coordinate and facilitate the stakeholders’ efforts in sustainably managing the
peatland ecosystems in the country.
Keywords Rehabilitation · National Action Plan on Peatlands (NAPP) · National
Policy on Biological Diversity · Peatland fire · Sustainable management
26.1 Introduction
Peatland is the most extensive wetland ecosystem in Malaysia covering approximately 2.56 million ha or 7.5% of total land area of the country (DOE 2019a, b).
Tropical organic soils or histosols are soils with cumulative organic layer
(s) comprising more than half of the upper 80 cm or 100 cm of the soil surface
containing 35% or more of organic matter (35% or more Loss on Ignition) or 18% or
more organic carbon (RSPO 2018; Soil Survey Staff 2014; FAO 1998). In Malaysia,
histosols have been divided into peat and muck soils with peat being defined as
having more than 65% organic matter and muck soils having 35–65% organic matter
content (Paramananthan 2016). Peat soils consist of partly decomposed biomass and
develop when the rate of biomass accumulation from vegetation is greater than the
rate of decomposition. The rate of decomposition is reduced due to the presence of
permanently high ground water level (GWL) that prevents the aerobic decomposition of plant debris (Andriesse 1988; Driessen 1978).
Peat is formed by organic matter that accumulates to a certain thickness. It is
made up of semi-decomposed plant material mainly tree roots; therefore, tree-trunks,
twigs and leaves are commonly found embedded. The presence of wood and its
degree of decomposition, along with stratification and packing intensity determine
properties of the peat such as bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and the moisture
holding capacity. Moisture holding capacity of peat is strongly related to the degree
of decomposition, whereby the least decomposed material can hold between 500%
and 1000% of water in contrast to more decomposed material is able to hold only
200–600% of water. However, when the peat is burned, the structure changes
dramatically and water holding capacity may be reduced by 50% (Pahang State
Forestry Department 2005).
In peatland areas, year-round waterlogged conditions slow the process of plant
decomposition to such an extent that dead plants accumulate to form peat. Peat
production occurs when plant matter decomposes slower than the rate at which plant
material is added. Other factors that encourage peat development are acidity environment and a shortage of important nutrients. Over millennia this material builds up
and becomes several meters thick. Most peat in Southeast Asia is about 4000 years
old and decomposes at a rapid rate when exposed to aerobic conditions
(Paramananthan 2008).
Peatland is classified into two main types, namely ombrogenous and topogenous.
Ombrogenous peatlands or bogs are rain fed, poor in nutrients and dome shaped,
whereas topogenous peatlands develop in lakes or depressions in the landscape with
higher mineral input (Parish et al. 2019a).
678
F. Parish et al.
peatland ecosystems in the country.
Keywords Rehabilitation · National Action Plan on Peatlands (NAPP) · National
Policy on Biological Diversity · Peatland fire · Sustainable management
26.1 Introduction
Peatland is the most extensive wetland ecosystem in Malaysia covering approximately 2.56 million ha or 7.5% of total land area of the country (DOE 2019a, b).
Tropical organic soils or histosols are soils with cumulative organic layer
(s) comprising more than half of the upper 80 cm or 100 cm of the soil surface
containing 35% or more of organic matter (35% or more Loss on Ignition) or 18% or
more organic carbon (RSPO 2018; Soil Survey Staff 2014; FAO 1998). In Malaysia,
histosols have been divided into peat and muck soils with peat being defined as
having more than 65% organic matter and muck soils having 35–65% organic matter
content (Paramananthan 2016). Peat soils consist of partly decomposed biomass and
develop when the rate of biomass accumulation from vegetation is greater than the
rate of decomposition. The rate of decomposition is reduced due to the presence of
permanently high ground water level (GWL) that prevents the aerobic decomposition of plant debris (Andriesse 1988; Driessen 1978).
Peat is formed by organic matter that accumulates to a certain thickness. It is
made up of semi-decomposed plant material mainly tree roots; therefore, tree-trunks,
twigs and leaves are commonly found embedded. The presence of wood and its
degree of decomposition, along with stratification and packing intensity determine
properties of the peat such as bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and the moisture
holding capacity. Moisture holding capacity of peat is strongly related to the degree
of decomposition, whereby the least decomposed material can hold between 500%
and 1000% of water in contrast to more decomposed material is able to hold only
200–600% of water. However, when the peat is burned, the structure changes
dramatically and water holding capacity may be reduced by 50% (Pahang State
Forestry Department 2005).
In peatland areas, year-round waterlogged conditions slow the process of plant
decomposition to such an extent that dead plants accumulate to form peat. Peat
production occurs when plant matter decomposes slower than the rate at which plant
material is added. Other factors that encourage peat development are acidity environment and a shortage of important nutrients. Over millennia this material builds up
and becomes several meters thick. Most peat in Southeast Asia is about 4000 years
old and decomposes at a rapid rate when exposed to aerobic conditions
(Paramananthan 2008).
Peatland is classified into two main types, namely ombrogenous and topogenous.
Ombrogenous peatlands or bogs are rain fed, poor in nutrients and dome shaped,
whereas topogenous peatlands develop in lakes or depressions in the landscape with
higher mineral input (Parish et al. 2019a).
678
F. Parish et al.