The use of satellite imagery to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore peatlands

Abstract

Forest and land fires occur every year in Indonesia which are caused by mostly human activities, and tends to increase when affected by El Nino. One of the negative impacts is an increase in gas emissions, especially CO₂ which originating from peat fires. CO2 from peat fires are very large and are even confirmed to have become one of Indonesia's significant contributors to the LULUC emissions which was reported to the UNFCCC during COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2022. Forest and land fires that occurred 99.9%  due to humans activities, so the traces could be easily detected. Through law enforcement, there is an opportunity to find out who is behind of the fires and the possibility to restore damaged peat and pay for environmental damaged. Law enforcement can be carried out either through criminal or primary law. Minister of Environment Regulation No.07 of 2014 is used to calculated environmental losses and the cost needed to restore. Meanwhile, low-and high-resolution satellite imagery is sued to track fires and ground check as well as laboratory analysis which confirm that peat burned and damaged. Key words: Peat fires, law enforcement, emissions reduction