Internal and edge-effect environmental monitoring to assess the threats facing intact tropical peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan

Abstract

Peat swamp forest (PSF) provides vital environmental benefits, including carbon storage. However, almost half of the Indonesia’s PSF areas are extensively degraded. Internal threats such as drainage contribute to peat drying, vegetation damage and heightened fire risk. Equally, forest edges are threatened from human activity and fire spread, leading to forest edge regression. This study assesses biophysical changes within an area of intact tropical PSF and along their edges in Central Kalimantan. To assess these threats, we established seven transects perpendicular to the forest edge, transitioning from degraded to intact forest. Forty-nine dipwells, and three loggers were installed to assess drainage and subsidence. We established seed traps and seedling plots along three transects at three distances from the forest edge (three replicates per distance) to assess forest edge regeneration potential. Furthermore, we are analysing historic remote sensing data from the last two decades to study land cover change and forest edge loss related to fire. Equipment was established February 2022, with data collection underway for 12 months. Here, we present our initial findings. The results will provide quantitative and qualitative data analysis to describe potential threat levels facing this forest and give recommendations for developing a targeted conservation action plan.