30 thousand hectares peat in South Kalimantan immediately restored

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan - The Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) will immediately restore 30,000 hectares of peatland in eight villages in three districts in South Kalimamntan.

Head of Pena Hijau (Green Pen) South Kalimantan Deny Susanto in Banjarmasin on Monday said based on data from BRG-RI Deputy Education, Socialization, Participation and Partnership, there are now 58,342 hectares of peatland in South Kalimantan are considered damaged and must be restored soon.

"On Friday 29 April 2017 some members of Pena Hijau South Kalimantan visited BRG office in Jakarta, to discuss various peatland development programs in South Kalimantan," said Deny.

BRG-RI Deputy for Education, Socialization, Participation and Partnership Myrna A Safitri said that peatlands deemed to be damaged by priority of restoration, whether the damage to the canaled peat dome and the fires of 2015 are 45,567 hectares and 11,775.8 hectares or 58,342,8 hectares in total.

Of the total damage, Myrna added, the more severe damage is in the canaled peat dome of 45,567 hectares and is the priority of recovery.

"In 2017, we will restoration 30 thousand hectares of peatland in three districts, namely North Hulu Sungai, Tapin and Barito Kuala," she said.

Some restoration programs will be implemented, among others, a peat cared village (DPG) program that is a program to intervene in village or urban village development within and around the hydrological peat unit (KHG), which is the target of peat restoration.

The villages, said Myrna, will be assisted to be developed in accordance with the potential of the peatlands around their environment. Not only to restore damaged peat, but also to improve the economy of the people.

"Such as in North Hulu Sungai will be developed freshwater fisheries sector, because its peatlands are suitable for that, in addition to the potential of peat plants are also good for the interests of the handicraft industry," she said.