RI declares readiness to lead global tropical peatland collaboration

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Forestry has reaffirmed Indonesia’s readiness to lead efforts to strengthen the International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC) as a global collaborative platform for nations with tropical peatlands.

This commitment was highlighted by Ristianto Pribadi, head of the ministry’s delegation and chief of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau, during the Fourth Meeting of the Partners of the Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI-4) in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday.

“We stand ready to lead the strengthening of the ITPC as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation for the future of global peatlands,” he said in a statement received on Wednesday.

This readiness, according to him, is grounded in Indonesia’s extensive experience in protecting and managing peatland ecosystems.

Ristianto underscored that this leadership will focus on enhancing knowledge exchange, developing science-based policies, building human resource capacity, and conducting joint research.

Furthermore, it will also drive technological innovation and mobilize international partnerships to support sustainable tropical peatland management.

“We believe that the ITPC must evolve into a center for global collaboration among tropical nations,” he stressed.

He explained that the Ministry of Forestry has built a comprehensive peatland governance system by strengthening regulations, protecting peatland areas, restoring ecosystems, implementing landscape-based management, and initiating community empowerment through social forestry programs.

These policies, he added, serve as the main foundation supporting the achievement of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 targets and the country’s climate change mitigation commitments.

“As home to one of the world’s largest expanses of tropical peatlands, Indonesia recognizes that the challenges of peatland conservation cannot be solved in isolation,” he stated.

This, he continued, requires global leadership capable of bridging international cooperation, strengthening capacity, accelerating innovation, and establishing more robust governance standards for tropical peatlands.

During the international forum, Indonesia invited all GPI member states, international organizations, research institutions, the private sector, and development partners to participate in the Peatland Forest Forum 2026, set to be held in Indonesia this October.

The event is expected to mark a new chapter in driving collective global action, broadening international collaborations, and delivering tangible results for safeguarding and managing tropical peatlands.

“Indonesia is ready to contribute to global solutions through real leadership, innovation, and partnership,” he said.

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