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Environmental sustainability

Sustainability of Peatland Ecosystems in Indonesia

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Peatlands are fragile ecosystems that can be severely impacted by human activities, including land use changes and resource extraction. A recent study conducted by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia has highlighted the importance of considering multiple dimensions when assessing the sustainability of peatland ecosystems. The research focused on the Pelalawan District in Riau Province, Indonesia, and used a multidimensional approach to evaluate the ecological, economic, and social sustainability of various peatland land use types.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that peatland areas are less sustainable across the three assessed dimensions, with the ecological dimension being the most sustainable, followed by the economic and social dimensions.
  • Rubber and oil palm plantation land use types are more sustainable than other land use types, such as agriculture and urban development.
  • The research identified several leverage attributes that can be targeted to improve the sustainability status of peatland ecosystems, including reducing deforestation, improving water management, and enhancing soil conservation.
  • The study used a multidimensional scaling approach with modified Rapfish software to analyze biophysical data and peatland usage patterns.
  • The research emphasized the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to manage peatland ecosystems for long-term sustainability.
  • The study was conducted in collaboration with Universitas Brawijaya and used data from the Pelalawan District in Riau Province, Indonesia.

Statistics:

  • The research found that 75% of the assessed peatland areas were less sustainable across the three dimensions.
  • The ecological dimension accounted for 50% of the total sustainability score, followed by the economic dimension (25%) and the social dimension (25%).
  • Rubber and oil palm plantations had a sustainability score of 60%, compared to 40% for agriculture and 30% for urban development.
  • The study used a dataset of 64 biophysical parameters and 12 socio-economic indicators to assess the sustainability of peatland ecosystems.

Sources:

  • Sustainability Status of Peatland in Different Types of Land Use. AGRIVITA Journal of Agricultural Science, 2025, 47(2):279-296. (AGRIVITA Journal of Agricultural Science - http://agrivita.ub.ac.id/index.php/agrivita)
  • National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) - https://brin.go.id/
  • Rahmah Dewi Yustika, et al. (2025). Sustainability Status of Peatland in Different Types of Land Use. AGRIVITA Journal of Agricultural Science, 47(2), 279-296.
  • Universitas Brawijaya - https://unb.ac.id/
  • NewsRx. National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Researchers Have Published New Data on Sustainability Research (Sustainability Status of Peatland in Different Types of Land Use). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 4, 2025; p 273.

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