precipitation must be absorbed by the peatland itself.
2. Peatland is a high-water reservoir [weak water retention function in peatland due
to the intermolecular force (van der Waals force)].
3. Poorly planned canals and ponds accelerate water flow from peatland [strong
water drainage function from peatland by gravity and cohesive forces].
Therefore, this system requires a “Water Reservoir” in the upstream and a nearly
flat area of the peat dome and a “Water Pool” in the branch canal network in the
entire peatland to prevent water leakage, “Canal Blocking” to maintain the highwater table, and “Infrastructures” for adjusting optimal GWL and supplying water
evenly throughout the area during the dry period (see Chap. 3). In addition to the
above, a “(Hydrological) Buffer Zone” should be established around the water
reservoir to maintain the GWL of the water reservoir” at a high-water level, i.e., at
the ground surface level. Considering these factors, a detailed topographic map with
a contour interval of 0.5 m and covering the entire peatland ecosystem, including the
target area, is needed to realize Eco-management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of
Tropical Peatland.
The peat dome structure is fundamental to the management of peatlands; however, the peat dome structure in tropical peatlands is not like a dome with a peak and
is relatively flat. The dome’s center is approximately 10 m in height, but the distance
from the side to the top is approximately 10 km. Thus, the gradient is 10 m/10 km,
equal to 1 mm/1 m, indicating that a dome in tropical peatland has a rather flat
topography. However, even if the gradient of the peatland dome is extremely small,
water flows along with the gradient when a canal is excavated anywhere in peatland,
because the intermolecular force (van der Waals force) between water molecules and
peat fibers is weak; therefore, water flows by gravity and cohesive force into the
canal (Fig. 2.7). In conclusion, water reservoirs depend on a water supply (mainly
rainfall) and the function of peat itself, which is achieved only by Stock-based WM
and not by Drainage-based WM (see Fig. 2.4).
2.7 Innovation on Carbon Cycle and Carbon Reservoir
Carbon is one of the key elements in the context of climate change. According to
peatland eco-management, carbon eco-environment systems are classified as carbon
positive, carbon neutral, or carbon negative (Fig. 2.8):
Carbon Positive Peatland degradation by deforestation and drainage [peat fires and
microorganism oxidation], called the STUPM model. In addition to unplanned firebased tropical peatland development by small- and medium-scale holders, largescale plantations with no optimal water management are included in the STUMP
model, in which the drainage system is a crucial technology to develop peatland,
causing (1) peat degradation, (2) peat fires, (3) plant productivity and diversity
losses, and (4) pollution of the environment by chemical application. In the
2 Principles of Eco-Management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of Tropical Peatland
81
2. Peatland is a high-water reservoir [weak water retention function in peatland due
to the intermolecular force (van der Waals force)].
3. Poorly planned canals and ponds accelerate water flow from peatland [strong
water drainage function from peatland by gravity and cohesive forces].
Therefore, this system requires a “Water Reservoir” in the upstream and a nearly
flat area of the peat dome and a “Water Pool” in the branch canal network in the
entire peatland to prevent water leakage, “Canal Blocking” to maintain the highwater table, and “Infrastructures” for adjusting optimal GWL and supplying water
evenly throughout the area during the dry period (see Chap. 3). In addition to the
above, a “(Hydrological) Buffer Zone” should be established around the water
reservoir to maintain the GWL of the water reservoir” at a high-water level, i.e., at
the ground surface level. Considering these factors, a detailed topographic map with
a contour interval of 0.5 m and covering the entire peatland ecosystem, including the
target area, is needed to realize Eco-management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of
Tropical Peatland.
The peat dome structure is fundamental to the management of peatlands; however, the peat dome structure in tropical peatlands is not like a dome with a peak and
is relatively flat. The dome’s center is approximately 10 m in height, but the distance
from the side to the top is approximately 10 km. Thus, the gradient is 10 m/10 km,
equal to 1 mm/1 m, indicating that a dome in tropical peatland has a rather flat
topography. However, even if the gradient of the peatland dome is extremely small,
water flows along with the gradient when a canal is excavated anywhere in peatland,
because the intermolecular force (van der Waals force) between water molecules and
peat fibers is weak; therefore, water flows by gravity and cohesive force into the
canal (Fig. 2.7). In conclusion, water reservoirs depend on a water supply (mainly
rainfall) and the function of peat itself, which is achieved only by Stock-based WM
and not by Drainage-based WM (see Fig. 2.4).
2.7 Innovation on Carbon Cycle and Carbon Reservoir
Carbon is one of the key elements in the context of climate change. According to
peatland eco-management, carbon eco-environment systems are classified as carbon
positive, carbon neutral, or carbon negative (Fig. 2.8):
Carbon Positive Peatland degradation by deforestation and drainage [peat fires and
microorganism oxidation], called the STUPM model. In addition to unplanned firebased tropical peatland development by small- and medium-scale holders, largescale plantations with no optimal water management are included in the STUMP
model, in which the drainage system is a crucial technology to develop peatland,
causing (1) peat degradation, (2) peat fires, (3) plant productivity and diversity
losses, and (4) pollution of the environment by chemical application. In the
2 Principles of Eco-Management in a Large-Scale Ecosystem of Tropical Peatland
81