Key principles for integrated management of peatlands are given in the guidelines
for Integrated Management Planning for Peatland Forests in Southeast Asia (D’Cruz
2014) as follows:
1. Recognition of the critical function of tropical peatland forests in retaining and
distributing water across the peatland landscape;
2. Recognition of the complex interaction of climate, hydrology, geology, ecology
and time on the creation and evolution of peatland forests;
3. Recognition of the need for inter-disciplinary collaboration and coordination
when working towards integrated management planning;
4. Recognition that good will, compromise and communication among stakeholders
will be invaluable in the pursuit of a complex and dynamic result—healthy,
functioning peatland forests that approximate natural systems as best as current
knowledge and capabilities allowed;
5. Recognition that best practices will evolve with continued research, monitoring
and adaptive management.
As a matter of “good practice”, planners and managers need to build these crosscutting principles into all components of their work, to ensure that the coordination
and coherence required for effective results are actually achieved.
18.5.9 Rewetting and Revegetation Management of Natural
Hydrological Regime
The proper management of the hydrological regime is critical to the success of any
conservation or rehabilitation measures on peatland (Parish et al. 2019b). There
should not be any artificial drainage in peatland areas identified for conservation as
this will ultimately lead to degradation and/or loss of peat. In the areas of plantation
bordering peatland conservation areas, the ground water level (GWL) should be
maintained as high as possible to minimize the effects of drainage from the plantation area into peatland (off-side impacts). If replanting is required as part of rehabilitation, only indigenous peatland plant species that are tolerant to high GWL and
do not require any drainage should be used. The emphasis should be on hydrological
restoration rather than, or at least in parallel to, any replanting programmes.
One activity that greatly impacts adjacent areas during the development of oil
palm plantations on peatlands is the digging of canals and ditches in these areas. This
often occurs during the timber removal or land clearing phases, as timber may be
extracted via canals and water tables may also be artificially lowered to allow access
for heavy machinery. These peatland canals and ditches typically exit into main
canals or rivers. When these canals and ditches are poorly constructed, large
amounts of soil (fresh litter and peat) are intentionally or unintentionally discarded
into rivers. This leads to changes in river morphology and water quality. Subsequently, this will have detrimental effects on aquatic life and biodiversity as well as
526
F. Parish et al.
for Integrated Management Planning for Peatland Forests in Southeast Asia (D’Cruz
2014) as follows:
1. Recognition of the critical function of tropical peatland forests in retaining and
distributing water across the peatland landscape;
2. Recognition of the complex interaction of climate, hydrology, geology, ecology
and time on the creation and evolution of peatland forests;
3. Recognition of the need for inter-disciplinary collaboration and coordination
when working towards integrated management planning;
4. Recognition that good will, compromise and communication among stakeholders
will be invaluable in the pursuit of a complex and dynamic result—healthy,
functioning peatland forests that approximate natural systems as best as current
knowledge and capabilities allowed;
5. Recognition that best practices will evolve with continued research, monitoring
and adaptive management.
As a matter of “good practice”, planners and managers need to build these crosscutting principles into all components of their work, to ensure that the coordination
and coherence required for effective results are actually achieved.
18.5.9 Rewetting and Revegetation Management of Natural
Hydrological Regime
The proper management of the hydrological regime is critical to the success of any
conservation or rehabilitation measures on peatland (Parish et al. 2019b). There
should not be any artificial drainage in peatland areas identified for conservation as
this will ultimately lead to degradation and/or loss of peat. In the areas of plantation
bordering peatland conservation areas, the ground water level (GWL) should be
maintained as high as possible to minimize the effects of drainage from the plantation area into peatland (off-side impacts). If replanting is required as part of rehabilitation, only indigenous peatland plant species that are tolerant to high GWL and
do not require any drainage should be used. The emphasis should be on hydrological
restoration rather than, or at least in parallel to, any replanting programmes.
One activity that greatly impacts adjacent areas during the development of oil
palm plantations on peatlands is the digging of canals and ditches in these areas. This
often occurs during the timber removal or land clearing phases, as timber may be
extracted via canals and water tables may also be artificially lowered to allow access
for heavy machinery. These peatland canals and ditches typically exit into main
canals or rivers. When these canals and ditches are poorly constructed, large
amounts of soil (fresh litter and peat) are intentionally or unintentionally discarded
into rivers. This leads to changes in river morphology and water quality. Subsequently, this will have detrimental effects on aquatic life and biodiversity as well as
526
F. Parish et al.