In general, the mitigation actions that are expected to have the most significant contribution to the FOLU sector’s emission reduction target are reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, improving peatland management, increasing carbon absorption from plantation forest development activities, sustainable forest management, and forest rehabilitation.
In the FOLU Net Sink 2030 Operational Document Plan, policies and assistance actions have been explained towards Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 by considering the emission reduction targets to be achieved. These countermeasures include:
- Reduction of Forest Deforestation Rates
One of the actions in the success of the forestry and land sector toward net sinks in 2030 is protecting forests from deforestation. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS), it is noted that Indonesia’s deforestation rate from 2013-2020 reached 3,316,097 ha, and this figure will continue to increase every year, so mitigation actions are needed to reduce the rate of increase in deforestation in Indonesia. In the context of net sinks, forest protection activities, especially deforestation, there are terms for planned and unplanned deforestation. Planned deforestation is the conversion of natural forest that is carried out legally, such as in natural forest areas in HGU (Hak Guna Usaha) and PBPH HT (Perizinan Berusaha Pengelolaan Hutan, Hutan Tanaman) which are included in production directives as well as Area for Other Use (Area Penggunaan Lain, APL) and HPK (Hutan Produksi Konversi) which has the potential to be converted for non-forestry activities. Meanwhile, unplanned deforestation is a change in natural forest cover to non-natural forest with no legal basis, such as illegal encroachment on forests inside or outside forest areas with a protected function or PBPH lands.
Control of planned deforestation in forest areas that have not been burdened with permits can be carried out with further PBPH arrangements. In APL areas outside the concession, this can be done by including Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 in the spatial planning process through the KLHS policy per PP No.46/2016. In licensed areas (concessions), planned deforestation control can be carried out by developing an incentive mechanism such as the RBP REDD+ scheme, which has been regulated in PerMen LHK No. 70/2017. Meanwhile, controlling unplanned deforestation through efforts to empower the economy and develop the community by involving all relevant parties, especially in areas with a high level of emission risk (high IPL), must be increased.
- Reduction of Forest Degradation (Concession)
Apart from deforestation, saving primary forests from degradation due to timber harvesting activities in concession areas is of particular concern in reducing GHG emissions. The rate of degradation of natural forest in the concession area during the 2013-2019 period is known to be 0.44 million ha, so to achieve the net sink target, the rate of forest degradation cannot follow this historical rate. Areas of primary forest that have been degraded into secondary forests can be restored through artificial regeneration to increase secondary forest uptake. In addition, it can be through social forestry schemes where areas that have been used by the community can be directed into a form of forestry partnership with a profit-sharing system based on the ratio of the existence of assets from the community. Multi-forestry business schemes can also be carried out in forest areas to utilize NTFPs and environmental services. In environmental service utilization activities, the protection of natural forests in concession areas in the function of production directives can be part of the REDD+ scheme (PerMen LHK No.70/2017). Primary forest protection activities within the PBPH area in production directions can also receive incentives through the REDD+ scheme.
Control of planned deforestation in forest areas that have not been burdened with permits can be carried out with further PBPH arrangements. In APL areas outside the concession, this can be done by including Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 in the spatial planning process through the KLHS policy per PP No.46/2016. In licensed areas (concessions), planned deforestation control can be carried out by developing an incentive mechanism such as the RBP REDD+ scheme, which has been regulated in Permen LHK No. 70/2017. Meanwhile, controlling unplanned deforestation through efforts to empower the economy and develop the community by involving all relevant parties, especially in areas with a high level of emission risk (high IPL), must be increased.
- Plantation Forest Development
The development of plantation forests aims to meet domestic and international demand for industrial wood and to reduce dependence on wood production from natural forests. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF), in this case, the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (Pengelolaan Hutan Lestari, PHL), has programs related to the development of plantation forests, including programs for sustainable forest management and forestry business as well as the development of energy plantation forests (HTE). Plantation forest development in the PBPH area can be optimized to minimize the expansion of plantation forests (HT) on land that has the potential for conflict.
- Sustainable Forest Management
Reducing emissions through sustainable forest management (SFM) can occur through efforts to reduce the impact of damage to logging stands by applying Reduce Impact Logging (RIL) technology or through enrichment efforts (Enhanced Natural Regeneration). Enrichment efforts are carried out if the standing condition of the forest after logging experiences severe degradation or are at a production level that makes it difficult for natural regeneration so that production continuity is not guaranteed. Within Production Forest areas, enrichment activities can be carried out through Intensive Silviculture (SILIN) activities using natural forest enrichment planting techniques. Enhancing the implementation of enrichment can also be carried out outside production forest areas, such as in conservation forest areas with rehabilitation activities through species enrichment which can be carried out as part of ecosystem restoration activities.
- Non-Rotation and Rotation Rehabilitation
Non-rotational rehabilitation activities are part of mitigation actions to increase carbon stocks in unproductive land or cultivation included in the protection and rehabilitation directives. The priority for the implementation of rehabilitation activities is on critical land located in watersheds (DAS) that need to be restored. Meanwhile, rehabilitation activities with rotation are directed at unproductive land that is in the direction of production and conversion in the APL area. Rehabilitation by rotation within forest areas is directed at unproductive land, cultivation, and plantations in the form of community forests or agroforestry. Rehabilitation activities with rotation within production forest areas are aimed at meeting national timber production targets, both in monoculture and agroforestry ways in social forestry schemes.
- Peat Land Management
One of the mitigation actions in the management of peatlands is through Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 15 of 2017; the owner of a PBPH or HGU permit that is indicated to be in a peat ecosystem must maintain a peatland water level of no more than 40 cm, through improving the water system in peatlands. The mitigation action of maintaining the water level will result in reduced emissions compared to the water level according to the baseline conditions for commercial crop cultivation. On peatlands that have been degraded due to land conversion, fire, or drainage, restoration interventions are needed aimed at restoring and enhancing the function of the peatland ecosystem. These interventions can be in the form of wetting activities and planting commodities that are adaptive to the natural characteristics of peatlands. If the implementation of the water system and peatland restoration is successful, it will influence reducing the risk of peatland fires. Even in the context of net sinks, peatland fires must reach zero by 2030, so peatland management must be taken seriously.
