oxygen can solubilize into water, and thus, tropical ecosystems tend to be deficient in
oxygen and to sequester organic matter. In fact, the tropical zone, especially
peatlands and wetlands, is defined as a “high carbon/water reservoir ecosystem,”
indicating that this zone is a high priority for planetary (Earth) boundary issues.
Thus, a tropical peatland is a milestone that maintains the stability of the planetary
(Earth) boundary. However, it is unfortunate that tropical peatlands, even in restoration programs, are still developing because almost all programs related to tropical
peatland management are based on “drainage systems,” which cause the destruction
and decomposition of tropical peatlands, and “development mechanisms” are still
applied. Here, therefore, tropical peatland management based on an “irrigation
system,” which involves sustainable conservation of tropical peatland by applying
“envelopment mechanisms,” is proposed. Natural capital management by “envelopment mechanisms” to enhance tropical peatlands is proposed (1) to manage high
groundwater levels (GWLs), (2) to manage land surfaces referred to as aerohydro
culture under a high GWL, (3) to produce a high amount of biomass to achieve high
carbon sequestration and a carbon-negative system, (4) to establish an intergraded
MRV (measuring, reporting, and verifying) system in the tropics or equator orbiter,
referred to here as “informatics based on Earth Observation System” (iEOS), and
(5) to create values of natural capital such an economy value chain and ecology value
chain.
The key concepts related to “Tropical Peatland Eco-management” have been
derived from the book titled “Tropical Peatland Ecosystems” published by Springer
in 2016, which was downloaded approximately 40,000 times by December 2019. In
this book, we found that tree biomass productivity is very high in native tropical
peatlands with high GWLs, which is opposite from common knowledge because
plant growth is normally the poorest under a high GWL (low oxygen supply) and
nutrient-poor conditions. Thus, to manage tropical peatlands appropriately, a native
tropical peatland ecosystem is mimicked, and then, “tropical peatland
eco-management” is implemented, following an innovative concept and technology
referred to as envelopment mechanisms of natural capital based on the water–plant–
carbon link, called as “Water–TREE–Carbon linkage Model.”
Here, “Tropical Peatland Eco-management” is highlighted as an innovative
management option for tropical peatlands; in addition, the tropical zone boundary
of a tropical peatland is a climax ecosystem in the tropics characterized as a high
carbon/water reservoir ecosystem.
We are grateful to PT, Wana Subur Lestari, and BRG through the Norwegian
grant via UNOPS for financial support to publish this book.
Sapporo, Japan
Mitsuru Osaki
6 September 2020
vi
Preface
oxygen and to sequester organic matter. In fact, the tropical zone, especially
peatlands and wetlands, is defined as a “high carbon/water reservoir ecosystem,”
indicating that this zone is a high priority for planetary (Earth) boundary issues.
Thus, a tropical peatland is a milestone that maintains the stability of the planetary
(Earth) boundary. However, it is unfortunate that tropical peatlands, even in restoration programs, are still developing because almost all programs related to tropical
peatland management are based on “drainage systems,” which cause the destruction
and decomposition of tropical peatlands, and “development mechanisms” are still
applied. Here, therefore, tropical peatland management based on an “irrigation
system,” which involves sustainable conservation of tropical peatland by applying
“envelopment mechanisms,” is proposed. Natural capital management by “envelopment mechanisms” to enhance tropical peatlands is proposed (1) to manage high
groundwater levels (GWLs), (2) to manage land surfaces referred to as aerohydro
culture under a high GWL, (3) to produce a high amount of biomass to achieve high
carbon sequestration and a carbon-negative system, (4) to establish an intergraded
MRV (measuring, reporting, and verifying) system in the tropics or equator orbiter,
referred to here as “informatics based on Earth Observation System” (iEOS), and
(5) to create values of natural capital such an economy value chain and ecology value
chain.
The key concepts related to “Tropical Peatland Eco-management” have been
derived from the book titled “Tropical Peatland Ecosystems” published by Springer
in 2016, which was downloaded approximately 40,000 times by December 2019. In
this book, we found that tree biomass productivity is very high in native tropical
peatlands with high GWLs, which is opposite from common knowledge because
plant growth is normally the poorest under a high GWL (low oxygen supply) and
nutrient-poor conditions. Thus, to manage tropical peatlands appropriately, a native
tropical peatland ecosystem is mimicked, and then, “tropical peatland
eco-management” is implemented, following an innovative concept and technology
referred to as envelopment mechanisms of natural capital based on the water–plant–
carbon link, called as “Water–TREE–Carbon linkage Model.”
Here, “Tropical Peatland Eco-management” is highlighted as an innovative
management option for tropical peatlands; in addition, the tropical zone boundary
of a tropical peatland is a climax ecosystem in the tropics characterized as a high
carbon/water reservoir ecosystem.
We are grateful to PT, Wana Subur Lestari, and BRG through the Norwegian
grant via UNOPS for financial support to publish this book.
Sapporo, Japan
Mitsuru Osaki
6 September 2020
vi
Preface