Transforming tropical peatland governance to manage climate risks using the Three Horizons method

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Social-Ecological Systems Governance

Background:

• Tropical peatlands cover vast areas (440,000 km2) and store substantial carbon (100 megatons).
• These ecosystems face significant risks from current and future climate change.
• Effective governance is crucial for managing climate risks in these complex social-ecological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the Three Horizons method for identifying transformational governance options for tropical peatlands.
• To evaluate the method's capacity to integrate diverse knowledge (research and local) for addressing various climate risks.
• To generate pathways for enhancing the resilience of tropical peatlands and dependent communities.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Three Horizons method to tropical peatland governance.
• Conducting Three Horizons workshops in Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Republic of Congo.
• Integrating literature evidence with in-country expertise and business-to-business engagement in Indonesia.

Main Results:

• The Three Horizons method facilitated the integration of multiple knowledge sources.
• Community empowerment and payments for ecosystem services emerged as critical themes across all studied countries.
• Identified pathways for transforming the resilience of tropical peatland habitats and populations.

Conclusions:

• The Three Horizons method is effective in structuring dialogues for complex social-ecological systems.
• Integrating diverse knowledge sources is vital for creating credible and socially acceptable policy options.
• Recommendations for managing climate risks through conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical peatlands are provided.