Workshop in Pontianak, Kalimantan: Guardians of the Peatlands

From 26 to 28 January 2026, a workshop in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, brought together civil society representatives, government agencies, and academics to explore ways to strengthen social forestry in Indonesia’s peatlands. This report highlights the key insights shared across 24 presentations.

Header photo: participants workshop © IUCN NL

Community management of Indonesia’s peatlands

Indonesia holds more than 200,000 km² of peatlands, making it home to one of the world’s largest and most ecologically significant peat ecosystems. These landscapes support rural livelihoods, safeguard biodiversity, regulate water systems, and store vast amounts of carbon. Yet they remain under severe pressure. Drainage, deforestation and land‑use conflicts have led to recurring fires, and the rapid loss of ecosystem services that millions depend on.

Over the past decade, the Government of Indonesia has sought to address these challenges through its Social Forestry Program, designed to secure community tenure, strengthen local stewardship, and reduce rural poverty. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have played a crucial role in supporting communities to navigate this complex transition. But despite many promising initiatives, progress remains uneven, and the realities on the ground reveal persistent barriers to effective peatland governance.

Insights shared during the workshop

About the COMPEAT initiative

The report is an output of the Strengthening Community-Based Peat Forest Management in Indonesia (COMPEAT) project. The project is a joint effort of Universitas Tanjungpura, Tropenbos Indonesia, The Netherlands Committee of IUCN and three universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands: Aeres, InHolland and Van Hall Larenstein. The COMPEAT project is funded by the Taskforce for Applied Research SIA through the thematic program applied knowledge for Food and Green. COMPEAT explores innovative approaches to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities in managing peat forests sustainably.