Planting Sago in Rural Papua Maintaining Peat Ecosystems

Planting Sago in Rural Papua Maintaining Peat Ecosystems

The Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) continues to maximize the planting of sago in 12 villages in Mappi and Merauke regencies, Papua Province. This step was taken as a form of BRG's commitment in revitalizing the socio-economic aspects of the people of Papua, especially those living in rural peatlands.

Also based on research from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) sago commodity has high quality carbohydrates compared to cassava and other tuber crops. Encouragement to replant sago is also carried out in order to maintain native Papuan food.

Because, entering the modern era like now the staple food made from sago continues to decline. Papua Province BRG dynamic coordinator, Markus Ratriyono, said that in the Papua Province area, precisely in 12 villages spread across Mappi and Merauke districts, restoration activities focused on improving the socio-economic aspects of the citizens.

Peat in Papua, he continued, tends to be young so that the level of fire is still under control. Related to planting sago, his side deliberately focused planting considering sago plants began to disappear in villages or in rural Papua. For him, planting sago is protecting peat ecosystems in Papua. Because, by planting sago peatlands can be beneficial for the community and can have a positive impact for the preservation of nature.

"Keeping sago is the same as actually maintaining peat they have, because so far the natural sago has grown in peatlands far from the villages," he told NU Online, Monday (4/20).

It should also be noted that the structure of peat soils in Papua is much different from the structure of peat soils in Sumatra and Kalimantan. According to Markus, many of the peat conditions in Papua are still submerged so they are not flammable. "

Somewhat different from Kalimantan and Sumatra where the peat drainage is already very massive. So that what is burning is a layer of peat, because it's very dry. Much less in Papua, "he said.

Previously the Head of BRG RI Nazier Foead instructed that the peat areas in Papua be turned into sago agricultural land. According to him, peatlands in Papua are still pure so that they can also be used as a tourist attraction that can improve the economy of local residents. Moreover, the condition of peatlands in Papua 90 percent is still very safe.

"So, there is no doubt that this could be a good potential for Papua in the future. Because, if managed properly, I am sure the added value of the existence of peatlands will be a bright prospect for the province," he said.

Based on BRG's own records, peat in Papua, especially in Mappi District has protected and restored about 500,000 hectares of peatland as part of its development plans. Most of the areas to be restored are intact peat dome areas.

If you look at the soil structure of around 60 percent of the Mappi Regency area or 16,000 square kilometers it is indeed included as a forested area and most of it is on peatlands. Carbon reserves in this district are estimated at 177,999,978 tons.

While the rich potential of biodiversity is very rich with animal species such as the cockatoo king, cassowary, kangaroo and many other species of high conservation value. BRG in 2017 to 2020 this year has carried out the construction of peat wetting infrastructure, community economic empowerment and institutional strengthening and community capacity.

Natural events that damage peatlands in Papua itself have occurred on July 1 2015 to October 20, 2015, where the area of ​​forest and land burned in Papua reached 354,191 hectares. Fires are common in Merauke and Mappi districts. In Mappi District, around 25,000 hectares of peatland were damaged by the massive fire.