3.7 Why an Innovative Eco-Management of Tropical
Peatland Is Needed
This section describes the water management system that has been developed
through the WSL-MTI project started in 2010. In fact, 3 years prior to the start of
the project, the importance of peat ecosystems, the significant degradation of
peatlands, and the problems of peatland management have been studied and examined. In addition, past failures and lessons to be learned were actively considered. A
preliminary field survey was repeated, particularly with regard to the distribution and
depth of peatlands and vegetation. Information was also collected on the socioeconomy of the area. Based on this, the project was initiated.
To start the project, Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. and ALAS KUSUMA Group,
the parent company of the WSL-MTI, decided to responsibly protect the intact peat
swamp forests and carry out forest plantation projects in areas that had already been
developed or slash-and-burned through technological development to prevent further peatland degradation. To achieve this goal, WSL-MTI spent a long time and
huge amount of money conducting field surveys, and as a result, we developed a new
water management system. Concurrently, WSL-MTI developed a new concept to
conserve the flora and fauna of the conservation areas that the parent companies were
committed to protect and has also sought to work with adjacent companies.
Fig. 3.3 Main canal, branch canal, peat dam, and spillways designed in WSL-MTI plots. The main
canal is completely blocked off water flow by two peat dams
100
T. Kato et al.
Peatland Is Needed
This section describes the water management system that has been developed
through the WSL-MTI project started in 2010. In fact, 3 years prior to the start of
the project, the importance of peat ecosystems, the significant degradation of
peatlands, and the problems of peatland management have been studied and examined. In addition, past failures and lessons to be learned were actively considered. A
preliminary field survey was repeated, particularly with regard to the distribution and
depth of peatlands and vegetation. Information was also collected on the socioeconomy of the area. Based on this, the project was initiated.
To start the project, Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. and ALAS KUSUMA Group,
the parent company of the WSL-MTI, decided to responsibly protect the intact peat
swamp forests and carry out forest plantation projects in areas that had already been
developed or slash-and-burned through technological development to prevent further peatland degradation. To achieve this goal, WSL-MTI spent a long time and
huge amount of money conducting field surveys, and as a result, we developed a new
water management system. Concurrently, WSL-MTI developed a new concept to
conserve the flora and fauna of the conservation areas that the parent companies were
committed to protect and has also sought to work with adjacent companies.
Fig. 3.3 Main canal, branch canal, peat dam, and spillways designed in WSL-MTI plots. The main
canal is completely blocked off water flow by two peat dams
100
T. Kato et al.