As the El Nino season approaches, the specter of the 2015 forest fires, one of the largest peatland blazes in Indonesia and possibly globally, lingers. Musramad (Gun) witnessed the devastation from his home in Siak regency, about 205 km from Singapore and Johor, as these fires devoured over 2.6 million hectares of forests and peatlands, resulting in an estimated $16 billion economic loss for Indonesia. The haze's health impact affected nearly half a million residents, disrupting schools, transportation, including vital river traffic, and causing biodiversity loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions, posing a global environmental challenge.
These forest fires also have widespread consequences, as thick smoke and haze spread to neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, leading to severe air pollution and health concerns. Researchers from King's College London found that, at that time, a significant 884 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted in the region with 97 percent originating from these fires. These emissions exceeded those from the notorious 1997 fires, underscoring the severity of the situation. The fires, often occurring in vulnerable peatland areas, underscore the need to protect Southeast Asia's extensive peatland ecosystems, which comprise 54% of the world's total and are susceptible to deforestation and illegal logging.
Earlier this year, a forest fire erupted within 100 kilometers of Bangkok as Thailand grappled with severe air pollution that has afflicted over 1.7 million people with respiratory illnesses. The blaze affected approximately 800,000 square meters of forest across three hills in Nakhon Nayok province, northeast of the Thai capital, leading to the declaration of two emergency zones. This fire coincides with Thailand's struggle against a pollution surge driven in part by agricultural burning, resulting in some northern cities experiencing some of the world's dirtiest and most hazardous air quality levels.
Peat Swamp Fish: Guardians of Peatlands
Similar to others in the South-east Asia region, peat forests in Thailand face significant harm from sporadic forest fires. To tackle the problem, the government has set up forest fire control units in each province. The government has established dedicated forest fire control units in every province, with a particular focus on regions most susceptible to these fires. The primary goal is to maintain stable, high water levels, which has led to a notable degree of success in managing forest fires. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including limited resources and personnel, as well as deliberate burning by encroachers and hunters, alongside unintentional accidents, resulting in occasional forest fires during the dry season.
Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach involving grassroots communities, given the widespread presence of peatland across Southeast Asia and the region's increasing development that threatens these fragile ecosystems.
One of those grassroot initiatives is done by Alam Siak Lestari (ASL) in Indonesia. The sustainability led initiative which is based in Siak regency, where 57.44% of the land consists of peatlands. ASL is taking a unique approach to keep the peatlands wet and prevent forest and peatland fires by cultivating snakehead murrel fish (Channa striata), a native peatland species which is locally called as Ikan Gabus in Indonesia or Pla chon in Thailand. The fish is chosen after the ASL team immersed themselves in the Malay culture and learned its use as a supplement in postpartum recovery due to its exceptionally high albumin levels.
Gun who is now the CEO, and founder of Alam Siak Lestari, stated that "The peatland fires in Siak were a significant contributor to the hazardous haze in 2015. To address this issue, the government has implemented stricter policies for peatland protection. On the other hand, local communities have been seeking alternative, peat-friendly sources of income. It's from this quest that a business model has emerged, one that not only benefits the community but also preserves the environment,"
The program, aptly named "The Healthy Ecosystem Alternative Livelihood (HEAL) Fisheries" led by ASL, supports the development and marketing of local snakehead fish and other native species, generating value-added products such as Albumin, which boosts community incomes. Through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDES), community members hold shares, providing them with dividends from annual company profits, fostering economic well-being and long-term sustainability.
Sukardi, a dedicated snakehead fish farmer said, "Initially we were unfamiliar with this type of farming, we found it challenging to start, and unaware of the fish's potential. However, with ASL's consistent support and guidance, we now see sustainable and tangible results,both economically and in terms of health and environmental impact,"
ASL's climate mitigation efforts have safeguarded 76,744 hectares of peatland, with plans to involve 10 fire-prone villages in ecosystem initiatives by 2027, introduce 20 peat-friendly products to the Asian market in five years, and engage 500 local youths in climate change mitigation
Becoming a Global Model: Collaborative Peatland Preservation in Siak Regency
In response to ecological initiatives aimed at harnessing the potential of peatlands, the local government has taken steps to support these efforts. One such initiative is the Transfer Anggaran Kabupaten Berbasis Ekologi (TAKE) or Ecological Fiscal Transfer program. This program is designed to provide fiscal incentives to village governments in Siak Regency that excel in addressing regional environmental issues. The goal is to accelerate the implementation of the Siak Hijau policy by fostering collaboration between villages and rewarding both government and community achievements. This initiative aligns closely with environmental economic regulations and the Siak Green Regency's roadmap action plan.
Alam Siak Lestari together with the Siak Regency government have provided examples of how public awareness, local wisdom, policy enforcement and community empowerment are the key to progress and solve regional and even global issues. While the world moves to adapt to the challenging climate crisis; mitigation efforts also need to be taken into consideration, especially one that empower grassroot communities, as they may be the one that gets most impacted by the climate crisis.