Publications
by Helena Varkkey, Matthew Ashfold, Gusti Z. Anshari, Alex M. Lechner, Sharon Seah, Fatima Tuzzahara Alkaf, and Nurisa Wijayanti
Enhance evidence-based peatland management practices across scales and borders through quantifying uncertainty, increased transparency of scientific data, and including complementary community inputs. Constructively engage with data uncertainty by adopting carbon accounting approaches foregrounding uncertainty and peatland community buy-in. Value broader sustainability benefits of peatlands in decisions, particularly those which support long-term community interests and participation.
REFERENCE NOTES
Project Outputs:
Draft (unpublished) Project Outputs:
Other References:
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Siman, K., Friess, D. A., Huxham, M., McGowan, S., Drewer, J., Koh, L. P., Zeng, Y., Lechner, A. M., Lee, J. S. H., Evans, C. D., Evers, S., Sancho, J. J., Varkkey, H., Anshari, G., Jaya, A., Chong, K. Y., Page, S., Mishra, S., & Sjögersten, S. (2021). Nature-based Solutions for Climate Mitigation: Challenges and Opportunities for the ASEAN Region. British High Commission & COP26 Universities Network. [Access here]
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Robins, L., van Kerkhoff, L., Rochmayanto, Y., & others. (2022). Knowledge systems approaches for enhancing project impacts in complex settings: Community fire management and peatland restoration in Indonesia. Regional Environmental Change, 22, 100. [Access here]
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Nath, T. K., Dahalan, M. P. B., Parish, F., & others. (2017). Local peoples’ appreciation on and contribution to conservation of peatland swamp forests: Experience from Peninsular Malaysia. Wetlands, 37, 1067–1077. [Access here]
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Seah, S., Martinus, M., & Qiu, J. (2025, November 11). ASEAN’s evolving climate governance framework (ISEAS Perspective 2025/88). ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. [Access here]
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Swinfield, T., Shrikanth, S., Bull, J. W., Madhavapeddy, A., & zu Ermgassen, S. O. S. E. (2024). Nature-based credit markets at a crossroads. Nature Sustainability, 7(10), 1217–1220. [Access here]
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Delacote, P., L’Horty, T., Kontoleon, A., Börner, J., Wunder, S., Pfaff, A., Guo, R., Shyamsundar, P., Osoko, Y. A., Toman, M., & Satake, A. (2024). Strong transparency required for carbon credit mechanisms. Nature Sustainability, 7, 706–713. [Access here]
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Filewod, B., Gsottbauer, E., Macquarie, R., & Mercer, L. (2023, January 30). Living with uncertainty in carbon markets. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science. [Access here]
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Wells, G., Pascual, U., Stephenson, C., & Ryan, C. M. (2023). Confronting deep uncertainty in the forest carbon industry. Science, 382(6666), 41–43. [Access here]
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Indriatmoko, Y., Atmadja, S., Utomo, N. A., Ekaputri, A. D., & Komalasari, M. (2014). Katingan peatland restoration and conservation project, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. In E. O. Sills, S. Atmadja, C. de Sassi, A. E. Duchelle, D. Kweka, I. A. P. Resosudarmo, & W. D. Sunderlin (Eds.), REDD+ on the ground: A case book of subnational initiatives across the globe (pp. 237–252). Bogor, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). [Access here]
by Helena Varkkey, Matthew Ashfold, Gusti Z. Anshari, Alex M. Lechner, Sharon Seah, Nurisa Wijayanti, Fatima Tuzzahara Alkaf, and Siti Asdiah Masran
We summarize key developments, along with evidence indicating that peatlands represent a large proportion of national GHG emissions in both Indonesia and Malaysia. Further, we trace the evolution of peatland policies at the national and regional levels, from focusing on conservation to addressing fire and haze issues, reflecting their complex relationship with national development and the corporate sector. Next, we highlight important and yet unrealized opportunities to better integrate carbon emissions reduction alongside fire and haze in the implementation of peatland Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which are interventions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore nature. Emerging financial and market instruments provide one such opportunity. Additionally, the creation of an enabling governance environment through peatland community participation presents an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of NbS across multiple sustainability dimensions. We found that for these two key countries, the most recent government-reported peatland emissions appear somewhat lower than is suggested by academic studies for Indonesia and substantially lower in the case of Malaysia. Further, we emphasize the complex challenge of integrating policies across multiple scales and issues, with international, regional and national actors, and in multiple industries, all active in peatland governance.
by Helena Varkkey
This article explores how integrating local knowledge with scientific research through participatory decision-making can enhance peatland governance, addressing both climate challenges and the needs of communities reliant on these critical ecosystems.
by Helena Varkkey | Michelle Miller | Matthew Ashfold
Carbon-rich peat ecosystems hold great potential to mitigate climate change, and help meet Southeast Asian national climate targets. The increased priority and action on peatlands must be continued from COP28 into this November’s COP29.
by Sharon Seah | Helena Varkkey
Transboundary haze has reared its ugly head again, no thanks to peatland burning and the compounding effects of the El Nino phenomenon and climate change. It is high time to break the vicious cycle of haze and climate change.