14.5 Paludiculture Tried to Date
The concept of paludiculture has been known in Indonesia for 5–10 years (Giesen
2013, 2015a) and some forms have been traditionally used more than a century (e.g.,
sago in Riau; see Sect. 14.3.1). Following the 2015 El Niño fires, there was a surge in
interest in finding sustainable alternatives on peatland and many agencies and NGOs
claim to have implemented paludiculture. However, most species that have been
planted in peatlands consist of dryland species, and in some cases where true
peatland species have been tried, this was not commenced in combination with
rewetting or involved species that do not bring economic benefits.
Key paludiculture cases are listed below in Table 14.1; note that these are cases
where peatland adaptive species have been used. Among the 17 cases listed, nine can
be considered as paludiculture as the others do not involve rewetting, or also involve
the planting of dryland species in combination with PSF species. However, these
nine still do not all represent successful examples of paludiculture. Cases 4 and
7 involve the planting of peatland species and the rewetting of peatland, but as both
Sebangau National Park and the Tahura Orang Kayu Hitam are protected areas, the
harvesting of products is formally not allowed. In case 6, a mix of peatland species
was used, only one of which (Dyera polyphylla) could potentially bring economic
benefits. Lastly, case 9 involves planting rice on deep peat soil; while this meets the
paludiculture criteria of wet/rewetted area and involving beneficial wetland species,
the method of cultivation is likely to result in enhanced carbon emissions and peat
subsidence. Rice growing in peat soil requires lots of fertilizer application, promoting soil microbial growth and peat decomposition. Also, such cultivation may also
result in significant methane emissions, a much more powerful greenhouse gas than
carbon dioxide.
14.5.1 Trials with NTFP Species
In 2017, the 81 NTFP species with a known “major economic use” were assessed for
local use on the Berbak Green Prosperity Partnership program in Jambi (Giesen and
Janssen 2017), and it was concluded that a dozen (12) species were proven, i.e. to
have commercial value and have been successfully cultivated on rewetted peatland.
These 12 species include six “quick gain” herbaceous species that produce quick
results (but have a lower unit value, although the overall market may be good); these
six are purun or water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis); kangkong or water spinach
(Ipomoea aquatica); paré or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia); gambir or gambier, a climber (Uncaria gambir); and edible ferns of Nephrolepis biserrata and
Stenochlaena palustris species. Another six proven species include tree species that
require some time before they begin to produce; these include gaharu (Aquilaria
beccariana, which produces incense after inoculation), kayu putih or gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi, that produces poles, honey, and oil), sagu (Metroxylon sagu,
424
W. Giesen
The concept of paludiculture has been known in Indonesia for 5–10 years (Giesen
2013, 2015a) and some forms have been traditionally used more than a century (e.g.,
sago in Riau; see Sect. 14.3.1). Following the 2015 El Niño fires, there was a surge in
interest in finding sustainable alternatives on peatland and many agencies and NGOs
claim to have implemented paludiculture. However, most species that have been
planted in peatlands consist of dryland species, and in some cases where true
peatland species have been tried, this was not commenced in combination with
rewetting or involved species that do not bring economic benefits.
Key paludiculture cases are listed below in Table 14.1; note that these are cases
where peatland adaptive species have been used. Among the 17 cases listed, nine can
be considered as paludiculture as the others do not involve rewetting, or also involve
the planting of dryland species in combination with PSF species. However, these
nine still do not all represent successful examples of paludiculture. Cases 4 and
7 involve the planting of peatland species and the rewetting of peatland, but as both
Sebangau National Park and the Tahura Orang Kayu Hitam are protected areas, the
harvesting of products is formally not allowed. In case 6, a mix of peatland species
was used, only one of which (Dyera polyphylla) could potentially bring economic
benefits. Lastly, case 9 involves planting rice on deep peat soil; while this meets the
paludiculture criteria of wet/rewetted area and involving beneficial wetland species,
the method of cultivation is likely to result in enhanced carbon emissions and peat
subsidence. Rice growing in peat soil requires lots of fertilizer application, promoting soil microbial growth and peat decomposition. Also, such cultivation may also
result in significant methane emissions, a much more powerful greenhouse gas than
carbon dioxide.
14.5.1 Trials with NTFP Species
In 2017, the 81 NTFP species with a known “major economic use” were assessed for
local use on the Berbak Green Prosperity Partnership program in Jambi (Giesen and
Janssen 2017), and it was concluded that a dozen (12) species were proven, i.e. to
have commercial value and have been successfully cultivated on rewetted peatland.
These 12 species include six “quick gain” herbaceous species that produce quick
results (but have a lower unit value, although the overall market may be good); these
six are purun or water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis); kangkong or water spinach
(Ipomoea aquatica); paré or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia); gambir or gambier, a climber (Uncaria gambir); and edible ferns of Nephrolepis biserrata and
Stenochlaena palustris species. Another six proven species include tree species that
require some time before they begin to produce; these include gaharu (Aquilaria
beccariana, which produces incense after inoculation), kayu putih or gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi, that produces poles, honey, and oil), sagu (Metroxylon sagu,
424
W. Giesen