During the massive forest and peat fires in Indonesia in 2015, the central
government encouraged canal blocking, and businesses and local governments
were actively engaged in canal blocking. This is likely due to the canal blocking
strategies that had been implemented in the restoration of the Ex-Mega Rice Project
(Houterman and Ritzema 2009). However, such canal blocking alone is not sufficient to maintain high-water levels during the dry season, and even in natural forests,
the water level during the dry season is 1–1.5 m below the ground surface. That is,
canal blocking has a limited impact on GWL (Ritzema et al. 2008).
While it was understood that the GWL was to be raised to prevent fires, the
specific figure of 0.4 m came as a surprise to agricultural and forestry companies.
However, a specific figure for the GWL seemed to be necessary for the companies,
as there was a tendency to believe that canal blocking was enough. Nevertheless,
unfortunately, unplanned drainage canal blocking in restoration and plantation areas
does not bring the GWL to the proper value. It also stops the flow of water to the
surrounding area, promoting peat drying in unmanaged areas and making fires more
likely to occur during the dry season.
2.3 Key Concept on Eco-Management of Tropical Peatland
As mentioned, the key elements composing tropical peatland are (1) water, (2) carbon, and (3) nutrients (Fig. 2.2). The most important element is the forest because
forests orchestrate these three key elements, and if there is no forest, these three key
elements are quickly disordered, and tropical peatlands immediately begin to
degrade and can rapidly disappear at a geochronological scale.
Management approaches have considered the importance of sustainability
aspects, especially related to environmental problems that can be caused by peatland
management activities. Therefore, these proposed best practices can be used for
various purposes, including developing science-based national and regional strategies, and early warning systems for fire danger. This main concept provides bestpractice knowledge as follows.
1. To present eco-management in a large-scale ecosystem based on the peatland
types, use, and socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
2. To practice maintaining peatland ecosystem services while sustaining and
improving productivity, local livelihoods, and competitive advantages in business process activities.
3. To encourage the reduction of GHG emissions from peatlands caused by damage
and ecosystem changes.
4. To improve the management of the peatlands with high conservation value that
are identified and conserved based on a landscape approach with consideration of
its zone determination from the upper area (peat dome) to the local community’s
area on the lower areas (peat dome edges).
2 Principles of Eco-Management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of Tropical Peatland
69
government encouraged canal blocking, and businesses and local governments
were actively engaged in canal blocking. This is likely due to the canal blocking
strategies that had been implemented in the restoration of the Ex-Mega Rice Project
(Houterman and Ritzema 2009). However, such canal blocking alone is not sufficient to maintain high-water levels during the dry season, and even in natural forests,
the water level during the dry season is 1–1.5 m below the ground surface. That is,
canal blocking has a limited impact on GWL (Ritzema et al. 2008).
While it was understood that the GWL was to be raised to prevent fires, the
specific figure of 0.4 m came as a surprise to agricultural and forestry companies.
However, a specific figure for the GWL seemed to be necessary for the companies,
as there was a tendency to believe that canal blocking was enough. Nevertheless,
unfortunately, unplanned drainage canal blocking in restoration and plantation areas
does not bring the GWL to the proper value. It also stops the flow of water to the
surrounding area, promoting peat drying in unmanaged areas and making fires more
likely to occur during the dry season.
2.3 Key Concept on Eco-Management of Tropical Peatland
As mentioned, the key elements composing tropical peatland are (1) water, (2) carbon, and (3) nutrients (Fig. 2.2). The most important element is the forest because
forests orchestrate these three key elements, and if there is no forest, these three key
elements are quickly disordered, and tropical peatlands immediately begin to
degrade and can rapidly disappear at a geochronological scale.
Management approaches have considered the importance of sustainability
aspects, especially related to environmental problems that can be caused by peatland
management activities. Therefore, these proposed best practices can be used for
various purposes, including developing science-based national and regional strategies, and early warning systems for fire danger. This main concept provides bestpractice knowledge as follows.
1. To present eco-management in a large-scale ecosystem based on the peatland
types, use, and socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
2. To practice maintaining peatland ecosystem services while sustaining and
improving productivity, local livelihoods, and competitive advantages in business process activities.
3. To encourage the reduction of GHG emissions from peatlands caused by damage
and ecosystem changes.
4. To improve the management of the peatlands with high conservation value that
are identified and conserved based on a landscape approach with consideration of
its zone determination from the upper area (peat dome) to the local community’s
area on the lower areas (peat dome edges).
2 Principles of Eco-Management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of Tropical Peatland
69