native trees to tropical peat swamp forests on the protected peat zone and fire
prevention and control. Under a good water management practice, if the water
table keeps high all year, it is expected to avoid peat fires and the reduction of
CO 2 emission up to 25% from drained peats cultivated with Acacia crassicarpa
(Evans et al. 2019). A surge of CH 4 emission from flooded peatland occurs for at
least 20 years (IPCC 2019).
At present, peatland is wrongly treated as a demanded property for expanding
agriculture, particularly oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), industrial Acacia timber, and
rice paddy (Oryza sativa). Consequently, anthropogenic pressures on tropical peat
swamp forests are incredibly high. Further, there is also a problematic challenge that
users of tropical peatlands consist of many actors who have different scales of
business interests. It is exciting to note that the influences of land-use changes in
tropical peatlands are altered not only the physical natures of the ecosystem but also
the change in people’s perception of how to use tropical peats. At present, people
prefer to occupy peatlands and then plant with commercial crops, particularly oil
palms, with a big hope to accumulate substantial economic gains. Purnomo et al.
(2018) reported that the use of fires in the development of oil palms returned
significant benefits to many actors who were in the supply chain of fire activities.
This study sparks a critical message that the management of tropical peatlands must
have a fair distribution of benefits to all users.
The current peatland restoration also needs to focus on how to attract user’s
participation in peatland restoration. At present, all management practices related to
peatland restoration are centrally rooted in the strict technical guideline described in
the government rule. For example, the only method for peat inventory must follow a
grid system, where the government must officially approve the sample plots. Other
inventory methods are not acceptable. Similarly, species selection for revegetation is
also limited, as described in the existing rule. A room of participation is not
widely open, limiting users’ participation to innovate the best management practices.
16.8 Conclusion
Land-use changes and drainage cause degradation of tropical peats. These disturbances lead to physical changes and loss of biodiversity and cause irreversible
changes in the qualitative attributions of tropical peat swamp forests. These attributions are singularity and circularity, which surely disappear as a result of anthropogenic disturbances. The first attribution reveals the uniqueness of tropical peats and
the complex collaboration of living creatures in tropical peat swamp forest ecosystems to adapt with a water-logged environment and limited availability of nutrients.
Meanwhile, the following attribution refers to the circularity in the use of energy and
matter, which are essential for supporting the productivity of peat-forming vegetation. Under disturbances, i.e., deforestation and drainage, the attribution disappears,
and peat falls into degradation status. Accordingly, peat restoration is needed.
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G. Anshari
prevention and control. Under a good water management practice, if the water
table keeps high all year, it is expected to avoid peat fires and the reduction of
CO 2 emission up to 25% from drained peats cultivated with Acacia crassicarpa
(Evans et al. 2019). A surge of CH 4 emission from flooded peatland occurs for at
least 20 years (IPCC 2019).
At present, peatland is wrongly treated as a demanded property for expanding
agriculture, particularly oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), industrial Acacia timber, and
rice paddy (Oryza sativa). Consequently, anthropogenic pressures on tropical peat
swamp forests are incredibly high. Further, there is also a problematic challenge that
users of tropical peatlands consist of many actors who have different scales of
business interests. It is exciting to note that the influences of land-use changes in
tropical peatlands are altered not only the physical natures of the ecosystem but also
the change in people’s perception of how to use tropical peats. At present, people
prefer to occupy peatlands and then plant with commercial crops, particularly oil
palms, with a big hope to accumulate substantial economic gains. Purnomo et al.
(2018) reported that the use of fires in the development of oil palms returned
significant benefits to many actors who were in the supply chain of fire activities.
This study sparks a critical message that the management of tropical peatlands must
have a fair distribution of benefits to all users.
The current peatland restoration also needs to focus on how to attract user’s
participation in peatland restoration. At present, all management practices related to
peatland restoration are centrally rooted in the strict technical guideline described in
the government rule. For example, the only method for peat inventory must follow a
grid system, where the government must officially approve the sample plots. Other
inventory methods are not acceptable. Similarly, species selection for revegetation is
also limited, as described in the existing rule. A room of participation is not
widely open, limiting users’ participation to innovate the best management practices.
16.8 Conclusion
Land-use changes and drainage cause degradation of tropical peats. These disturbances lead to physical changes and loss of biodiversity and cause irreversible
changes in the qualitative attributions of tropical peat swamp forests. These attributions are singularity and circularity, which surely disappear as a result of anthropogenic disturbances. The first attribution reveals the uniqueness of tropical peats and
the complex collaboration of living creatures in tropical peat swamp forest ecosystems to adapt with a water-logged environment and limited availability of nutrients.
Meanwhile, the following attribution refers to the circularity in the use of energy and
matter, which are essential for supporting the productivity of peat-forming vegetation. Under disturbances, i.e., deforestation and drainage, the attribution disappears,
and peat falls into degradation status. Accordingly, peat restoration is needed.
472
G. Anshari