Kyoto University, Reatland Restoration Agency, Indonesia, and National Institutes for Humanities will make a joint statement on the
action research relating to the restoration of degraded peatland in Indonesia on April 25th, 2016 at Clock Tower Centennial Hall, Kyoto University.

After the joint statement, the head of Peatland Restoration Agency, Indonesia, and the Governor of Riau Province will make public
lectures with the following schedule.

You are warmly invited to the public lectures upcoming on Monday, April 25.

Date: April 25th, 2016（Mon） 10:30-11:30 am
Venue: Kyoto University Clock Tower Centennial Hall, International Conference Hall I (2nd Floor)
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/access/yoshida/main.html

Lecture 1
Mr. Nazir Foead ( Head of Restoration Agency, Republic of Indonesia ）
Title: Peat is Wet: Restoration for Improved Livelihood

Abstruct: Peat fires are disaster, as Indonesia has experienced. It was
burnt massively last year, as consequence of over a decade of peat
draining. We have seen enough, and it is time now to rewet the drained
peatland while keeping and maintaining the intact peatswamp forest.
BRG is established by President of Indonesia in 6 January 2016 to
restore the degraded peatland, so fires will not be occurring again,
local livelihood is improving and social conflict is resolving. Our
strategy is regulating the hydrological system, re-vegetating the
restored peat and integrating peatland management into village
development. This certainly needs re-zonation of peatland,
harmonization of policy, proven concept and business model for
paludiculture as conducted of villagers. BRG will restore 2.26 million
hectares of peatland in seven provinces in Sumatera, Kalimantan and
Papua, of which 1.9 million are in cultivation land. Collaboration
with many key stakeholders is a must; consultation and empowerment of
local peoples and indigenous peoples is part of that collaboration.

Profile: Mr. Nazir Foead is a graduate of Gadjah Mada University, and
was appointed by President of Indonesia to lead Peatland Restoration
Agency on 13 January 2016. Prior to　the appointment, he spent all
of his professional career in environmental and conservation works for
NGOs. He joined Climate and Land Use Alliance as the Indonesia
Initiative Coordinator in Feb 2014. He was the Conservation Director
of WWF Indonesia, managing over 300 staff in 26 conservation sites,
from 2010 before joining CLUA.

Lecture ２
Ir. H. ARSYADJULIANDI RACHMAN, MBA（Governor of Riau Province ）
Title: Fire Prevention Strategy and Developing Sustainable Livelihood
“Sago Palm” in Riau Peatland

Abstruct: The purpose of this presentation is to share the experience
with all parties concerned with the problems of forest fires and in
particular in the peat land. Riau Province is a province of which area
is dominated by peat areas covering 5.7 million hectares (56.1% of
total peat land in Sumatra). In 2014, it was found 4.323 hotspots in
the peat land. The fire occurred due to several factors, such as
people’s habits and palm oil companies clearing land by burning,
extreme weather, limited knowledge of local people regarding safety
and secured land clearing techniques. Efforts that have been done in
the context of fire prevention and maintenance of peat was in the form
of dissemination to the public, increasing people awareness about
proper land clearance, coordination with all stakeholders and law
enforcement. Although peat fires still occurred in 2015, the number of
hotspots decreased to 1,830 or ± 58% declined from 2014. Meanwhile,
sago palm on peat lands remain intact with some programs, namely
rehabilitation and reforestation, water management in peat lands by
canal blocking.

Profile: Mr. Arsyadjuliandi Rachman got MBA at Oklahoma City
University, USA.　He used to be a general treasurer of Golkar Party of
Riau Province, a member of Provincial parliament, member of Parliament
in Jakarta, and Vice Governor of Riau Province.

We also have the lunch reception with The association of Indonesian
students in Japan after the lecture at the Clock Tower Centennial Hall, International Conference Hall II (2nd Floor). You can enjoy Indonesian
foods.

Further inquiry
Kosuke Mizuno