Indonesia Asserts Global Leadership at GPI-4 Forum in Peru

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global leadership in the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical peatland ecosystems. The commitment was conveyed at The Fourth Meeting of the Partners of the Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI-4) held from June 30 to July 4, 2026, in Peru.

The international forum brought together peatland countries, international organizations, research institutions, and development partners to strengthen cooperation in preserving the world's peatland ecosystems.

The Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, who led the Indonesian delegation, said that Indonesia's presence is not only to share experiences, but also to take a greater role in strengthening tropical peatland governance thru international collaboration.

"Indonesia is ready to be part of the global solution thru genuine leadership, innovation, and collaboration. The tropical peatlands are not only a national asset but also a strategic global asset that determines the future of climate, biodiversity, and community resilience," Ristianto said in a written statement on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

He explained that Indonesia has around 24 million hectares of tropical peatland ecosystems, with more than 70 percent located in state forest areas under the management of the Ministry of Forestry. This condition places Indonesia in a strategic position in the efforts to protect and manage peatlands sustainably.

According to him, the government has built a comprehensive peatland governance system thru regulatory strengthening, peatland area protection, ecosystem restoration, landscape-based management, and community empowerment thru the Social Forestry program. These policies also support the achievement of Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 target and the national commitment to climate change mitigation.

In the forum, Indonesia also expressed its readiness to lead the strengthening of the International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC) as a collaborative platform for tropical peatland countries. This step is aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange, joint research, science-based policy development, human resource capacity building, and technological innovation in peatland management.

"We believe that ITPC should evolve into a global collaboration center for tropical countries. With Indonesia's experience, we are ready to lead the strengthening of ITPC as a center for knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation for the future of the world's peatlands," he said.

In addition, Indonesia invites all members of the Global Peatlands Initiative, international organizations, research institutions, the private sector, and development partners to participate in the Peatland Forest Forum 2026 to be held in Indonesia in October 2026. The forum is expected to serve as a momentum to expand cross-border collaboration and strengthen global action in the protection and management of tropical peatland ecosystems.