This study focuses on factors controlling CO2and CH4emission in a peat swamp forest related to water table and peat characteristics such as peat depth, C-organic, pH, ash content and N-total. This study was conducted in the dry season at a Merang peat swamp forest that has degraded due to logging activities, forest fires and canal opening. Emission of CO2and CH4was measured by using a closed chamber made by PVC material (60 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm). This close chamber was completed with a fan inside the chamber to stir the gas, a thermometer inside the chamber to measure the gas temperature and a syringe to sample gas. This study has shown that the highest CO2emission is at an average of 438.93 mg/m2/hr occurring in land cover type (1) ferns and grasses (open burned area) and the lowest is at average of 44.45 mg/m2/hr in thegelamandbelidang-dominated land. The emission of CH4is very low between 0.0018 to 0.0069 mg/m2/hr. the main controlling factor on CO2and CH4emission is concluded to be the water table. The emission of CO2will be greater if water table, pH and C-organic increase.