3.12 Conclusion
In this chapter, the history of tropical peatlands in Indonesia and the development of
a new management model, i.e., the large-scale eco-management of tropical
peatlands, are introduced with specific examples of two companies operating in
West Kalimantan. The two companies began by spending more than 5 years and a
huge amount of expenditure to understand the characteristics of the peatlands, while
also identifying the problems with existing water management methods. The traditional methods, as described in Chap. 2, are “Drainage-based water management
(WM)” systems that not only significantly accelerate the degradation of peat ecosystems, but also make it extremely difficult to maintain the sustainability of the
business. Unfortunately, many oil palm plantation companies still use Drainagebased WM.
3.12.1 Four Fundamental Principles in Eco-Management
of Tropical Peatland
Forest conversion to other land uses from tropical forest, commercial logging, illegal
logging, and slash-and-burn agriculture has been performed repeatedly since the
1960s, such that intact tropical forests with a rich biodiversity started to become rare,
especially in peatlands. Therefore, WSL-MTI decided to utilize degraded peatlands
by human impacts as a wood production business and simultaneously preserve the
intact tropical peatland forests to ensure wildlife habitat and genetic resources.
Additionally, WSL-MTI considered maintaining the agricultural land on mineral
soil, which was developed by the local community, for food production. Large-scale
tree plantation on mineral soil had a strong negative impact on increasing food
demand. Conversely, well-planned degraded peatland utilization may become a
possible solution to meet global wood demands. Therefore, WSL-MTI selected the
degraded peatland even though the management required innovation and high costs.
WSL-MTI, based on the above considerations, formulated four fundamental
principles for establishing sustainable peatland management:
1. No development of any intact tropical forests.
2. Achievement of harmony between the economy, environment, and social aspects.
3. Maintenance of the sustainability of the business for the private sector.
4. Technologies that should be “Simple, low cost, and easy to maintain.”
At first, WSL-MTI decided to strictly protect the intact forests with endangered
flora and fauna and to avoid further expansion of degrading forests. Second, the
plantation forest business should achieve a balance between economic, environmental, and social aspects. Third, a company should generate revenue from its own
business. Consequently, the company will achieve sustainability in business and be
able to contribute to the conservation of the peat ecosystem and rich biodiversity.
3 Large-Scale Practice on Tropical Peatland Eco-Management
129
In this chapter, the history of tropical peatlands in Indonesia and the development of
a new management model, i.e., the large-scale eco-management of tropical
peatlands, are introduced with specific examples of two companies operating in
West Kalimantan. The two companies began by spending more than 5 years and a
huge amount of expenditure to understand the characteristics of the peatlands, while
also identifying the problems with existing water management methods. The traditional methods, as described in Chap. 2, are “Drainage-based water management
(WM)” systems that not only significantly accelerate the degradation of peat ecosystems, but also make it extremely difficult to maintain the sustainability of the
business. Unfortunately, many oil palm plantation companies still use Drainagebased WM.
3.12.1 Four Fundamental Principles in Eco-Management
of Tropical Peatland
Forest conversion to other land uses from tropical forest, commercial logging, illegal
logging, and slash-and-burn agriculture has been performed repeatedly since the
1960s, such that intact tropical forests with a rich biodiversity started to become rare,
especially in peatlands. Therefore, WSL-MTI decided to utilize degraded peatlands
by human impacts as a wood production business and simultaneously preserve the
intact tropical peatland forests to ensure wildlife habitat and genetic resources.
Additionally, WSL-MTI considered maintaining the agricultural land on mineral
soil, which was developed by the local community, for food production. Large-scale
tree plantation on mineral soil had a strong negative impact on increasing food
demand. Conversely, well-planned degraded peatland utilization may become a
possible solution to meet global wood demands. Therefore, WSL-MTI selected the
degraded peatland even though the management required innovation and high costs.
WSL-MTI, based on the above considerations, formulated four fundamental
principles for establishing sustainable peatland management:
1. No development of any intact tropical forests.
2. Achievement of harmony between the economy, environment, and social aspects.
3. Maintenance of the sustainability of the business for the private sector.
4. Technologies that should be “Simple, low cost, and easy to maintain.”
At first, WSL-MTI decided to strictly protect the intact forests with endangered
flora and fauna and to avoid further expansion of degrading forests. Second, the
plantation forest business should achieve a balance between economic, environmental, and social aspects. Third, a company should generate revenue from its own
business. Consequently, the company will achieve sustainability in business and be
able to contribute to the conservation of the peat ecosystem and rich biodiversity.
3 Large-Scale Practice on Tropical Peatland Eco-Management
129