Sustainable Peatland Management in Oil Palm Plantation: Challenging but Manageable

The following article examines the challenges and opportunities of sustainable peatland management in oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia. The background of this research stems from the increasing conversion of peatlands for plantations, which triggers carbon emissions, land subsidence, and land fires. The research aims to synthesize peatland management strategies that can balance economic productivity and environmental sustainability. The method used is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of 36 relevant scientific articles, with thematic analysis of ecological, policy, and social aspects. The study results indicate that peat water level control, community-based fire prevention, land use planning, coordinated policy governance, and the use of monitoring technology are the main pillars of sustainable management. This study emphasizes that successful peatland management requires the integration of technical, institutional, and community participation approaches to maintain ecosystem sustainability while supporting the stability of the plantation sector.