TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) applauded President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to restore 2 million hectares of peatland. To support the initiative, BPPT offered to carry out a restoration measures called 'rewetting', which focuses on restoring water reserves on dried peatland.

"The method works well in Riau, Jambi, and Central Kalimantan, but it does take a long time [to have effect]," said BPPT researcher Bambang Setiadi.

One of the steps included in the rewetting program is building partitioned channels with water reservoir on its sides. Conventional channels, Bambang said tend to dry out peatlands while partitioned channels will maintain water levels.

Bambang added that once restored, the peatlands can be replanted with various crops. "Crops such as Sago can be grown [on peatland]," Bambang said.

However, Bambang explained that the 'rewetting' method needs ten years to restore petland conditions. In addition, the government will also need to provide a huge amount of money to provide seeds and fertilizers.

URSULA FLORENE