1. About half of the world's tropical peatlands occur in Southeast (SE) Asia, where they serve as a major carbon (C) sink. Nearly 80% of natural peatlands in this region have been deforested and drained, with the majority under plantations and agriculture. This conversion increases peat oxidation which contributes to rapid C loss to the atmosphere as greenhouse gas emissions and increases their vulnerability to fires which generate regional smoke haze that has severe impacts on human health. Attempts at restoring these systems to mitigate environmental problems have had limited success.2. We review the current understanding of intact and degraded peatlands in SE Asia to help develop a way forward in restoring these ecosystems. As such, we critically examine them in terms of their biodiversity, C storage, hydrology and nutrients, paying attention to both above-ground and below-ground subsystems.3. We then propose an approach for better management and restoration of degraded peatlands that involves explicit consideration of multiple interacting ecological factors and the involvement of local communities who rely on converted peatlands for their livelihood. 4. We make the case that as processes leading to peatland development involve modification of both above-ground and below-ground subsystems, an integrated approach that explicitly recognizes both subsystems and their interactions is key to successful tropical peatland management and restoration. Synthesis and applications.Gaining a better understanding of not just carbon stores and their changes during peat degradation, but also an in-depth understanding of the biota, nutrient dynamics, hydrology and biotic and abiotic feedbacks, is key to developing better solutions for the management and restoration of peatlands in Southeast Asia. Through the application of science-and nature-based solutions | 1371

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) management can lead to various benefits for community livelihood and forest sustainability. However, such management has not been carried out optimally and sustainably in Indonesia, due to various limiting factors including ineffective policies, undeveloped cultivation technologies, and inadequate innovation in processing technologies. Further, the diversity of NTFPs species requires that policy-makers determine the priority species to be developed. Agarwood (Aquilaria spp. and Gyrinops spp.), benzoin (Styrax spp.), sandalwood (Santalum album L.), and cajuput (Melaleuca cajuputi Powell) are aromatic NTFPs species in Indonesia that forest-dwellers have utilized across generations. This paper reviews the current governance, cultivation systems, processing and valuation, and benefits and uses of these species. We also highlights the future challenges and prospects of these NTFPs species, which are expected to be useful in designing NTFPs governance, in order to maximize the associated benefits for the farmers and all related stakeholders.

Non timber forest management of styrax resin has become the main community livelihood in the Tapanuli region, North Sumatra, Indonesia. However, thousands of tons of incense resin produced have not been graded simply and inaccurately. The resin grading has been determined visually based on shape, size, and color. This is a disadvantage regarding the important value of this commodity is its chemical content. The objectives of the study were (a) to investigate the physico chemical properties of styrax resin based on current local grading, and (b) to develop a new grading classification of Sumatran incense (Styrax sumatrana) resin. A completely random design was carried out to determine the physico chemical properties of styrax from six incense grade traded. The results showed that the current quality grading affects the physico chemical properties of the resin. The first grade contains the best physico chemical properties, conversely the sixth is the lowest among others. Isolated cinnamic acid from various grades produces different levels of purity. The highest balsamic acid content and purity were derived from the highest quality incense (current local Grade I) while the lowest was contained by Grade VI. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify an accurate classification of resin grade according to both numerical and categorical attributes. Clustering algorithms with the two-step method worked efficiently and determined the optimal number of clusters, four grade incense profiles. The most important grade contains higher balsamic content and purity, lower impurities, ash content, melting point, and moisture content. Ash content and impurities were the most important predictor for differentiating each segment. The information obtained is expected to facilitate more accurate and honest resin quality grading application for farmers and traders.

& Key message Permanent sampling plots (PSPs) are a powerful and reliable methodology to help our understanding of the diversity and dynamics of tropical forests. Based on the current inventory of PSPs in Indonesia, there is high potential to establish a long-term collaborative forest monitoring network. Whilst there are challenges to initiating such a network, there are also innumerable benefits to help us understand and better conserve these exceptionally diverse ecosystems.

The Covid-19 pandemic has raised global awareness for boosting the body’s immune system through organic product utilization and complementary therapies. This condition encourages re-disclosure of local wisdom in herbal medicine applications which involves essential oils in disease prevention and treatment. This paper describes the local wisdom of various forest essential oils utilization, to identify the phytopharmaceutical content and potential for herbal medicine. The research was carried out through exploration and in-depth interviews with 30 local community respondents who applied essential oils in traditional medicine in Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra; and Singkil, Aceh in 2019. This review also explored various literature regarding phytopharmaceutical content and safety issues of various plants used in traditional medicine. The study results identified at least 17 essential oils as the main therapeutic agent, including Sumatran camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica), benzoin (Styrax sumatrana), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium), and lemo (Litsea cubeba). The essential oils are extracted from leaves, fruit, flowers, bark, stems, roots, and resin in various ways. Some of the main compounds identified include a-pinene, camphene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, and p-cymene. In aromatherapy applications, essential oils aroma has a relaxing effect and offers relief to a congested respiratory system. The essential oils can also relieve inflammation, irritation, insect bites, itching, rashes, sprains, and muscle aches in topical application. Local wisdom reveals essential oils utilization to treat indigestion, headaches, and insomnia. The compound 1,8 cineole is potential as anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antifungal, expectorant boosts the immune system and prospective for respiratory and blood vessels treatment.