Indonesian peat lands play an important role
in the fight against climate change...
Indonesian peat lands play an important role
in the fight against climate change, with an estimated 80 billion tons of
carbon stored. In addition, they are also critical for biodiversity
conservation, water resource management, and livelihoods for communities. In
the past 15 years, an estimated 3 million hectares of Indonesia’s peat lands
have been lost to fires, driven by land clearing for agriculture, abetted by
limited enforcement and insufficient fire prevention and control during the dry
season. As a result, remaining peatlands continue to be degraded due to logging
drainage and burning.
In the framework of the USAID OFDA funded, Generating Anticipatory
Measures for Better Utilization of Tropical Peatlands (GAMBUT) project, UNOPS,
IPB and Columbia University are currently testing technically sound peat rehabilitation
methods in Central Kalimantan. Quick and effective rewetting and restoration of
peatlands is essential to prevent further degradation, land subsidence and fire
outbreaks and causes major haze related air pollution.
GAMBUT Project used the FRS to identify district with high risk of fire,
and selected Barito Selatan District to be the focus location for the rewetting
activity. Based on the district government’s recommendation, the GAMBUT team
and a soft soil engineer accompanied by the district government then went on an
assessment and developed plans which were endorsed by the government.
Under the primary
supervision of Project Manager with secondary reporting line to Canal Blocking
Construction Manager and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures, and
practices the site supervisor will maintain a close eye on the operational
performance, identifies probable issues that may need attention, supports in
problem analysis and solution identification as necessary, coordinate
resolution as per action-items assigned and also supervising all the support
staff at the field level. In order to carry out his/her tasks, the Site
Supervisor will be required to travel daily to the sites or stay where works
are implemented as applicable.