Peatland management within concession is conducted in accordance with the applicable government regulations. We intensively collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in monitoring compliance with laws and regulations. In addition, we are developing collaboration with the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) for collaboration and consulting activities related to peat management in several of our operational areas that intersect the BRGM priority peat landscapes, such as in South Kalimantan and Riau Provinces.

In field implementation, we adopt Sustainable Peat Management (SPM) Tools that have been developed based on (1) Regulatory requirements, (2) Inputs from peat governance experts, and (3) Sustainability assessment parameters adopted according to national and international standards. The tool consists of five parameters and 30 indicators, with parameters including 1) Biophysical Characters; 2) Map Suitability; 3) Water Balance and Design; 4) Rewetting Infrastructure and Monitoring; and 5) Water System Performance.

Astra Agro continues to collaborate with various stakeholders to gain a better understanding of peat through research initiatives. Collaboration has been carried out since 2015 with peat experts and practitioners from diverse institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, various National Research Centers, and several renowned universities, both local and international. As a result, numerous scientific reports have been published in national and international journals.

The supply chain consisting of CPO and FFB partners ranging from companies to independent smallholders is an integral part of Astra Agro’s sustainability implementation. The Company always strives to ensure that partners can be in line in implementing best management practices, especially on peatlands. We provide assistance and training both online and offline to partner farmers, especially those on peatlands, so they can implement sustainable peat management in compliance with regulations and further optimize their production. Some of the best practices in accordance with regulations that have been implemented include the installation of monitoring equipment, such as water level monitoring and subsidence poles.