21.1 Introduction
Out of 4.5 million ha of the degraded tropical peatlands in Indonesia, 1.1 million ha
lies in Central Kalimantan Province (Wahyunto et al. 2013). The degradation of the
tropical peatland in Central Kalimantan was caused by agriculture expansion that
required drainage, conversion into other land uses such as an oil palm plantation,
illegal logging, and forest fire (Silvius and Diemont 2007; Wicke et al. 2011; Joosten
et al. 2012). If the degradation continues, it will result in irreversible degradation
which can be difficult to preserve (Miettinen and Liew 2010). In 2015, Indonesian
tropical peatland forests, specifically in Central Kalimantan experienced fire disaster.
Since the 2015 fire, serious actions have been taken by the government of Indonesia
including the establishment of the Indonesian Peatland Restoration Agency (Badan
Restorasi Gambut/BRG) in the early 2016 through the Presidential Decree
No. 1. BRG has the mandate to restore the Indonesian degraded peatland of 2 million
ha by 2020.
BRG has three approaches to restore the degraded peatlands, i.e. rewetting,
revegetation, and revitalization of local livelihood. Based on the peatland utilization
survey carried out by the Banjarbaru Environment and Forestry R&D Institute for
the farmers in South and Central Kalimantan who cultivated the non-peatland
commodities, consequently the farmers needed to dry the peatlands and eventually
they adversely affected the peatland ecosystem (BEFORDI 2017). Furthermore,
Joosten et al. (2012) recommended paludiculture, which is a land use option viable
for wet condition. Paludiculture offers an option for degraded peatland management
which is in line with BRG’s strategy (Tata 2019).
According to Page and Waldes (2008), the restoration of degraded peatlands
needs to consider the peat forest ecosystem which covers diverse endemic tree
species. These species are required because they have the ability and suitability to
adapt to the site condition. The potential forest tree species for peatland rehabilitation
in Central Kalimantan include blangeran (Shorea balangeran), jelutong (Dyera
polyphylla), punak (Tetramerista glabra), takapas (Stemonourus spp.), and nyatoh
(Palaquium spp.) (Joosten et al. 2012; Graham et al. 2017).
This paper presents the utilization of Shorea balangeran in the revegetation of
burnt peat swamp forest in Tumbang Nusa Research Forest (KHDTK Tumbang
Nusa), Pulang Pisau District, Central Kalimantan Province. Geographically,
KHDTK Tumbang Nusa is located between 0
o 8’48
00 to 3
o 27’00
00 south and
113
o 2’36
00 to 114
o 44’00
00 east. In this area, the peat depth is up to 4 m. In 2015,
approximately 2500 ha of the peatland forest were burnt. Started in November 2015,
the peatland restoration was carried out in this area, including the establishment of
canal blockings, monitoring of the water level, and planting of Shorea balangeran
seedlings.
596
T. W. Yuwati et al.
Out of 4.5 million ha of the degraded tropical peatlands in Indonesia, 1.1 million ha
lies in Central Kalimantan Province (Wahyunto et al. 2013). The degradation of the
tropical peatland in Central Kalimantan was caused by agriculture expansion that
required drainage, conversion into other land uses such as an oil palm plantation,
illegal logging, and forest fire (Silvius and Diemont 2007; Wicke et al. 2011; Joosten
et al. 2012). If the degradation continues, it will result in irreversible degradation
which can be difficult to preserve (Miettinen and Liew 2010). In 2015, Indonesian
tropical peatland forests, specifically in Central Kalimantan experienced fire disaster.
Since the 2015 fire, serious actions have been taken by the government of Indonesia
including the establishment of the Indonesian Peatland Restoration Agency (Badan
Restorasi Gambut/BRG) in the early 2016 through the Presidential Decree
No. 1. BRG has the mandate to restore the Indonesian degraded peatland of 2 million
ha by 2020.
BRG has three approaches to restore the degraded peatlands, i.e. rewetting,
revegetation, and revitalization of local livelihood. Based on the peatland utilization
survey carried out by the Banjarbaru Environment and Forestry R&D Institute for
the farmers in South and Central Kalimantan who cultivated the non-peatland
commodities, consequently the farmers needed to dry the peatlands and eventually
they adversely affected the peatland ecosystem (BEFORDI 2017). Furthermore,
Joosten et al. (2012) recommended paludiculture, which is a land use option viable
for wet condition. Paludiculture offers an option for degraded peatland management
which is in line with BRG’s strategy (Tata 2019).
According to Page and Waldes (2008), the restoration of degraded peatlands
needs to consider the peat forest ecosystem which covers diverse endemic tree
species. These species are required because they have the ability and suitability to
adapt to the site condition. The potential forest tree species for peatland rehabilitation
in Central Kalimantan include blangeran (Shorea balangeran), jelutong (Dyera
polyphylla), punak (Tetramerista glabra), takapas (Stemonourus spp.), and nyatoh
(Palaquium spp.) (Joosten et al. 2012; Graham et al. 2017).
This paper presents the utilization of Shorea balangeran in the revegetation of
burnt peat swamp forest in Tumbang Nusa Research Forest (KHDTK Tumbang
Nusa), Pulang Pisau District, Central Kalimantan Province. Geographically,
KHDTK Tumbang Nusa is located between 0
o 8’48
00 to 3
o 27’00
00 south and
113
o 2’36
00 to 114
o 44’00
00 east. In this area, the peat depth is up to 4 m. In 2015,
approximately 2500 ha of the peatland forest were burnt. Started in November 2015,
the peatland restoration was carried out in this area, including the establishment of
canal blockings, monitoring of the water level, and planting of Shorea balangeran
seedlings.
596
T. W. Yuwati et al.