Damaged soil vs degraded soil: a brief note on the Government Regulation of Indonesia No. 4/2001

Abstract

Government Regulation (GR) of Indonesia No. 4/2001 concerning Environmental Damage and/or Pollution Control related to Forest and/or Land Fire summarizes the general criteria for damage to soil properties, both on mineral and peat soil due to forest and or land fires. This GR focuses more on soils in its function as a planting medium and only lists the general criteria for qualitative soil damage, the value of which is only written as up or down without mentioning numbers. Soil has a buffering capacity and resilience capability, therefore, changes in soil properties are temporary. Soils has also chemical, physical and biological properties with a wide range of values. Soils that experiences a change in soil properties in a negative direction should be not referred as damaged soil, but degraded soil. The level of soil degradation (light, medium, heavy and very heavy) will be related to land suitability class and productivity level. Recovery costs can be then calculated from the costs required to procure ameliorant materials so that the productivity of the soil returns to its original state.