The effectiveness of canal blocking for hydrological restoration in tropical peatland

Abstract

The Peatland Restoration Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRG-RI), an agency that is mandated to restore 2 million hectares of degraded peatland by 2020, has developed a 3-R approach towards tackling the problem based on the program of rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization of livelihood for the peatlands restoration in Indonesia. The Rewetting program that aims to rehabilitate hydrologically a peatland to a near natural state is carried out by canal blocking, canal backfilling, and construction of deep wells. To know the progress of the restoration activities by BRG, it is very important to understand the effectiveness of canal blocking on rewetting of the tropical peatland. The effectiveness of canal blocking was investigated through the monitoring of groundwater level (GWL) fluctuation around the canal block. This study was carried out at a canal block that is located at the peatland of Sungai Tohor Village, Kepulauan Meranti Regency, Riau Province. For monitoring of GWL fluctuation as the impact of canal blocking, five dipwells were set at the peatland that are perpendicular to the canal with the distance of 20 m, 70 m, 120 m, 170 m, and 220 m respectively. The results of this study show that the impact of canal blocking could raise the water table in the peatland at the radius of about 170 m from the canal. The radius impact of the re-wetting might be bigger or smaller, that strongly depends on the hydrotopography situation of the area.

Impacts of peat fire on soil flora and fauna, soil properties and environmental damage in Riau Province, Indonesia

“…As a result, peat in the area is becoming irreversible drying and thus there is an inability for the peatland to rewet itself without human intervention (e.g. canal blocking (Sutikno et al, 2018)). Once experiencing a certain level of drought, the damage to peat can become permanent.…”

“…The flame temperature of surface fire on the peatland-while lower than other fuel types-still ranges from 800-1150 o C (Saharjo 2016), resulting in death of flora, fauna, microorganisms and burns the peat soil. Strategies needed to protect peatland from fire include canal blocking and appropriate water management (Wasis and Mulyana 2009;Saharjo et al 2011;Wasis 2018;Sutikno et al, 2018).…”

Analisis Pengaruh Penyekatan Kanal Untuk Untuk Pembahasan Lahan Gambut Tropis

“…Dampak penyekatan kanal untuk pembasahan dan pencegahan kebakaran lahan gambut selama ini masih banyak yang mempertanyakan efektivitasnya. Beberapa penelitian untuk mengkaji pengaruh penyekatan kanal sudah dilakukan, namun masih dilakukan pada durasi yang pendek sehingga dampak perbedaan musim masih belum diakomodir [4]. Seberapa jauh dampak penyekatan kanal terhadap pembasahan lahan gambut dianalisis lebih lanjut dalam penelitian ini.…”

“…Pembasahan kembali (rewetting) pada kawasan gambut yang terdegradasi dapat memberikan keuntungan dalam rehabilitasi dan bisa menjaga kebasahan lahan gambut [4]. Gambut yang basah dapat menghambat terjadinya kebakaran di sekitar 20-30 cm dari permukaan.…”

Local Business Exploration in Barabai City as a Resource of Economic Learning in SMA

“…Industry is a livelihood sector which uses or utilizes agricultural products where the processing comes from raw materials, then processed into semi-finished goods, and processed into finished goods that are ready to be used or consumed in daily life. In producing industrial production, not only in the form of goods, but also in the form of services [6], [7]. Based on the results of preliminary research, regarding the number of businesses or companies and workers based on the classification of industries located in Hulu Sungai Tengah district in 2017, at table 1 are as follows: Based on this, industrial and trading businesses are the lifeblood of the surrounding community.…”