The ultimate goal of
the sustainable development goals is to end poverty, protect the planet and
ensure prosperity for all. Hence, managing peatlands should also comply with
the goals. However, managing peatlands to provide livelihoods for local
communities as well as to conduct intensive agriculture and forestry may
contradict with the protection of the environment. The options are whether
peatlands should be drained or to be sustainably managed.
If peatlands should not
be drained, then the question is what are the alternatives for economic
activities? Paludiculture and agroforestry could be the answer. Paludiculture
is the agricultural or silvicultural system of wet and rewetted peatlands
(Wichtmann & Joosten, 2007). Hence, the agriculture or forestry is conducted
in wet peatlands under conditions in which the peat is conserved or even newly formed.
Indonesians have experiences in paludiculture by utilizing or cultivating jelutung
(Dyera sp.), a latex producing tree. Other species that are also utilised in a
wet peat situation include Belangiran (Shorea balangeran), Ramin (Gonystylus
bancanus), Alstonia pneumatophora, Combretocarpus rotundatus and Macaranga
pruinosa.
People also utilise Gemor
(Alseodaphne coriacea), well-known as peat swamp tree of which the bark is
harvested and is used as a mosquito repellent and sold on local markets. There
are many more species of which the timber and non-timber products can be
utilized using paludiculture in Indonesia. Even a wet peatland is also sources
of food such as Sago (Metroxylon spp.) and nipah (Nypa fruticans). Table 2
shows examples of species that have been used for paludiculture in Indonesia.
Table 2. Suitable Species for Paludiculture in Indonesia.
When peatland is drained for forestry
and agriculture, an option that can be taken is Land Clearing without Burning
(Penyiapan Lahan Tanpa Bakar/PLTB). PLTB is a practice that needs to be done to
prevent the use of fire in clearing plant remnants in the area to be planted.
Litter or crop residues can be processed into several types of products such
as:
1.
Compost;
plant remnants can be utilized for composting raw materials so that during the
growing season farmers can use compost as a natural fertilizer that is
environmentally friendly because it can reduce the use or even do not have to
use chemical fertilizers.
2.
Wood
vinegar; making wood vinegar is a PLTB strategy that is relatively new and is
still being disseminated to communities. Wood vinegar is useful as a fertilizer
as well as compost. Wood vinegar helps restore soil fertility; therefore
farmers can produce it and use it for plating purposes.
3.
Charcoal
briquettes; the use of waste wood or twigs for the production of charcoal briquettes
can also be done so that agricultural waste in the form of wood and twigs are
not burned away. Charcoal briquettes can be used as more environmentally friendly
fuel for cooking. It is also cheaper. However, there are still obstacles in
community-based charcoal briquettes production since the equipment for
producing the briquettes is expensive.
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