The declaration was signed by Deputy Chair of the Forestry Interim Secretariat of ITPC Bambang Supriyanto and GMC Director Franziska Tanneberger on the sidelines of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UNFCCC in Belem, Brazil, on Friday (November 21).
In a statement released here on Sunday, Bambang said ITPC would continue to strengthen its role as an international collaboration hub for tropical peatland management in Southeast Asia, the Congo Basin, and the Amazon.
"Our collaboration with the Greifswald Mire Centre will elevate international cooperation, particularly in mapping, monitoring, research development, knowledge exchange, and capacity building through trainings, webinars, and conferences," he said.
He added that the cooperation is expected to enhance the contribution of peatland areas to global climate targets, including Indonesia's Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 goal.
He also stated that ITPC is ready to expand partnerships with friendly governments, research institutions, the private sector, universities, and international organizations as part of strengthened collaborative action in 2026 and beyond.
The declaration acknowledges the contribution and support of global partners such as UNEP, FAO, CIFOR, and national research institutions.
It also underscores the importance of peatland ecosystems in various international conventions and agendas, including the UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, the Ramsar Convention, the Paris Agreement, the Brazzaville Declaration, the Global Peatlands Initiative, and the Peatland Breakthrough.
Senior Advisor on Climate Change at the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry Haruni Krisnawati, who attended the signing, emphasized the strategic role of peatland ecosystems in Indonesia's climate action.
She noted that Indonesia has about 24 million hectares of peatlands, 74 percent of which are located within state forest areas. These tropical peat forests store around 89 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to roughly 20 years of global fossil fuel emissions.
"Effective restoration and sustainable management can reduce emissions by 1.3 to 2.6 GtCOe per year," she said.
Franziska Tanneberger highlighted the importance of science-based cooperation.
"This joint declaration reflects our commitment to equipping policymakers, practitioners, and local communities with credible information, strong analysis, and practical tools to support the conservation and sustainable management of peatlands," she said.
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Translator: Subagyo, Primayanti
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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