Indonesia: BRG conducts revegetation in Giam Siak Kecil Biosphere Reserve

Antara 1 Apr 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) has taken measures to replant local species in the Giam Siak Kecil Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve (CG GCK BB), spanning an area of 40 hectares in Riau Province.

The initiative to conduct restoration kicked off in 2018 after a forest fire ravaged the area in that year, Sarjono Budi Subechi, head of the sub-working group of Riau Peatland Restoration, remarked here, Monday.

"The revegetation is being carried out by replanting the meranti (shorea) and jelutong (Dyera costulata) species in Giam Siak, covering an area of 40 ha, among others," he revealed.

In addition to the biosphere reserve, the BRG has taken steps to restore the Sungai Dumai Eco-Tourism Park (TWA) that was devastated by a fire in 2017.

In the ecotourism park, the BRG took steps to conduct revegetation and apply economic revitalization programs to empower the local communities due to the presence of human settlements in proximity to the park.

"Only a revegetation program is being applied in Giam Siak. However, a revitalization program is also being implemented in Sungai Dumai TWA to boost the local economy. No revitalization program is in place in the biosphere reserve due to the absence of human settlements in its vicinity," he explained.

In a bid to implement a replanting program and restore the peatland, the BRG has roped in local residents for the development of peat-based infrastructure in the form of canal blocking.

Members of the local farming community have been called on to conduct the planting of pineapples in between the trees of meranti and jeluntong that take at least five years to mature.