18,000+
hectare area protected
600k+
ton COâ‚‚ emission reduced annually
60
native species protected
(Flora and Fauna)
4,000+
community members empowered
Project Overview
The Pulang Pisau project is a nature-based carbon project focused on conserving and restoring the unique peatland ecosystem of the Central Kalimantan region.
​
The project will focus on Wetland Restoration & Conservation (WRC) strategies to restore drained or damaged wetlands, preserving their immense carbon storage capacity and safeguarding water systems. In addition, the project has the potential to implement Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) activities, which include reforestation of degraded areas with native vegetation to rebuild carbon sinks.
Combined, these efforts boost carbon sequestration, support biodiversity, and build climate resilience, while creating sustainable benefits for local communities closely tied to the land.
Main Challenges
Project Activities
Rewetting, Revegetation, and Revitalization
Forest Fires
Peatlands have become more fire-prone due to land clearing and canalization leading to higher wildfire risks and carbon emissions.
Illegal Logging
Unregulated logging accelerates deforestation, reducing carbon storage and threatening ecosystem balance.


Land Conversion
Ongoing agricultural expansion encroaches on forests and peatlands, weakening carbon sinks and hindering restoration efforts.
Hydrological restoration by addressing canal blockage and implementing bore well reconstruction
​
Reforestation and revegetation of burned and open areas with native species to restore habitat and improve water quality
​
Fire prevention patrols and monitoring
​
Community engagement, including training and upskilling for alternative livelihood​
Applicable Methodologies
Verra's VM0047
Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation
​
Verra's VM0048
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
Registry
UN SDGs Impact
Financing Opportunities
-
Carbon credits pre-purchase
-
Project Equity
Project Duration
40 years​
Project Phase
Feasibility study has been completed
Project Partners
A Carbon Sink Frontier
Tropical Peatland: Globally Rare, Locally Vital
Pulang Pisau is rooted in peatland ecosystem. Peatland is a type of wetland formed from waterlogged, decaying plant material over thousands of years. This environment stores massive amounts of carbon beneath the surface. Peatlands play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by locking away carbon over long periods.
​
Key to Climate Stability and Biodiversity
Tropical peatlands are rare, covering only about 0.3% of the Earth's land surface but storing approximately one-third of the world's soil carbon. Indonesia alone holds about 36% of the world’s tropical peatlands, making forests like Pulang Pisau critically important.
​
Protecting Our Carbon Sink Frontier
With canalization that parches water contained in peat soils and global warming, in dry season peatland become highly flammable. When fires occur, peatlands release vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, much more than typical forest fires. Without proper protection and management, peatlands risk transforming from one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks into one of its largest sources of emissions.
​​
Protecting Pulang Pisau Forest means safeguarding one of the world’s most valuable natural carbon stores and advancing the global fight against climate change.
A Tale of Resilience
People from Pulang Pisau
Pulang Pisau is home to approximately 4,218 people living across four villages: Pilang, Simpur, Tumbang Nusa, and Henda. These communities are deeply connected to the surrounding peatland ecosystem, which has long supported their cultural and economic way of life. Dayak traditions including Mamapas Lewu, a ritual to cleanse nature, are still practiced annually, reflecting the community’s enduring bond with the forest.
Challenges Unfold
Since 1995, peatland terrain in Pulang Pisau has been drying out, leading to frequent fires, floods, biodiversity loss, and widespread socio-economic instability. These persistent threats have disrupted the community’s long-standing relationship with the land. Before this shift, generations of Pulang Pisau residents had lived in close connection with the peatlands, relying on them for agriculture, rubber tapping, fishing, and rattan harvesting, providing both food and income for local communities.
Towards Resilience
Starting from 2017, Pulang Pisau communities have begun to reclaim their right to manage more than 5,675 hectares of peatland. This shift toward legal and sustainable forest management has empowered residents to focus on ecological restoration, improved livelihoods, and cultural preservation. Today, villagers engage in activities that restore the land and provide alternative income streams, such as wood tree nurseries, honey farming, rattan and purun handicrafts, and sustainable agriculture.
Wildlife Wonders
Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus
The orangutan is a great ape native to Borneo. It plays an important role in forest regeneration by spreading seeds. Habitat destruction and illegal wildlife trade are major threats to its survival.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Scenes from the Field
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |
These images, captured in 2023, reveal the stark reality of environmental degradation in Pulang Pisau, which call for the urgent need for change.
