Abstract
Tropical peat forest ecosystems have multiple benefits as regulating hydrological system, carbon storage, timber and non-timber products, and protecting the biodiversity. Lack of understanding of these functions, short-term economic benefits is more preferable despite reducing its ecological benefits. This study proposed a system dynamics model of tropical peat forest ecosystem in determining its optimum management for extractive utilizations (timber and non-timber forest products), environmental services, and biodiversity. A dynamics model was used to describe changes in peatland and forest cover, biomass accumulation and carbon storage, and total economic value of tropical peat forest ecosystem in Trumon and Singkil, Southern Aceh. The projection showed that peat forest ecosystem benefits would decline in the long term if degradations continue at the same rate over last decade. Efforts to change the primary peat forest to plantation would reduce the total economic value of ecosystem and biodiversity values at level -19.63% and -26.28% from current conditions. Carbon emissions were increased at 117.32 tons CO2 eq ha-1 year-1, higher than average of carbon losses from peatland oxidation. Preserving 50% of forest vegetation on moderate depth and protection very deep peatlands would reduce emission -6.96% to -35.06% and increase forest carbon storage at significant rate +15.06% to +63.32%, respectively. These mitigation schemes would improve the biodiversity and hydrological function. Forest rehabilitation with agroforestry practices will enhance carbon uptake, especially on degraded lands.
Highlights
Over the last decade, one of ecosystem that became global concern is tropical peat swamp forest
System dynamics model System dynamics model were constructed based on issues of tropical peat forest resource utilization conflicts, between short-term economic uses with long-term environmental services
The peat ecosystem benefits were calculated as total economic value of these functions
Summary
One of ecosystem that became global concern is tropical peat swamp forest. This is related to multi-functionality of these ecosystems in global climate regulation, water resource preservation, reducing floods, supporting of biodiversity, and providing of timber and nontimber for community welfare (Sudip et al 2005; Blumenfeld et al 2009; Hooijer et al 2010; Hirano et al 2014). During period 2000−2009, approximately 2 million ha tropical peat forest were deforested, the highest in Sumatra which 0.98 million ha due to conversion to oil palm plantations and pulpwood plantations. Until 2009, a total of 10.77 million ha or 51% of Indonesia's peat forests were degraded (Forest Watch Indonesia 2011). Carbon losses from peatland degradation reached 65 ton CO2 eq ha-1 year-1 (Hooijer et al 2010)
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Schedule a callMore From: Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika (Journal of Tropical Forest Management)
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