(UNDP 2006). The deepest peatlands in Malaysia are in Sarawak where depths of
more than 20 m have been recorded (Melling et al. 2006). Page et al. (2011)
estimated that Malaysian peatlands stored a total of 9.1 billion t of carbon equivalent
to 60% of the total forest soil carbon pool in Malaysia. Peatland carbon stores are
however vulnerable to disturbance. Draining water causes the peat to dry speeding
up peatland decomposition and consequently to the release of carbon. Similarly
burning peat can release hundreds of years of stored carbon back into the atmosphere
in one fire event, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Recent
research in North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Malaysia (Cooper et al. 2020) has
shown that emissions factors for converted peat swamp forest are in the range of
70–117 t CO 2 equivalent per ha per year, with CO 2 and N 2 O responsible for
ca. 60 and ca. 40% of this value, respectively.
26.3.3 Agricultural Conversion
In Malaysia only 5% of the PSF remain relatively intact while more than 63% have
been converted to agriculture and other uses and the remainder is degraded
(Miettinen et al. 2016). Out of the estimated five million ha oil palm plantation
within the country, 1.06 million ha, or about 21% of the plantations are on peat
(Miettinen et al. 2016). In addition, about 430,000 ha have been developed for
smallholder agriculture with crops such as pineapples, ginger, vegetables and rubber.
26.3.4 Drainage
Most of the peatlands in Malaysia have been drained—for plantations and
agriculture, for urban and infrastructure development and for log extraction. This
large-scale drainage has led to high emissions of GHG as well as enhanced land
subsidence, disruption of hydrology and enhanced fires.
26.3.5 Fire
One of the most serious risks to the PSFs is fire threat. The area of peatland impacted
by fire in Malaysia has been steadily growing over the past 30 years and more and
more peatland is opened up and drained. A national assessment was undertaken in
2019 (DOE 2019b) and identified more than 200,000 ha of fire prone peatland in
seven states in Malaysia. The main fire prone areas include areas of abandoned or
poorly managed agriculture on peat, forest areas that have been drained as part of
logging operations, and areas in and around urban areas being developed on peat.
Peatland fires are very hard to extinguish and controlling extensive peat fires can take
686
F. Parish et al.
more than 20 m have been recorded (Melling et al. 2006). Page et al. (2011)
estimated that Malaysian peatlands stored a total of 9.1 billion t of carbon equivalent
to 60% of the total forest soil carbon pool in Malaysia. Peatland carbon stores are
however vulnerable to disturbance. Draining water causes the peat to dry speeding
up peatland decomposition and consequently to the release of carbon. Similarly
burning peat can release hundreds of years of stored carbon back into the atmosphere
in one fire event, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Recent
research in North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Malaysia (Cooper et al. 2020) has
shown that emissions factors for converted peat swamp forest are in the range of
70–117 t CO 2 equivalent per ha per year, with CO 2 and N 2 O responsible for
ca. 60 and ca. 40% of this value, respectively.
26.3.3 Agricultural Conversion
In Malaysia only 5% of the PSF remain relatively intact while more than 63% have
been converted to agriculture and other uses and the remainder is degraded
(Miettinen et al. 2016). Out of the estimated five million ha oil palm plantation
within the country, 1.06 million ha, or about 21% of the plantations are on peat
(Miettinen et al. 2016). In addition, about 430,000 ha have been developed for
smallholder agriculture with crops such as pineapples, ginger, vegetables and rubber.
26.3.4 Drainage
Most of the peatlands in Malaysia have been drained—for plantations and
agriculture, for urban and infrastructure development and for log extraction. This
large-scale drainage has led to high emissions of GHG as well as enhanced land
subsidence, disruption of hydrology and enhanced fires.
26.3.5 Fire
One of the most serious risks to the PSFs is fire threat. The area of peatland impacted
by fire in Malaysia has been steadily growing over the past 30 years and more and
more peatland is opened up and drained. A national assessment was undertaken in
2019 (DOE 2019b) and identified more than 200,000 ha of fire prone peatland in
seven states in Malaysia. The main fire prone areas include areas of abandoned or
poorly managed agriculture on peat, forest areas that have been drained as part of
logging operations, and areas in and around urban areas being developed on peat.
Peatland fires are very hard to extinguish and controlling extensive peat fires can take
686
F. Parish et al.