(Dohong et al. 2018). The practice of peatland hydrological restoration in Indonesia
has been ongoing since the last two decades, carried out by various stakeholders as
an attempt to improve hydrological management of drained peatland resulted from
excessive construction of artificial canals in peatland areas in Central Kalimantan,
South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau. Irrespective of this positive effort, most of the said
hydrological restoration activities implemented were rather small in terms of scale
and size and used “trial and error” approach (Dohong et al. 2018).
Further, ideally, implementing hydrological restoration needs a good strategy and
planning, proper technical interventions, as well as good monitoring and evaluation.
This chapter presents peatland hydrological management practice based on experiences and lessons learnt in Indonesia.
20.2 Contributing Factors of Peatlands Hydrology
Disturbances in Indonesia
20.2.1 Over-Drainage Caused by Excessive Artificial Canal
Construction
The first contributing factor to the disturbance of peatland hydrology is the construction of artificial drainage canals. The construction of artificial canals on
peatland in Indonesia is normally conducted for activities such as logging, agriculture, and other land uses. The main objective of constructing these artificial canals is
to lower the water level and elevate the peatland surface to ensure that the land can be
used for activities (Charman 2009; Rydin and Jeglum 2013; Dohong et al. 2017a, b).
Further, the function of drainage canals relies on the type of land use undertaken.
For example, in the agriculture and plantation sectors, the drained canals are used for
the followings: first, lowering the groundwater level (GWL) so that crops can be
planted on the peat; and, second, transporting agricultural products to the local
processing industry or markets (Jaenicke et al. 2010; Dohong et al. 2017a, b).
Meanwhile, in forestry concession areas, artificial canals are mainly used for navigating boats or transporting felled logs from the interior of the forest to the nearest
river as well as the downstream wood-processing industries (Jaenicke et al. 2010).
Despite the aforementioned usages, the existence of artificial drainage canals
within peatland ecosystem disrupts the natural hydrological balance. Artificial canals
produce two major hydrological impacts, namely increasing the surface water runoff
out of the peatland ecosystem and reducing the water storage capacity. As a result,
water balance will be decreased due to water outflow from the system and creating
further negative impacts to the peatland such as increased peat oxidation, consolidation, and shrinkage that can exacerbate peat subsidence, release of carbon emission, and fire risk (Holden et al. 2004; Rydin and Jeglum 2013; Ritzema et al. 2014;
Dohong 2016).
20 Hydrological Management Practices
569
has been ongoing since the last two decades, carried out by various stakeholders as
an attempt to improve hydrological management of drained peatland resulted from
excessive construction of artificial canals in peatland areas in Central Kalimantan,
South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau. Irrespective of this positive effort, most of the said
hydrological restoration activities implemented were rather small in terms of scale
and size and used “trial and error” approach (Dohong et al. 2018).
Further, ideally, implementing hydrological restoration needs a good strategy and
planning, proper technical interventions, as well as good monitoring and evaluation.
This chapter presents peatland hydrological management practice based on experiences and lessons learnt in Indonesia.
20.2 Contributing Factors of Peatlands Hydrology
Disturbances in Indonesia
20.2.1 Over-Drainage Caused by Excessive Artificial Canal
Construction
The first contributing factor to the disturbance of peatland hydrology is the construction of artificial drainage canals. The construction of artificial canals on
peatland in Indonesia is normally conducted for activities such as logging, agriculture, and other land uses. The main objective of constructing these artificial canals is
to lower the water level and elevate the peatland surface to ensure that the land can be
used for activities (Charman 2009; Rydin and Jeglum 2013; Dohong et al. 2017a, b).
Further, the function of drainage canals relies on the type of land use undertaken.
For example, in the agriculture and plantation sectors, the drained canals are used for
the followings: first, lowering the groundwater level (GWL) so that crops can be
planted on the peat; and, second, transporting agricultural products to the local
processing industry or markets (Jaenicke et al. 2010; Dohong et al. 2017a, b).
Meanwhile, in forestry concession areas, artificial canals are mainly used for navigating boats or transporting felled logs from the interior of the forest to the nearest
river as well as the downstream wood-processing industries (Jaenicke et al. 2010).
Despite the aforementioned usages, the existence of artificial drainage canals
within peatland ecosystem disrupts the natural hydrological balance. Artificial canals
produce two major hydrological impacts, namely increasing the surface water runoff
out of the peatland ecosystem and reducing the water storage capacity. As a result,
water balance will be decreased due to water outflow from the system and creating
further negative impacts to the peatland such as increased peat oxidation, consolidation, and shrinkage that can exacerbate peat subsidence, release of carbon emission, and fire risk (Holden et al. 2004; Rydin and Jeglum 2013; Ritzema et al. 2014;
Dohong 2016).
20 Hydrological Management Practices
569