Restoring degraded peatlands in Indonesia has significantly reduced wildfire risk, offering a potential strategy for protecting forests and communities as climate change and El Nino driven droughts intensify.
Indonesia’s peatlands are particularly vulnerable to fires because drainage, deforestation and land conversion can leave the normally waterlogged ecosystems dry and highly flammable. Major fires occurred during recent El Niño years, including 2015, 2019 and 2023.
The 2015 fires were especially severe, burning around 2.6 million hectares of land and sending smoke across Southeast Asia. Economic losses were estimated at more than US$16.1 billion, while the fires also caused significant environmental and health impacts.
Restoration Reduced Fire Hotspots by Up to 22%
Following the 2015 disaster, Indonesia established a national peatland restoration programme. Research examining restored and unrestored peatlands in Sumatra and Kalimantan found that restoration reduced wildfire hotspots by up to 22% during the 2019 El Nino. The number of peatland fires was also 38% lower than in 2015.
The study examined nearly 4,000 square kilometres of peatland where rewetting measures had been effective. Two main approaches were assessed: canal blocking and the use of deep wells.
Deep wells pump water into dry peatlands during the dry season, helping raise moisture levels and, in some cases, directly assist in extinguishing fires. Canal blocking works by preventing water from draining away and keeping the surrounding peat wet.
Researchers found deep wells were generally more effective at reducing fire risk because they could directly wet dry peat over a wider area and could also be used during firefighting.
Canal blocking can also be effective when carried out in suitable locations and in clusters. However, the method requires regular maintenance. A recent assessment found that around 70% of canal blocking structures in Indonesia had been damaged.
Restored Peatlands Still Face Fire Threats
Indonesia’s restoration programme had restored around 1.6 million hectares of peatland by 2024. However, the future continuity of the programme became uncertain after the restoration agency’s mandate ended that year and responsibilities were transferred among several ministries.
The need for restoration remains urgent as Indonesia faces another strong El Niño phase in 2026, which is expected to bring reduced rainfall. More than 100,000 hectares of land were recorded as burned by the Indonesian government between January and June 2026.
Despite improvements, restored peatlands remain more vulnerable to fire than intact forests. Researchers found that wildfire hotspot density in restored areas can still be up to 10 times higher than in pristine peat forests that have never been logged or drained.
The findings highlight the importance of continuing and expanding peatland restoration while ensuring that restoration structures are properly maintained. They also underline that restoration cannot replace the protection of intact peatlands.
Indonesia’s experience offers lessons for other countries, including the UK, where degraded peatlands are also being restored. Maintaining healthy, naturally waterlogged peat ecosystems could provide multiple benefits, including stronger protection against wildfire, while also supporting wider climate and environmental goals.