Indonesia: Govt allocates Rp865 billion for peatland restoration

Antara 17 May 17;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government through the Peatland Restoration Board (BRG) has set aside Rp865 billion in fund to continue the national peatland restoration program, particularly in seven priority provinces.

"The state budget fund allocated for the BRG in 2017 amounts to Rp865 billion to restore peatland in seven priority provinces," BRG Chief Nazie Foead said here on Tuesday.

The fund will be used to restore peatland covering an area of 400,000 hectares in 2017 in the seven priority provinces of Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Papua.

Especially Riau province, the board has allocated Rp100 billion for peatland restoration program in eight districts this year, he said.

The eight districts are Dumai, Siak, Kepulauan Meranti, Bengkalis, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hilir, Rokan Hilir and Kampar.

As per Presidential Regulation No. 1/2014 concerning Peatland Restoration Board, non-structural institutions seconded and responsible to the president is tasked with coordinating and facilitating peatland restoration.

The BRG has set itself the target of restoring 30 percent of 2,492,527 hectares of peatland in 2016, 20 percent in 2017, 2018 and 2019 each, and 10 percent in 2020. (*)