reporter
Name Affiliation Title Yuki Ura Climate Change LULUCF Sector Mitigation Project (Indonesia) JICA Long-term Expert (Operations Coordination/Sub-Chief Advisor)
summary
Date: November 12, 2025
Organized by: Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (JICA Technical Cooperation Project Counterpart Organization)
Venue (Pavilion Name)：Indonesia Pavilion
speaker
Name Affiliation Title Mitta Ratna Jwitta Director, Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Department, Ministry of Environment Muhammad Askari Task Force Coordinator, Peat Ecosystem Conservation and Management Department, Ministry of Environment Warjo Yogo Utomo Official, Peat Ecosystem Conservation and Management Department, Ministry of Environment Mitsuru Osaki JICA Short-term Expert for JICA/Professor Emeritus of Hokkaido University/ President of the Japanese Society of Peatland Science
Background and Objectives
Indonesia has some of the largest and most carbon-dense tropical peatland ecosystems in the world, and these play a critical role in maintaining carbon sequestration, hydrological cycles, and climate stability. Given this strategic importance, the Indonesian government has incorporated peatland conservation and restoration into national climate commitments, including the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target. On the other hand, many challenges still remain, including sustainable water management, fire prevention, strengthening MRV systems (measurement, reporting, and verification systems), and balancing restoration with local livelihoods.
This session aimed to introduce the latest policy trends, scientific innovations, and monitoring methods in Indonesia that are essential for advancing peatland governance. Key issues discussed included a nationwide groundwater level (GWL) monitoring system, a new water level-based GHG accounting method, and a newly introduced low-carbon cultivation technology called AeroHydro Culture (AHC). By bringing together policy makers, researchers, and practitioners, the conference aimed to deepen technical understanding, promote evidence-based decision making, and strengthen Indonesia’s leadership in peatland-based climate change mitigation.
Contents
In his opening remarks, Mr. Mitta of the Department of Greenhouse Gas Inventory and MRV (JICA technical cooperation project counterpart) emphasized that peatlands form the foundation of climate change mitigation in Indonesia. Referring to the long-term cooperation with JICA over more than 20 years, he pointed out the significant contributions that JICA has made to peat fire prevention, scientific cooperation (SATREP), REDD+ collaboration, and the recent LULUCF project.
He further emphasized that the JICA-Indonesia LULUCF project is directly supporting the achievement of national climate goals by bringing peatland MRV systems to Tier-3 transparency and accuracy, and through the development and diffusion of low-carbon cultivation technologies, particularly AeroHydro Culture (AHC). He emphasized that AHC is a system that simultaneously improves productivity, reduces emissions, and regenerates peatlands, and that collaboration with JICA has enabled science-based policy formation, accelerated innovation, advanced water-level-based GHG methods, and improved the reliability of carbon credits. Overall, he positioned the collaboration with JICA as a strong boost to Indonesia’s efforts to become a global model in sustainable tropical peatland management.
One of the central outcomes of this session was the introduction of AeroHydro Culture (AHC), a low-carbon cultivation system developed through Japan-Indonesia cooperation. Field trials showed that crop production was maintained even under high groundwater table conditions, and yield increases of up to 36% were observed when the groundwater table was kept at sustainable levels. These results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve both wetting of peatlands and agricultural productivity. The Forum evaluated AHC as a promising nature-based solution that integrates restoration, emission reduction, and livelihood enhancement, and positioned it as strengthening the scientific and practical foundation for future development.
Finally, further deepening international partnerships, expanding access to climate finance, and promoting innovation-driven peatland solutions were shared. The seminar concluded with participants affirming that Indonesia’s experience in combining clear policy direction, advanced MRV systems, and locally proven low-carbon technologies provides a useful model for other tropical peatland countries, as well as for international climate cooperation.
Opening remarks by Ms. Mitta Ratna Jiwitta, Department of Greenhouse Gas Inventory and MRV
Presentation by Mitsuru Osaki (JICA/Hokkaido University/Japan Peatland Society)
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