April 14, 2025
A team of forestry experts from IPB University’s Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) has embarked on an important academic mission to Kyoto University, Japan, to strengthen international collaboration in addressing one of Indonesia’s most persistent environmental challenges—peatland degradation and emissions from land and forest fires.
The collaboration aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from peatland and forest fires, while also strengthening community engagement as the frontline actors in safeguarding Indonesia’s fragile peat ecosystems, particularly in Riau Province.
A Scientific Exchange Rooted in Experience
The IPB University delegation—consisting of Prof. Bambang Hero Saharjo, Assoc. Prof. Ati Dwi Nurhayati, and Dr. Erianto Indra Putra—is part of the Forest Protection Division of the Department of Silviculture. All three are also key members of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA).
During their visit, they met with prominent researchers from Kyoto University, including Prof. Masaaki Okamoto and Prof. Osamu Kozan from the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Prof. Shinya Takeda from the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, and Dr. Daisuke Naito from the Graduate School of Agriculture.
“The knowledge and insights gathered by Kyoto University’s CSEAS team over the years offer valuable input to help us understand the many complexities still surrounding peatland issues in Indonesia,” said Prof. Bambang Hero. “These range from tenure conflicts and land ownership to the shrinking availability of peatland, and even technical and ecological challenges that vary across regions.”
A Decade of Commitment to Peatland Research
The IPB University team has long been engaged in peat-related research, particularly in emissions analysis, fire control, peatland recovery, and groundwater level management. Since 2013, they have collaborated with Palangkaraya University, Jambi University, and Riau University on these issues.
“This collaborative program, funded by NASA and led by researchers from the University of Maryland and University of Montana, offers a great opportunity to integrate with the research being carried out by Kyoto University’s CSEAS, and other international research networks,” Prof. Bambang added.
Through this synergy, the research outcomes can be refined and scaled up to help resolve peatland issues more effectively in Indonesia—where fire-prone peatlands remain a major driver of carbon emissions.
Broadening Horizons: Exploring Collaboration with TUAT
The visit also took the IPB University team to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), specifically the Graduate School of Agriculture. Here, they explored further opportunities in forestry research, climate change mitigation, and GHG reduction.
In a meeting with Prof. Hirotaka Saito, Dean of the Institute of Agricultural Science at TUAT, both sides expressed enthusiasm for developing joint initiatives—not only in research but also in academic exchange through programs like Visiting Professors.
“We hope this short visit will pave the way for meaningful progress in our Forest Protection Division, our department, our faculty, and of course, for IPB University as a whole,” Prof. Bambang concluded.