This is a powerpoint publication, consisting of 73 powerpoint slides about the impact and guidelines for palm oil production on peatlands. From the Central Kalimantan Peatlands Project (CKPP): www.ckpp.org
2. This training module on tropical peatlands and palm oil was developed by Wetlands International at the request of ProForest. Most material in this presentation is under copyright of Wetlands International
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4. What are peatlands? Peatlands are wetlands where waterlogging delays decay, and dead plant materials form an organic soil: peat soil
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6. Peatlands represent a key part of global biodiversity As a result of different climatic and biogeographic conditions, a large diversity of peatland types exists in the world, including the tropical peat swamp forests of South-east Asia (middle picture)
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8. Peat accumulates for thousands of years storing concentrated Carbon in thick layers Peat from 2 meters depth Most peatlands in lowlands of South-east Asia are about 5000 years old. Some can reach over 20m depth
16. Peatland distribution in Indonesia b 1 Between 1987 to 2000 over 3 million ha, or 18% of the total peat area in Indonesia disappeared as a result of conversion and fires 2,481,000 16,973,000 20,697,000 Total 1,882,000 8,753,000 8,910,000 Papua 1,000 42,000 48,000 Maluku - 34,000 44,000 Sulawesi 257,000 3,531,000 4,413,000 Kalimantan 341,000 4,613,000 7,282,000 Sumatera Protected (ha) Remaining (ha) 1 Original size (ha) Region
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20. All in the balance The intense relationship between “plants”, “water”, and “peat” make peatlands vulnerable to a wide range of human interference. Water Plants Peat Peatland
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30. Drainage SE Asian peat swamp areas A total of about 13 million ha of SE Asian peat swamps have been drained for agriculture and agro-forestry.
53. Priority 1 Optimising water levels: improve water management Different kinds of dams can be used to manage water levels
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55. Utilisation of Blocked Canals Peatland Palm oil plantation River Channel Dam Fishpond Fishpond Ponds position vs blocking canals To broker acceptance of water management structures and channel blocking by local communities, blocked channel areas may be used as fishponds Village
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61. Consider use of the Precautionary Principle Large scale developments in peatlands should happen only after thorough research, social and environmental impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and small scale pilot projects Some general or basic guidelines to consider
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Notas do Editor
This picture shows the location of a peat dome in the flood plain in between two lowland rivers. A substantial part of the peat dome is located above river water surface. These forms of peatlands are called bogs, they are oligotrophic (poor in nutrients) and rain water fed. The peat lies like a gigantic drop a water on the lowland plain, held together by the dead organic material and protected by a blanket of living forest that maintains a humid micro-climate and prevents direct solar impact.
Nepenthes grows in soils with N deficiencies. It compensates this by capturing insects in its cup-shaped leaves. Many indigenous peat swamp forest plants and trees can survive long-inundation. They can form floating islands, such as the Pandanus, or have aerial roots or pneumatophores, that help them to breath.
NTFP: non timber forest product
First click: Some relatively minor emissions are derived from peatlands in arctic and sub-arctic zones Second click: More substantial emissions are derived from peatlands in the temperate zones and tropical zones of the Americas Third click: The most substantial emissions, covering over 70% of global peat-based emissions are from SE Asia.
Most concentrated land-use related CO2 emissions in the world Greater
As tropical peat swamp forests are multi-functional areas, their degradation leads to multiple integrated impacts
The NASA satellite picture of October 1997 shows the enormous extent of the smog which was derived mainly from peat fires. The pictures from Malaysia shows that also in non El Nino years smog from Indonesian peat fires can cause significant impact across the Straits. This has caused political fall-out between Indonesia and its neighboring states, especially Malaysia, Singapore
Melling’s study is often used to claim that peat swamp forests would emit more CO2 than palm oil plantations. The study did, however, not measure the ecosystem carbon balance but only the soil emissions without distinguishing between CO2 emissions from peat oxidation and CO2 emissions from root respiration. It is logical that the latter will significantly impact on results. If peat swamp forest would indeed lead to a net higher CO2 emission, peat could never have been formed. The proof is in the peat.
Water management should be optimised to ensure the highest possible water levels are maintained. Whereas optimised water levels may have some impact on palm oil productivity, it will benefit long-term sustainability of the plantation, decreasing risks of enhanced flooding through peat soil subsidence. A optimal balance needs to be found between short-term productivity and long-term sustainability.
Ensure adequate fire prevention and fire control measures are taken, including established awareness and capacity in local communities, plantation staff and local authorities.
Joint management of conservation areas near or adjacent to palm oil plantations can create opportunity for biodiversity off sets through enhance biodiversity conservation linked to the management capacity provided by the palm oil plantation, in terms of hydrological management, fire control, patrol against illegal logging and poaching and development of infrastructure. This can be of mutual benefit through improved security, as well as derived carbon credits.