financial support to the FPSF members as part of their alternative income
(enhancement of alternative livelihood).
The types of tree being raised in the FPSF nurseries are Melicope lunuankenda, Eugenia papillose, Duthie sp., and Alstonia Scholaris sp. These
types of tree are purposely chosen because of its ability to easily adapt to the
degraded areas and grow in drained areas. Moreover, these trees can survive at
open area and grow up to 30 meters in height.
This initiative focuses on the seedling buyback programme with small grants
and trainings for the members to empower them on how to collect wild seedlings, as well as set up and manage the nursery.
(b) Other business initiatives.
1. Handicraft making.
The local community, particularly women, are encouraged to venture into
the handicrafts production using peatland resources or the cottage industry. It
can be implemented through collaboration with the local government and
corporate sectors.
2. Ecotourism, recreation, research & education.
Apart from being ecologically important, peatlands also bear economic
significance as they harbour high quality timber species, provide many
non-timber forest species for local use, support fisheries, and many others.
Additionally, peatlands also play increasingly important role for the ecotourism industry, recreation, and research sites on ecosystem services.
24.3 Community-Based Rehabilitation Strategies
24.3.1 Hydrology Restoration/Rewetting
Restoration of hydrological regime at the degraded peatland areas is critical. It can be
done by keeping the peat soil wet to prevent further decomposition and peat soil
subsidence as well as to reduce the risk of fire. This process requires raising or
maintaining the water table through blocking of canals at the fire-risk areas.
The first step in rehabilitation is to stop drainage and restore the hydrology of the
degraded area. This is achieved by detailed mapping of the drainage network,
identifying the outlet points, building canal blocks at major outlet point and appropriate points (100–1000 m apart depending on the slope) along the drains, and
quickly establishing ground cover to improve the soil moisture. This is one of the
effective measures to prevent fires in peatland by restoring/rewetting as much as
possible within the peatlands, particularly during the dry weather by preventing
excessive drainage. In addition, this action also promotes the natural forest regeneration in areas affected by fires. It has been proven in the Permanent Reserved Forests
in Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Selangor, and Terengganu states.
658
N. Rengasamy and F. Parish
(enhancement of alternative livelihood).
The types of tree being raised in the FPSF nurseries are Melicope lunuankenda, Eugenia papillose, Duthie sp., and Alstonia Scholaris sp. These
types of tree are purposely chosen because of its ability to easily adapt to the
degraded areas and grow in drained areas. Moreover, these trees can survive at
open area and grow up to 30 meters in height.
This initiative focuses on the seedling buyback programme with small grants
and trainings for the members to empower them on how to collect wild seedlings, as well as set up and manage the nursery.
(b) Other business initiatives.
1. Handicraft making.
The local community, particularly women, are encouraged to venture into
the handicrafts production using peatland resources or the cottage industry. It
can be implemented through collaboration with the local government and
corporate sectors.
2. Ecotourism, recreation, research & education.
Apart from being ecologically important, peatlands also bear economic
significance as they harbour high quality timber species, provide many
non-timber forest species for local use, support fisheries, and many others.
Additionally, peatlands also play increasingly important role for the ecotourism industry, recreation, and research sites on ecosystem services.
24.3 Community-Based Rehabilitation Strategies
24.3.1 Hydrology Restoration/Rewetting
Restoration of hydrological regime at the degraded peatland areas is critical. It can be
done by keeping the peat soil wet to prevent further decomposition and peat soil
subsidence as well as to reduce the risk of fire. This process requires raising or
maintaining the water table through blocking of canals at the fire-risk areas.
The first step in rehabilitation is to stop drainage and restore the hydrology of the
degraded area. This is achieved by detailed mapping of the drainage network,
identifying the outlet points, building canal blocks at major outlet point and appropriate points (100–1000 m apart depending on the slope) along the drains, and
quickly establishing ground cover to improve the soil moisture. This is one of the
effective measures to prevent fires in peatland by restoring/rewetting as much as
possible within the peatlands, particularly during the dry weather by preventing
excessive drainage. In addition, this action also promotes the natural forest regeneration in areas affected by fires. It has been proven in the Permanent Reserved Forests
in Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Selangor, and Terengganu states.
658
N. Rengasamy and F. Parish