot-be-sustaine/

Rewetting and sustainable use Ban new drainage development on peatlands Rewet peatlands, phase out oil palm and Acacia pulp wood Wet uses provide alternative economic value (Paludiculture) Article on community paludiculture workshop: http://www.environmentalpaper.eu/paludiculture-workshop-local-community-solutions-to-sustaining-peatlands-in-indonesia/ Jelutung and Sago

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