VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 3 - The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) is drafting a roadmap for the management of wetlands for mangrove and peatland forests to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The roadmap is one of the instruments supporting the important pillars to achieve Indonesia's Vision 2045, namely sustainable economic development," Bappenas deputy head for maritime affairs and natural resources, Arifin Rudiyanto, said here on Tuesday.

The mangrove and peatland ecosystem has multiple benefits, which can potentially support several aspects, including economic growth, creative economy, tourism, maritime interests, food security, water resources, and the environment, he observed.

Hence, the roadmap for the management of wetlands will be drafted to also serve as a long-term guidance to support the achievement of the vision, he said.

Three working groups will supervise the formulation and implementation of the roadmap in collaboration and consultation with a number of ministries and institutions that have adopted a strategy, management plan, and data related to the mangrove and peatland ecosystem, he said.

Bappenas had set up a wetland management strategy coordination team on October 30, 2020 and tasked it with accelerating the attainment of sustainable development goals, he informed.

As carbon-rich ecosystems that store and absorb much more carbon than tropical forests, mangroves and peatlands are one of the nature-based solutions to sustainable development, he pointed out.

Mangroves and peatlands also benefit the national economy, the environment, and social life, including supporting mitigation and adaptation to climate change, he said.

Proper mangrove and peatland conservation and management will support the target of greenhouse gas reduction and prevent the release ofcarbon stored in the two ecosystems, he added.

He said he hoped the roadmap for the management of wetlands would help achieve several targets of sustainable development in 2030. (Antaranews)