Tropical Peatland Forest

Degradation and
Emissions

H.M. Edi Armanto

The Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), Freiburg
University, Germany, 2005

Presentation Content
Introduction
2) Peatlands in SE Asia are naturally forested
3) Peatlands are wetland
4) Peat accumulates for thousands of years
5) Peatlands and carbon
6) Peatlands cover 25 million ha in SE Asia
7) Peat accumulates in thick layers over thousands
of years under the forest canopy
8) Importance of peatland forest carbon stocks
9) Peatlands provide water and prevent floods
10)Peatland Biodiversity has high value
11)Peatlands Feed communities
12)Peatlands support communities
13)Peatland drainage
1)

Introduction
1)

2)

3)
4)

5)

Peatlands in SE Asia characteristics

and values
Peatland degradation and carbon
emissions
Significance of peat emissions
Regional policy framework and action
(ASEAN Peatland Management
Initiative and Strategy = APMS)
Next steps

Peatlands in SE Asia are naturally forested

Sembilang, South Sumatra

Peatlands are wetlands where :

a) waterlogging delays decay ;
b) dead plants form peat

Temperate peats

Peat accumulates for thousands of years

storing concentrated Carbon in thick layers

peat from
2 m deep
Kalimantan

Peatlands and carbon

Peatlands globally are the most important carbon

(C) stocks of all terrestrial ecosystems and store

All Coal and lignite and part of the mineral oil

and natural gas originated from peat deposits of
previous geological periods.

Peatlands cover 25 million ha in SE Asia

This represents about 25% of the

forest area

Peat accumulates in thick layers

over thousands of years under the forest
canopy

Peatland Forests store up to 3000

tonnes/ha compared to 250tC/ha for
other tropical forests

River

River

Organic matter
< 1m

Thickness

> 3m

< 1m

Mineral Soil

Distance

Peat layer up to 20 m thick

Source Nyoman Suriadiputra, Wetlands

Importance of peatland
forest carbon stocks

Peatland forest carbon stocks in SE

Asia are more than 60 billion tonnes
of Carbon or 200 billion tonnes of
Carbon dioxide
Non-peatland forests in SE Asia
approx 20-25 billion tonnes of carbon.
Peatland forests store up to 20 times
more carbon per ha

Peatlands provide water and prevent floods

Peatland Biodiversity has high

value

Peatlands
Feed
communities
People in Peat swamp Forest in Pahang

Fishing, Sembilang, Sumatra

Source: UNDP-GEF PSF Pro

Peatlands support communities

Jelutong - Chewing Gum tree, Indonesia

Peatland drainage and fires are currently the

largest single source of carbon released to the
atmosphere from the land use sector.

Drained peat releases carbon

Drainage to 1 meter = emission of 90 ton CO2/ha/yr in

tropics - 30 ton CO2/ha/yr in temperate region
SE Asia: Agriculture & agro-forestry on 12 million ha
contributes around 600 MtCO2/yr (drainage only)

Root Cause: Linkage between Drainage

and Fires

1 km Transect at Drain
Water Level from Ground (cm)

0
50
100
150
200
250

Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Pr

Peatland Fires

Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Pr

Burning peat releases more carbon

> 60,000 fires in 3 out of 10 years

(1997, 1998, 2002)

In 2006: > 40,000 fires

Tentative average annual

emissions estimate:
1400 to 4300 Mt CO2/y

South East Asia - Local Impacts

Fires on peat swamp forest

Severe fires on
(converted)
peatlands in Riau
occur yearly, result
in smoke and haze
endangering traffic
on one of worlds
key sea lanes and
causing major air
pollution in
Malaysia
MODIS image June
2005 Red dots: fires
Courtesy MODIS Rapid Response
Team

Smoke Haze spreads across the region

1000 km

NASA TOMS

Peat Fires in Plantations

South Sumatra - 1997

Riau Province, Sumatera - 24th Jan 2005

South Sumatra - 2006

Uncontrolled drainage leads to

peat fires
Natural
condition

Draw down of
water table
and drying of
peat soil

Plantation
adjacent to peat
causing water
outflow

Dry peat very

vulnerable to fire,
besides threat
from burning in
plantation

Peatland cleared and Converted to oil palm

plantation, but flooded due to subsidence

Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Pr

Regional Action
ASEAN Government response

ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative

established by 10 ASEAN countries
February 2003
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy
(2006-2020) endorsed by 10 ASEAN
Ministers in November 2006
National Action Plans in preparation
Funds being raised to support action for
the first implementation period 2007-2011

APMI - Objectives
1.
2.
3.

4.

To enhance understanding and build capacity on

peatland management issues in the region
To reduce the incidence of peatland fires and
associated haze in the region
To support national and local level implementation
activities on peatland management and fire
prevention
To develop a regional strategy and cooperation
mechanisms to promote sustainable peatland
management

ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS)

13 Focal Areas and 25 Operational Objectives
1.
Inventory and assessment
2.
Research
3. Capacity building and awareness
4. Information sharing
5. Policies and legislation
6. Fire prevention, control and monitoring
7. Conservation of peatland biodiversity
8. Integrated management of peatlands
9. Establishment of best managed peatland demonstration
sites
10. Restoration and rehabilitation
11. Peatlands and Climate
12. Regional cooperation
13. Financing of the Initiative

Next steps

Strengthen joint action at the regional level through

ASEAN ( IFAD-GEF project on rehabilitation and
sustainable use of peatlands in Se Asia 2009-2012)
ASEAN Coordination and cooperation on REDD
(supported by GTZ).
Pilot level activities in several countries with
support from multiple partners.
Establishment of clear methodologies and
approaches for protection, rehabilitation and
management to reduce GHG emissions and provide
sustainable benefits to local stakeholders.
Establish climate change related financing and
incentive systems.

Thank you for your