BEST PRACTICES OF PEATLAND MANAGEMENT

BEST PRACTICES OF PEATLAND MANAGEMENT

Indonesia’s peatlands have been utilized since the end of 19th Century. Prior to 1920, Dayak rural communities in South Kalimantan have begun to manage shallow peatlands in the area behind the river bank (back swamp) which they call the lawau and manage it for rain-fed rice fields (Suwardi et al., 2005). The river area is a fertile area because it is influenced by sediment runoff from rivers. Basically Dayak people are very environmentally friendly. In managing the land, they have a rotating farming system that always maintains a balance with the utilization process following a natural cycle (Suwardi et al., 2005). They divide the lands into zones comprising settlement, bushes, harvested paddy field (jurungan), dry paddy field (pahumaan), plantations, sacred zones, and protected zones (kayuan). Sacred zones are customary protected zones that should not be cleared for agricultural land. When the agricultural land has become infertile, they will move to look for similar land in other places. After being left for 1-7 years the former fields will become bush and after 7-12 years the bush will become a forest. They will reopen the former field after 30 years, when it has become a forest again. This is done continuously and sustainably.

In 1950’s, Banjar people started to access peatland for farming (Suwardi et al., 2005). First, they build “handil”, a main drainage canal. Handil is made upraised with a large river, and is usually an extension of the existing river branch that is excavated and extended to an annex land up to 4-10 km long. The depth of the canal may reach 1 meter, with 2 meter width. Handil serves as: (1) drainage canal; (2) irrigation; and (3) communication channel. Secondly, they build “parit”, the secondary canal upraised to the handil and located every 30 meter along the handil. The depth and width of the parit are 1 m and 50 cm respectively. Using this traditional parit and handil, an excessive drain can be prevented and soil subsidence can be slowed. These are the example of how traditional knowledge and wisdom can manage peatland sustainably and prevent peat degradation that may lead to fires.

Indonesia is also developing modern and advanced techniques in managing peatland and preventing fires. Forestry and Environmental R&D and Innovation Agency (FOERDIA) has provided scientific-based techniques and policies in managing peatlands and preventing fires. In the last 8 years, FOERDIA has been able to provide information related to: (1) Typology and distribution of peatland in Indonesia; (2) Technology to rehabilitate degraded peatland; (3) Phenology of tree species that can adapt to peatland; (4) Alternatives for participatory peatland management; and (5) the impact of deforestation in peatland on GHG emissions.

Another institution, Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi/BPPT) also provides technology for monitoring water table level in peatlands. They provide two technologies for monitoring the main parameter for determining the soundness of peatland.

First technology is provided in collaboration with Japanese scientists to monitor water table using Sensory Data Transmission Service, called SESAME. The second technology is called MORPALAGA (Monitoring Real Time Tinggi Permukaan Air Lahan Gambut/Realtime monitoring for peatland water table level).

The Role of Private Sectors in Supporting

the New Policies in Managing Peatland

The role of private sectors in balancing economic and ecological aspects of peatland management is important. As they manage the peatland based on regulations and technical guides provided by the government, their compliances to the regulations will ensure the sustainability of Indonesian peatlands. Some of the peatland has been utilised for commercial purposes by 100 concessionaires, including 99 concessions for industrial plantation forest and 1 concession for logging natural production forest concession. In 1990s the number of concessionaires were only 12, in 2000s the number increased significantly to become 73. Since 2010, the number of concessionaires have increased by 17 to become 100 concessionaires in total.

Of the 99 concessionaires developing industrial plantation forests in peatlands, 55 concessionaires have fully adjusted their working plans to comply with the new regulation on peat ecosystem function, 20 concessionaires are being assessed, and 12 concessionaires need to revise their new plans. This is a significant measure in ensuring the ability of peatland to provide economic benefits and social welfares through a.
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