The Indonesian government is preparing a special economic policy containing investment packages specially aimed at supporting peat land restoration currently underway int he country.

“We would invite the ministry of finance, the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM)and the President for the discussion of the economic packages,” head of Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) , Nazir Foead, said when explaining the results of the meeting on Building Investment Partnership for Peatland Conservation, Restoration and Development at the Indonesia High Level Dialog New York at the BRG office here on Monday.

He said the economic package could be put in the form of green investment to maintain existing forests and peat land through culture technical method that fits with conservation protection principles.

Based on BRG calculation there are four million hectares of cultured peat land that have been damaged and so need different treatment and supervision to improve their hydrological resilience.

“We will invite philanthropists to help restore the land,” he said.

Based on the results of a meeting in New York, he said, many parties have expressed interest to invest on peat land restoration although their main reason is carbon trading.

“I believe some will also be interested in developing coconut or sago plantations or other plants that fit with peat land,” he said.

He said it was found during the meeting that they had no worries over the political risk for investing in peat land in view of the governments commitment to restoration and the presence of BRG as well as Government Regulation Number 71 of 2014 on pear land ecosystem management and protection whose revision will be signed by the President in the next week.

BRGs deputy for planning and cooperation Budi Wardhana said the economic package would be produced immediately and now preparations have been made with regard to investment in the form of selecting plants that would be fit for development in peat land.

It is hoped in the 22nd Conference of Parties in Marakesh, Morroco, early in November, the investment packages will have been able to be introduced, he said.

source: antaranews