peatland is extremely difficult, compared with fire in areas where there is no peatland
(Wetlands International 2005). The spread of ground fire in peatlands is difficult to
detect, because it can extend down to deeper levels or to more distant areas without
being visible from the surface. If a peat fire is not quickly suppressed, or if it has
already penetrated far into the peat layer, it will be difficult to extinguish. The
capacity to absorb rainwater is lost for severely degraded peatlands, hence groundwater levels will only recover with continuous precipitation (Putra et al. 2018).
Moreover, the main obstacles to putting out fires are difficulties in obtaining large
quantities of water nearby and gaining access to the site of the blaze. For these
reasons, severe/extensive peatland fires can often only be extinguished by natural
means, i.e. long consistent periods of heavy rain. The ASEAN Guidelines on
Peatland Fire Management (ASEAN 2015) emphasize that 70% of the effort needs
to be placed on fire prevention with the balance of effort for preparedness, response
and recovery post fire.
Plantations can help prevent peat fires by implementing the following:
• Zero Burning approaches for all land clearing/replanting activities.
• Maintenance of high ground water level.
• Effective surveillance and monitoring.
• Formation and operation of land and peat forest fire suppression units.
• Collaboration with adjacent stakeholders and communities for common fire
prevention.
18.5.7 Minimization of Emission of Greenhouse Gases
(GHGs) from Oil Palm Plantations on Peatland
A commitment toward improving sustainability and reducing emission of GHGs has
continued to expand across the palm oil industry. A large range of new and improved
management practices that result in emission reductions are emerging and being
adopted by many companies. The transformation of an intact peatland area to oil
palm plantation leads to a release of carbon and other GHGs to the atmosphere
(De Vries et al. 2010; Hooijer et al. 2010; Cooper et al. 2020; Matysek et al. 2018).
When oil palm plantations are developed on peatland, oxidation due to drainage, the
possible increased fire frequency and carbon losses, in the case that forest is cleared,
are the major sources of significant increases in GHGs emissions. Page et al. (2011)
reviewed a large number of assessments of GHGs emission from peatlands in
Southeast Asia and concluded that the best available estimate of GHGs emission
from oil palm plantations on peatland was 86 t CO 2 per ha per year (annualized over
50 years) based on combined subsidence measurements and closed chamber measurements in the same plantation landscape.
Methane emission from open water bodies such as drainage canals and ponds
is likely to impact the methane balance (Manning et al. 2017). This may be
significant since the water surface from the drainage canals may account for up to
18 Role of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Tropical Peatland. . .
523
(Wetlands International 2005). The spread of ground fire in peatlands is difficult to
detect, because it can extend down to deeper levels or to more distant areas without
being visible from the surface. If a peat fire is not quickly suppressed, or if it has
already penetrated far into the peat layer, it will be difficult to extinguish. The
capacity to absorb rainwater is lost for severely degraded peatlands, hence groundwater levels will only recover with continuous precipitation (Putra et al. 2018).
Moreover, the main obstacles to putting out fires are difficulties in obtaining large
quantities of water nearby and gaining access to the site of the blaze. For these
reasons, severe/extensive peatland fires can often only be extinguished by natural
means, i.e. long consistent periods of heavy rain. The ASEAN Guidelines on
Peatland Fire Management (ASEAN 2015) emphasize that 70% of the effort needs
to be placed on fire prevention with the balance of effort for preparedness, response
and recovery post fire.
Plantations can help prevent peat fires by implementing the following:
• Zero Burning approaches for all land clearing/replanting activities.
• Maintenance of high ground water level.
• Effective surveillance and monitoring.
• Formation and operation of land and peat forest fire suppression units.
• Collaboration with adjacent stakeholders and communities for common fire
prevention.
18.5.7 Minimization of Emission of Greenhouse Gases
(GHGs) from Oil Palm Plantations on Peatland
A commitment toward improving sustainability and reducing emission of GHGs has
continued to expand across the palm oil industry. A large range of new and improved
management practices that result in emission reductions are emerging and being
adopted by many companies. The transformation of an intact peatland area to oil
palm plantation leads to a release of carbon and other GHGs to the atmosphere
(De Vries et al. 2010; Hooijer et al. 2010; Cooper et al. 2020; Matysek et al. 2018).
When oil palm plantations are developed on peatland, oxidation due to drainage, the
possible increased fire frequency and carbon losses, in the case that forest is cleared,
are the major sources of significant increases in GHGs emissions. Page et al. (2011)
reviewed a large number of assessments of GHGs emission from peatlands in
Southeast Asia and concluded that the best available estimate of GHGs emission
from oil palm plantations on peatland was 86 t CO 2 per ha per year (annualized over
50 years) based on combined subsidence measurements and closed chamber measurements in the same plantation landscape.
Methane emission from open water bodies such as drainage canals and ponds
is likely to impact the methane balance (Manning et al. 2017). This may be
significant since the water surface from the drainage canals may account for up to
18 Role of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Tropical Peatland. . .
523