Commodity crops produced on peatlands are currently not given much thought
with respect to their ecosystem services and natural capital. Of course, it is also true
that environmental values have not been considered in relation to the valuation of the
ecosystem services, and rather, destructive production has taken place.
There is no doubt that economic valuation of ecological services and natural
capital plays a major role in the conservation of ecosystems. However, a number of
ecological services and natural capital have been proposed, but they have not always
been successful. Therefore, it is uncertain whether they have been reflected in policy
as well as efficacy. Costanza et al. (1997) estimated the economic value at $16–54
trillion per year or $33 trillion on average. However, the 17 ecological services used
in Costanza et al.’s estimates, which everyone considers important and limited to
renewable ecological services, have yet to be valued by the market. While there have
been some successes in the market for natural capital in trading property rights, in
many cases there have been no successes for natural capital, which has characteristics such as heterogeneity and high transaction costs (Teytelboym 2019).
The ultimate goal of this chapter is to promote environmental and economic
sustainability in tropical peatlands through the coexistence of humans and nature,
ensuring that peat ecosystems survive for the next generation. For this purpose, the
importance of biodiversity in peatlands will be introduced, as well as appropriate
peatland management and the use of adapted plants for each environment. This
chapter also reviews the existing value chains and proposes a comprehensive value
chain to improve the economic viability of local communities. Finally, it describes
the goal of achieving a carbon negative society by improving drained peatland and
postfire sites through the proposed method of “large-scale eco-management of
tropical peatland.”
4.2 Wildlife Conservation in Large-Scale Eco-Management
of Tropical Peatland
Wildlife conservation is crucial in assessing the impacts of peatland management
and utilization of plants and animals. Although tropical peat swamp forests are
sometimes described to have a high biodiversity and ecosystem value (Posa et al.
2011; Yule 2010), there are few examples of their high biodiversity that have
actually been evaluated and compared to other ecosystems. Therefore, it is of great
significance to survey flora and fauna in the area being preserved by companies, i.e.,
approximately 50% of the total area of 115,000 ha. Although its area is smaller than
the existing national parks, it is fully managed by the companies without drainage
and is large enough for intensive research activities. WSL-MTI has continued to
conduct field surveys of flora and fauna so far, monitoring with permanent plots, and
fixed-point observations using camera traps. In particular, rare and endangered
species, such as orangutans and proboscis monkeys, have been surveyed regularly
by experts. In 2019, the WSL-MTI began surveying aquatic fauna.
4 Coexistence of Humans and Nature in Tropical Peatlands
137
with respect to their ecosystem services and natural capital. Of course, it is also true
that environmental values have not been considered in relation to the valuation of the
ecosystem services, and rather, destructive production has taken place.
There is no doubt that economic valuation of ecological services and natural
capital plays a major role in the conservation of ecosystems. However, a number of
ecological services and natural capital have been proposed, but they have not always
been successful. Therefore, it is uncertain whether they have been reflected in policy
as well as efficacy. Costanza et al. (1997) estimated the economic value at $16–54
trillion per year or $33 trillion on average. However, the 17 ecological services used
in Costanza et al.’s estimates, which everyone considers important and limited to
renewable ecological services, have yet to be valued by the market. While there have
been some successes in the market for natural capital in trading property rights, in
many cases there have been no successes for natural capital, which has characteristics such as heterogeneity and high transaction costs (Teytelboym 2019).
The ultimate goal of this chapter is to promote environmental and economic
sustainability in tropical peatlands through the coexistence of humans and nature,
ensuring that peat ecosystems survive for the next generation. For this purpose, the
importance of biodiversity in peatlands will be introduced, as well as appropriate
peatland management and the use of adapted plants for each environment. This
chapter also reviews the existing value chains and proposes a comprehensive value
chain to improve the economic viability of local communities. Finally, it describes
the goal of achieving a carbon negative society by improving drained peatland and
postfire sites through the proposed method of “large-scale eco-management of
tropical peatland.”
4.2 Wildlife Conservation in Large-Scale Eco-Management
of Tropical Peatland
Wildlife conservation is crucial in assessing the impacts of peatland management
and utilization of plants and animals. Although tropical peat swamp forests are
sometimes described to have a high biodiversity and ecosystem value (Posa et al.
2011; Yule 2010), there are few examples of their high biodiversity that have
actually been evaluated and compared to other ecosystems. Therefore, it is of great
significance to survey flora and fauna in the area being preserved by companies, i.e.,
approximately 50% of the total area of 115,000 ha. Although its area is smaller than
the existing national parks, it is fully managed by the companies without drainage
and is large enough for intensive research activities. WSL-MTI has continued to
conduct field surveys of flora and fauna so far, monitoring with permanent plots, and
fixed-point observations using camera traps. In particular, rare and endangered
species, such as orangutans and proboscis monkeys, have been surveyed regularly
by experts. In 2019, the WSL-MTI began surveying aquatic fauna.
4 Coexistence of Humans and Nature in Tropical Peatlands
137