Peatlands in Malaysia are mainly lowland bog type, formed as peat swamp forests
which are dome-shaped with ombrogenous peat occupying the centre of the dome
(Zulkifley et al. 2016; Ten and Murtedza 2002; Tie 1990). Topogenous peatlands
have been recorded in various locations such as Tasek Bera in Pahang State.
Malaysia also has upland peats of which located on top of the mountain,
e.g. Cameron Highlands, Mount Kinabalu and other high altitude areas.
Malaysia has the second largest peat area in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. The
area of peatlands in Malaysia has been estimated at 2.56 million hectares
(Table 26.1) based on an analysis undertaken in 2019 with reference to data from
the State Agricultural Departments of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak
(DOE 2019a, b). This study estimated that Malaysia has 2,560,341 ha of peatlands
of which 714,156 ha is in Peninsular Malaysia, 200,600 ha in Sabah and
1,645,585 ha in Sarawak. Figure 26.1 shows the peatland area in Malaysia from
this analysis. The area of peatland in the country varies according to different authors
and studies. Paramananthan (2016) estimated that peat covers 8.4% of the total land
area of the country with the largest area in Sarawak State (1,765,547 ha), followed by
Peninsular Malaysia (796,782 ha) and Sabah (200,600 ha).
26.2 Peatland Function and Land Use
Peatland ecosystems perform many different ecological functions. Peat holds
approximately 90% of water by weight. The ability to hold water helps to maintain
GWL and act as flood control. The water from floods held in natural peatlands is
Table 26.1 Peat distribution in Malaysia (adapted from DOE 2019a, b)
State
Land Area
(ha)
a
Peat soils in State
(ha)
b
% peat
(State)
% peat
(country)
Johor
1,916,600
187,151
9.76
7.31
Kelantan
1,504,000
7692
0.51
0.30
Negeri Sembilan
665,600
6220
0.93
0.24
Perak
2,097,600
75,124
3.58
2.93
Pahang
3,596,500
196,050
5.45
7.66
Sabah
7,390,400
200, 600
2.71
7.83
Sarawak
12,445,000
1,645,585
13.22
64.27
Selangor
795,100
173,198
21.78
6.76
Terengganu
1,305,200
68,338
5.24
2.67
Wilayah Persekutuan
(Putrajaya)
10,429
383
3.67
0.01
Total Malaysia Land Area
33,062,100
2,560,341
7.74
100.00
Note:
a Data of 2017 from Department of Statistics, Malaysia
b Department of Environment
(2019a, b)
26 National Strategies on Responsible Management of Tropical Peatland in Malaysia
679
which are dome-shaped with ombrogenous peat occupying the centre of the dome
(Zulkifley et al. 2016; Ten and Murtedza 2002; Tie 1990). Topogenous peatlands
have been recorded in various locations such as Tasek Bera in Pahang State.
Malaysia also has upland peats of which located on top of the mountain,
e.g. Cameron Highlands, Mount Kinabalu and other high altitude areas.
Malaysia has the second largest peat area in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. The
area of peatlands in Malaysia has been estimated at 2.56 million hectares
(Table 26.1) based on an analysis undertaken in 2019 with reference to data from
the State Agricultural Departments of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak
(DOE 2019a, b). This study estimated that Malaysia has 2,560,341 ha of peatlands
of which 714,156 ha is in Peninsular Malaysia, 200,600 ha in Sabah and
1,645,585 ha in Sarawak. Figure 26.1 shows the peatland area in Malaysia from
this analysis. The area of peatland in the country varies according to different authors
and studies. Paramananthan (2016) estimated that peat covers 8.4% of the total land
area of the country with the largest area in Sarawak State (1,765,547 ha), followed by
Peninsular Malaysia (796,782 ha) and Sabah (200,600 ha).
26.2 Peatland Function and Land Use
Peatland ecosystems perform many different ecological functions. Peat holds
approximately 90% of water by weight. The ability to hold water helps to maintain
GWL and act as flood control. The water from floods held in natural peatlands is
Table 26.1 Peat distribution in Malaysia (adapted from DOE 2019a, b)
State
Land Area
(ha)
a
Peat soils in State
(ha)
b
% peat
(State)
% peat
(country)
Johor
1,916,600
187,151
9.76
7.31
Kelantan
1,504,000
7692
0.51
0.30
Negeri Sembilan
665,600
6220
0.93
0.24
Perak
2,097,600
75,124
3.58
2.93
Pahang
3,596,500
196,050
5.45
7.66
Sabah
7,390,400
200, 600
2.71
7.83
Sarawak
12,445,000
1,645,585
13.22
64.27
Selangor
795,100
173,198
21.78
6.76
Terengganu
1,305,200
68,338
5.24
2.67
Wilayah Persekutuan
(Putrajaya)
10,429
383
3.67
0.01
Total Malaysia Land Area
33,062,100
2,560,341
7.74
100.00
Note:
a Data of 2017 from Department of Statistics, Malaysia
b Department of Environment
(2019a, b)
26 National Strategies on Responsible Management of Tropical Peatland in Malaysia
679