Chapter 16
Circularity and Singularity of Tropical Peat
Swamp Forest Ecosystems
Gusti Anshari
Abstract Ecosystems of tropical peat swamp forests are circular and singular. The
uniqueness of tropical peats is primarily originated from woody organic matter. In
contrast, temperate peats are mostly formed from Sphagnum moss. The tropical peat
can circularly manage the productivity of vegetation to supply organic matter to
sustain peat growth. The pile of organic matter plays an essential role in developing
large reservoirs of water and carbon. These characteristics and functions are incredibly fragile and irreversible. Under any kind of disturbance regimes, the circularity
and singularity of tropical peat swamp forest disappear, causing the loss of carbon
and water. I indicate that the sustainability of tropical peat forests depends on
protecting the uniqueness and circularity of the ecosystem. Hence, the restoration
of degraded tropical peats must remake the circularity and singularity as the important qualitative attributes of tropical peat swamp forests.
Keywords Circularity · Singularity · Organic matter · Peatland restoration
16.1 Introduction
The life of tropical peat swamp forests needs a water-logged environment, limited
soil fertility, and low soil acidity. Therefore, the tropical peat swamp forest is
singular (unique), as the ecosystem has the ability and mechanism to cope and
adapt to the unfavorable condition. In general, the health of the ecosystem is
maintained when organic matter accumulation is more significant than decomposition. High water and carbon storage indicate the health of the peat swamp forest
ecosystem as a whole.
G. Anshari (*)
Magister of Environment, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
Soil science Department, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
e-mail: gzanshari@live.untan.ac.id
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_16
463
Circularity and Singularity of Tropical Peat
Swamp Forest Ecosystems
Gusti Anshari
Abstract Ecosystems of tropical peat swamp forests are circular and singular. The
uniqueness of tropical peats is primarily originated from woody organic matter. In
contrast, temperate peats are mostly formed from Sphagnum moss. The tropical peat
can circularly manage the productivity of vegetation to supply organic matter to
sustain peat growth. The pile of organic matter plays an essential role in developing
large reservoirs of water and carbon. These characteristics and functions are incredibly fragile and irreversible. Under any kind of disturbance regimes, the circularity
and singularity of tropical peat swamp forest disappear, causing the loss of carbon
and water. I indicate that the sustainability of tropical peat forests depends on
protecting the uniqueness and circularity of the ecosystem. Hence, the restoration
of degraded tropical peats must remake the circularity and singularity as the important qualitative attributes of tropical peat swamp forests.
Keywords Circularity · Singularity · Organic matter · Peatland restoration
16.1 Introduction
The life of tropical peat swamp forests needs a water-logged environment, limited
soil fertility, and low soil acidity. Therefore, the tropical peat swamp forest is
singular (unique), as the ecosystem has the ability and mechanism to cope and
adapt to the unfavorable condition. In general, the health of the ecosystem is
maintained when organic matter accumulation is more significant than decomposition. High water and carbon storage indicate the health of the peat swamp forest
ecosystem as a whole.
G. Anshari (*)
Magister of Environment, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
Soil science Department, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
e-mail: gzanshari@live.untan.ac.id
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_16
463