Indonesian peat swamp forests and their role as a carbon sink

Sorensen, Kim Worm

doi:10.1016/0045-6535(93)90068-g

Cited by 87 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…By assuming that the mean depth of Indonesian peatlands is 5 m, with a bulk density of 0.12 g cm −3 and C content of 50 percent there are about 46 Gt C stored in the peatlands. Furthermore, Neuzil (1997) estimated that the annual C accumulation rate in Indonesian peatland ranges between 59-118 g m −2 (or between 0.01 and 0.03 Gt C), which is much higher than the accumulation rates in temperate or boreal zones, which ranges between 20 and 100 g C m when the ecosystems are disturbed (Sorensen 1993). Recently, fires have increasingly become important factors in the global C cycle, including in the tropical peatland ecosystems.…”

Section: The Sectoral Ghg Budget For Indonesean Peatlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sectoral approaches to improve regional carbon budgets

et al. 2008

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Humans utilise about 40% of the earth's net primary production (NPP) but the products of this NPP are often managed by different sectors, with timber and forest products managed by the forestry sector and food and fibre products from croplands and grasslands managed by the agricultural sector. Other significant anthropogenic impacts on Climatic Change (2008) the global carbon cycle include human utilization of fossil fuels and impacts on less intensively managed systems such as peatlands, wetlands and permafrost. A great deal of knowledge, expertise and data is available within each sector. We describe the contribution of sectoral carbon budgets to our understanding of the global carbon cycle. Whilst many sectors exhibit similarities for carbon budgeting, some key differences arise due to differences in goods and services provided, ecology, management practices used, landmanagement personnel responsible, policies affecting land management, data types and availability, and the drivers of change. We review the methods and data sources available for assessing sectoral carbon budgets, and describe some of key data limitations and uncertainties for each sector in different regions of the world. We identify the main gaps in our knowledge/data, show that coverage is better for the developed world for most sectors, and suggest how sectoral carbon budgets could be improved in the future. Research priorities include the development of shared protocols through site networks, a move to full carbon accounting within sectors, and the assessment of full greenhouse gas budgets.

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Section: The Sectoral Ghg Budget For Indonesean Peatlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sectoral approaches to improve regional carbon budgets

et al. 2008

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“…Tropical peat is an accumulation of partially decayed organic matter which has been formed over thousands of years in waterlogged environments that lack oxygen. In Indonesia peat deposits with up to 20 m in thickness store huge amounts of carbon (Whitten et al 1987;Sorensen 1993;Jaenicke et al 2008). Under undisturbed conditions, tropical peatlands are covered with peat swamp forests which comprise ecosystems with many endemic species and high biodiversity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Planning hydrological restoration of peatlands in Indonesia to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions

Jaenicke

Wösten

Budiman

et al. 2010

Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change

112

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Extensive degradation of Indonesian peatlands by deforestation, drainage and recurrent fires causes release of huge amounts of peat soil carbon to the atmosphere. Construction of drainage canals is associated with conversion to other land uses, especially plantations of oil palm and pulpwood trees, and with widespread illegal logging to facilitate timber transport. A lowering of the groundwater level leads to an increase in oxidation and subsidence of peat. Therefore, the groundwater level is the main control on carbon dioxide emissions from peatlands. Restoring the peatland hydrology is the only way to prevent peat oxidation and mitigate CO 2 emissions. In this study we present a strategy for improved planning of rewetting measures by dam constructions. The study area is a vast peatland with limited accessibility in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Field inventory and remote sensing data are used to generate a detailed 3D model of the peat dome and a hydrological model predicts the rise in groundwater levels once dams have been constructed. Successful rewetting of a 590 km² large area of drained peat swamp forest could result in mitigated emissions of 1.4-1.6 Mt CO 2 yearly. This equates to 6% of the carbon dioxide emissions by civil aviation in the European Union in 2006 and can be achieved with relatively small efforts and at low costs. The proposed methodology allows a detailed planning of hydrological restoration of peatlands with interesting impacts on carbon trading for the voluntary carbon market.

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“…This is because they are habitats for scarce fauna, provide important sources of water and are crucial for flood control. With 16.5 -27 million hectares of peatland, Indonesia has the largest peat swamp area in Asia and the fourth largest in the world in terms of the global distribution of peat soils [1]. Generally, peat soils are composed of at least 65% organic matter and less than 35% mineral content [1] [2] and their high organic matter contents are responsible for the acidic conditions, low nutrient and dissolved oxygen concentrations and slow rates of decomposition in this soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With 16.5 -27 million hectares of peatland, Indonesia has the largest peat swamp area in Asia and the fourth largest in the world in terms of the global distribution of peat soils [1]. Generally, peat soils are composed of at least 65% organic matter and less than 35% mineral content [1] [2] and their high organic matter contents are responsible for the acidic conditions, low nutrient and dissolved oxygen concentrations and slow rates of decomposition in this soils. The majority of the Indonesian peatlands in particular are under tidal influence with the fluctuating level of sea/river water disturbing the soil water table.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the Influence of Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations in Tropical Peat Swamp Soils Using Microbial Diversity and Activity Analysis

Nurulita

Adetutu

Kadali

et al. 2016

JACEN

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In this study, tropical peat swamp soils from Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve (GSKBB) in Indonesia was evaluated to assess the impact of oil palm and rubber plantations on this unique organic soil through comparisons with soils from a natural forest using a polyphasic approach (chemical and molecular microbial assays). Changes in the ammonium, nitrate and phosphate concentration were observed in soils converted to agricultural use. Soil enzyme activities in plantation soils showed reduced β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and acid phosphatase activities (50% -55% decrease). PCR-DGGE based analysis showed that the soil bacterial community from agricultural soils exhibited the lowest similarity amongst the different microbial groups (fungi and Archaea) evaluated (34% similarity to the natural forest soil). Shannon Diversity index values showed that generally the conversion of tropical peatland natural forest to rubber plantation resulted in a greater impact on microbial diversity (ANOVA p < 0.05). Overall, this study indicated substantial shifts in the soil microbial activity and diversity upon conversion of natural peatland forest to agriculture, with a greater change being observed under rubber plantation compared to oil palm plantation. These findings provided important data for future peatland management by relating changes in the soil microbial community and activities associated to agricultural practices carried out on peatland. Y. Nurulita et al.54

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Indonesian peat swamp forests and their role as a carbon sink

Cited by 87 publications

References 2 publications

Sectoral approaches to improve regional carbon budgets

Sectoral approaches to improve regional carbon budgets

Planning hydrological restoration of peatlands in Indonesia to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions

Assessment of the Influence of Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations in Tropical Peat Swamp Soils Using Microbial Diversity and Activity Analysis

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