Ecobiz.asia — Indonesia is pushing to accelerate the operationalization of the International Tropical Peatland Centre (ITPC) as a global hub for tropical peatland management, following a high-level meeting at the Indonesia Pavilion during the UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on Tuesday (18/11/2025).
Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (KLH/BPLH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said strengthening the ITPC is crucial to bridging science, policy, and financing for the protection of tropical peat ecosystems.
“Peatlands are one of the world’s most powerful natural carbon stores — and protecting them is not only an ecological responsibility but a moral obligation that demands urgent action,” Hanif said.
Indonesia, together with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as ITPC founding countries, reaffirmed their commitment to the 2018 Brazzaville Declaration, which positions tropical peatland protection as a global priority.
Hanif highlighted Indonesia’s progress in peatland protection through hydrological restoration, rehabilitation, rewetting, and replanting. To date, more than 4.15 million hectares of peatland have been restored, 35,500 canal blocks constructed, and 10,100 groundwater monitoring points installed.
Indonesia has also established the Interim ITPC Secretariat in Jakarta and completed key institutional documents, including the Establishment Agreement, Host Country Agreement, and Rules of Procedure. Technical partnerships have been developed with UNEP, CIFOR, FAO, GIZ, and IFAD.
Indonesia’s roadmap outlines three priorities for accelerating ITPC development: strengthening the interim secretariat, finalizing governance frameworks, and expanding international cooperation for technical support and financing.
The government aims to position ITPC as a global coordination center for climate mitigation, knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and access to restoration finance for tropical peatlands.
Once institutional frameworks are finalized, the initial six-month implementation phase will focus on consolidating networks among peatland countries and developing science-based policy guidelines.
At COP30, Indonesia also held bilateral meetings with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to align efforts among founding countries and encourage more tropical peatland nations to join the initiative.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and New Climate Economy Marie Nyange Ndambo said peat ecosystems play a vital role in global climate stability. “Peatland nations must work together to safeguard these valuable landscapes for our people and for the world,” she said. ***
