REDD+

By Johan Kieft (UN Environment – Regional technical specialist) and Richard Wecker (UNICEF Indonesia – DRR specialist), originally published on the UN-REDD blog. Large-scale conversion of natural peatland and forests to croplands on the islands Sumatra, Borneo (Kalimantan) and Papua has radically altered the lives and livelihoods of millions of Indonesians in recent decades. Slash-and-burn […]

How the media can help protect Indonesia’s peatlands By Rose Foley and Leona Liu, originally published on Forests News Indonesia – For some residents of South Sumatra, Indonesia, peat is a constant preoccupation. “Life keeps getting harder,” says 53-year-old Maemunah. She lives in Talangnangka village in the center of the province, among peatland that was once […]

How the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could bring a recently-discovered peatland into its REDD process By Bill Hinchberger, originally posted on Forests News Congo Basin – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has long been known for the biodiversity and carbon storage capacity of its vast forests. Now, there is a need to explore the […]

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A conversation with Gerald Schmilewski, President of the International Peatland Society (IPS), during the Global Landscapes Forum thematic event Peatlands Matter in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 18, 2017.

By Tim Christophersen, originally posted at the UN-REDD Programme The lack of knowledge on peatlands must be addressed urgently. An often neglected ecosystem, and significant contributor to climate change, is peat. When it burns or dries up huge amounts of CO2 are released. The UK Met Office says carbon dioxide levels have seen a surge in recent months as […]