Searching for Hope in the Peatlands: FINCAPES and Local Communities Chart a New Path for Restoration in Jambi

Jambi, Indonesia - Deep within the peatland landscapes of Jambi, a journey of discovery unfolded in July 2024, one that could help shape the future of ecosystem restoration and community resilience in Indonesia.

From July 5–9, 2024, a joint team from the FINCAPES Project, IPB University, and regional academic partners travelled across Jambi Province to identify potential sites for upcoming peatland conservation and restoration activities. More than a technical survey, the visit marked the beginning of a collaborative process rooted in science, local knowledge, and community partnership.

The field mission brought together leading researchers and restoration experts, including Prof. Dr. Sri Wilarso Budi R and Dr. Ir. Istomo,  from IPB University, alongside Dr. Ir. Asmadi Saad, from Jambi University. Guided by recommendations from the Jambi Forestry Office, the team travelled through several strategic landscapes where ecology, livelihoods, and climate resilience intersect.

Their journey led them to Catur Rahayu Village in Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency, the Peatland Protected Forest of Londerang spanning Tanjung Jabung Timur and Muaro Jambi Regencies, and Sungai Gelam Village in Muaro Jambi Regency, areas rich in ecological significance yet increasingly vulnerable to degradation and climate pressures.

But selecting restoration sites required more than simply finding degraded land.

The team searched for landscapes where restoration could truly take root and endure, areas of roughly 200 hectares within the same peat hydrological unit (KHG), where communities were willing to play an active role in caring for restored ecosystems and where approaches such as paludiculture and agroforestry could be applied. Accessibility, safety, and long-term research potential were also critical considerations.

For the FINCAPES and IPB collaboration, peatland restoration is not simply about planting trees, it is about restoring relationships between people and landscapes.

Throughout the visit, researchers sat down with local residents to listen and learn. Conversations focused on community priorities, land-use practices, and the willingness of residents to participate in future conservation efforts. These discussions revealed a shared understanding that lasting environmental restoration depends not only on ecological science, but also on trust, local stewardship, and meaningful participation.

This community-centred approach lies at the heart of the partnership.

The selected sites are expected to become hubs for activities promoting gender-responsive, socially inclusive, and economically sustainable peatland and biodiversity conservation. Planned initiatives include collaboration with government agencies and local stakeholders, alongside technical assistance and Training of Trainers (ToT) programs designed to strengthen local capacity in sustainable peatland restoration and management.

The field visit also highlighted the value of integrating local knowledge into scientific planning.

Communities living closest to the peatlands often possess generations of practical understanding about water systems, vegetation, and land management. By combining this experience with scientific expertise and restoration research, FINCAPES and IPB hope to develop a restoration model that is not only effective in Jambi, but adaptable to other regions facing similar environmental challenges.

As the team concluded its journey across Jambi’s peat landscapes, the work ahead was becoming clearer.

The next phase will involve more detailed planning with communities and local partners to finalize restoration activities, secure resources, and strengthen collaboration on the ground. Yet even before the first restoration activities begin, the field visit has already laid an important foundation, one built on dialogue, partnership, and a shared vision for healthier peatlands and stronger communities.

In Jambi, the path toward restoration is beginning not with machinery or mandates, but with conversations, cooperation, and the belief that lasting conservation starts with the people who call these landscapes home.