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

2. 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

3. 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

4. CO2 emissions from peatlandsEU
174 Mt
Russia160 Mt
USA
72 Mt
115 Mt Central Asia
1 Gt SE Asia
CO2

5. GHG emissions from peatlands

6. 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

7. Peatlands in Indonesia

8. Degradation of Indonesia’s peatlands Peatlands are naturally wet

9. Drainage and subsidence
Peatland subsidence and flooding in the Rajang Delta

10. 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

11. APP’s new mill in South Sumatra
Pulp (2.8 million tons/yr)
Tissue (500,000 tons/yr)
Investment > US$ billion
Start production: November 2016
Report:

12. APP’s new mill in South Sumatra

13. APP’s new mill in South Sumatra
With pulp capacity of 2.8 million tons/yr, OKI will need million m3 per year
Planted area needed:
“High-growth” scenario: 543,000 ha (net)
MAI = 28.5 m3 /ha/year
“Medium-growth” scenario: ,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)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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:
Publication:

17. 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:
Jelutung and Sago

18. Terima Kasih! Thank you!