Behavior Change of Peatland Farmers Through Farmer Field Schools to Support Green Economy in Indonesia

Peatland fires in Indonesia produce toxic smog and release greenhouse gasses globally, and have an impact on public health, the environment, and the economy of Indonesia and surrounding countries. Efforts to restore peat damage are carried out through peat restoration, which is carried out through 3R approaches rewetting (R1), revegetation (R2), and community economic recovery/revitalization (R3). It is also supported by local institutional approach, and behavior approach. This behavior approach is manifested in Peatland Farmer Field School Program (SLPG) which was conducted by Peatland and Mangrove Agency of Indonesian (BRGM). This article examines changes in the behavior of peatland farmers in accordance with the green economy concept using literature-based study method, documents study, and study on the experience of SLPG’s cadres. Peatland farmers are actors who play an important role in peatland management. In order to change the peatland farmers behavior for farming more environmentally friendly, BRGM implements the SLPG that is a participatory way of community learning in agriculture in processing peatland without burning, the training participants get knowledge through the experience of practicing learning materials in the field and practicing environmentally friendly farming in their respective demonstration plots. The SLPG places farmers as subjects who must be educated on their awareness, knowledge, and skills in the conservation of peatland ecology, which produces skilled local farmers from peatland areas that are pioneers in peatland conservation. In fact, if we were to utilize peatland wisely it will be economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial which can support the green economy in Indonesia.