these special features, the soil must be aerated and modified so that the soil acidity
reduced to a suitable pH value in order to support the growth of the crops.
However drained peat and intensive agricultural production may increase the rate
of peat decomposition and influence its physical properties. Therefore, selection of
suitable crops that can grow well on peat soil which are only shallowly drained is
crucial.
26.7.4 Community Engagement in Peatland Management
The biggest contributing factor in degradation of peatlands in Malaysia is human
activities. However, paradigm of peatland management has been started to transform
with stakeholder engagement and multiple partnership including socialising activities with community participation. Community is to be actively involved and
engaged in the peatland management. The engagement and empowerment of the
local communities that rely on and dependent on the PSFs are essential.
Engaging the community especially indigenous community needs to refer to Free,
Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) procedure, the internationally recognised standard. The community should be informed and involved in the early stage for
planning, consultation and later implementing the proposed activities on the ground
of which the land they are living and relying on.
There has been significant success from engagement of local communities in
peatland management. An example from Malaysia is given in Box 26.1.
Box 26.1: Partnership with Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp
Forest in forest rehabilitation activities (Parish et al. 2019b)
A local community association, namely Sahabat Hutan Gambut Selangor
Utara (SHGSU) or “Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (FNSPSF)”
was established in August 2012 with support of Global Environment Centre
(GEC) to empower the local community in conserving the adjacent North
Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF). SHGSU provides a platform for the
local community to involve actively in various tasks for rehabilitating the
NSPSF and managing the buffer zone. The SHGSU has been trained and being
engaged in peat fire prevention activities including daily dry season patrols
and they may participate in fire-fighting operations to provide additional
manpower to local authorities when there is peat fire incident. The SHGSU
also participates in various outreach and awareness events organised by
Selangor State Forestry Department (SSFD), GEC and other relevant agencies
to share their experiences and knowledge by giving public talks, exhibit at
roadshows and other awareness activities/campaigns. The local community
involvement in the PSFs rehabilitation has become an essential strategy
towards sustainable forest resources management in NSPSF (SSFD 2014).
710
F. Parish et al.
reduced to a suitable pH value in order to support the growth of the crops.
However drained peat and intensive agricultural production may increase the rate
of peat decomposition and influence its physical properties. Therefore, selection of
suitable crops that can grow well on peat soil which are only shallowly drained is
crucial.
26.7.4 Community Engagement in Peatland Management
The biggest contributing factor in degradation of peatlands in Malaysia is human
activities. However, paradigm of peatland management has been started to transform
with stakeholder engagement and multiple partnership including socialising activities with community participation. Community is to be actively involved and
engaged in the peatland management. The engagement and empowerment of the
local communities that rely on and dependent on the PSFs are essential.
Engaging the community especially indigenous community needs to refer to Free,
Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) procedure, the internationally recognised standard. The community should be informed and involved in the early stage for
planning, consultation and later implementing the proposed activities on the ground
of which the land they are living and relying on.
There has been significant success from engagement of local communities in
peatland management. An example from Malaysia is given in Box 26.1.
Box 26.1: Partnership with Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp
Forest in forest rehabilitation activities (Parish et al. 2019b)
A local community association, namely Sahabat Hutan Gambut Selangor
Utara (SHGSU) or “Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (FNSPSF)”
was established in August 2012 with support of Global Environment Centre
(GEC) to empower the local community in conserving the adjacent North
Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF). SHGSU provides a platform for the
local community to involve actively in various tasks for rehabilitating the
NSPSF and managing the buffer zone. The SHGSU has been trained and being
engaged in peat fire prevention activities including daily dry season patrols
and they may participate in fire-fighting operations to provide additional
manpower to local authorities when there is peat fire incident. The SHGSU
also participates in various outreach and awareness events organised by
Selangor State Forestry Department (SSFD), GEC and other relevant agencies
to share their experiences and knowledge by giving public talks, exhibit at
roadshows and other awareness activities/campaigns. The local community
involvement in the PSFs rehabilitation has become an essential strategy
towards sustainable forest resources management in NSPSF (SSFD 2014).
710
F. Parish et al.