Peatland Ecosystems Research Articles

Functional insights of novel Bathyarchaeia reveal metabolic versatility in their role in peatlands of the Peruvian Amazon.

With the expansion of the Candidatus Paludivitaceae family by the assembly of 28 new metagenome assembled genomes, this study provides novel insights into their metabolic diversity and ecological significance in peatland ecosystems. From a comprehensive phylogenic and functional analysis, we have elucidated their putative unique facultative anaerobic capabilities and CO detoxification potential. This research highlights their crucial role in carbon cycling and greenhouse gas regulation. These findings are essential for resolving the microbial processes affecting peat soil stability, offering new perspectives on the ecological roles of previously underexplored and underrepresented archaeal populations.

Characteristics, impacts and future research directions of Mongolian peatlands

Mongolia is an important peatland distribution area in the world. Over the past few decades, Mongolian peatlands have undergone significant degradation due to climate change and human activities, yet there remains substantial uncertainty about the impacts of Mongolian peatland changes on regional environment and human society. Here, compiling the data of peatland distribution, climate, human activity, as well as the permafrost, we systematically review the distribution, changes, and the ecosystem service values of the Mongolian peatlands in the face of climate warming and intensifying human activities. The current data show that the total area of peatland in the Mongolian is 15500~27000 km2, and most of the peatlands are distributed in permafrost regions, while the accuracies of these maps were not assessed. In addition to climate warming, overgrazing, mining activities, and transportation, we suggest permafrost degradation also poses significant threatens on the peatlands. Although the importance of Mongolian peatlands has been recognized, the ecosystem service values, including water provision, habitat quality, carbon fixation, soil conservation, and wind erosion prevention largely remain unknown. Currently, efforts have been made to protect the Mongolian grassland, but there are no specific measures to combat peatland degradation. To better understand the changes and roles of peatland ecosystems in regulating regional development, we propose three research directions for future studies: 1) produce a detailed map of peatland distribution based on field survey data, new remote sensing data, and new algorithms; 2) Unveil the mechanisms underlying the interaction of peat, vegetation, and permafrost; 3) Evaluate the ecosystem services of Mongolian peatlands. These knowledges are the scientific foundation to propose and implement measures to protect, maintain, and sustainably utilize peatlands in Mongolia.

Drought mediates Sphagnum defense response to herbivory.

The expected concomitant increase in multiple stressors such as herbivory and drought may threaten peatland ecosystems. How Sphagnum, the ecological engineers of peatlands, responds to combined stressors remains largely unexplored. Here we aimed to clarify resource allocations in Sphagnum during concomitant herbivory and drought. S. magellanicum and S. fuscum were exposed to drought and herbivory together or separately in laboratory experiments and analyzed for growth (biomass production and net photosynthetic rate), defense (phenolics in leachates and phenolics in extraction) and nonstructural carbohydrates (soluble sugar and starch) in relation to untreated controls. Herbivory and drought had significant interactive effects on Sphagnum growth and defense. In both species, drought without herbivory reduced the phenolics in leachate, but with herbivory increased phenolics, indicating a synergistic effect between herbivory and drought on Sphagnum defense. Both stressors significantly decreased biomass production, with the combined stress having a more negative effect. Interestingly, a growth-defense trade-off was found in the drought treatment of both Sphagnum species, but disappeared in the wet treatment. Conversely, a trade-off between soluble sugars and phenolics was found in the wet but not in the drought treatment, suggesting that soluble sugars may play a role in inducing the defense and hence mask the growth-defense trade-off in peat mosses. Our results emphasize that predicting the impact of combined stressors on peat moss traits is complex and challenging. Future models should account for the effects of multiple environmental stressors to guide peatland conservation under climate warming.

Land cover and burn severity dynamics of the Ogan Komering Ilir peatlands from 2015 to 2023 using sar and optical datasets

Land cover changes and wildfires have had an increasing impact on the Ogan Komering Ilir Peatland ecosystems in South Sumatra, Indonesia. This study aims to understand the peatland land cover and burn severity dynamics from 2015 to 2023. The random forest method was applied to classify land cover, while the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) was used for mapping fire severity. We combined various satellite data to classify land cover, consisting of Landsat-8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2. Landsat-8 or Sentinel-2 images were also used for the dNBR calculation. We revealed complex climate, human, and restoration interactions in land cover and burn severity fluctuations over 273,799 hectares of the study area from 2015 to 2023. The 2015 El Niño-induced drought led to 21,754 fire hotspots and 2.01% of the area in high-severity burns. In 2016, it reduced tree cover by 10.18% and increased bare/sparse vegetation by 6.11%. The 2019 El Niño event led to 7,893 fire hotspots, lessening unburned areas and worsening burns. Due to the extreme effects of the 2015 drought, restoration efforts between 2016 and 2020 significantly decreased fire hotspots in 2016. Tree cover stabilized, reaching 48.46% by 2020, whereas unburned areas rose to 69.46% in 2018, showing good recovery and lower fire severity. In 2021-2023, fire hotspots were modest relative to El Niño years but increased in 2023. After 2020, tree cover decreased, but other land cover classes fluctuated. Therefore, continual monitoring and adaptive management are critical for reducing negative consequences and increasing ecosystem resilience.

Ash Treatment Promotes the Revegetation of Abandoned Extracted Peatlands

Treating peat with nutrient-rich ash significantly increases the content of different nutrients in the substrate. Such ash treatment promotes the revegetation of abandoned extracted peatlands. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of wood ash (WA15 = 15 t ha−1 and WA10 = 10 t ha−1), oil shale ash (OSA8 = 8 t ha−1), and a mixture of wood ash and oil shale ash (WA10 + OSA8) on the revegetation (vascular plants and bryophytes) of the Puhatu abandoned extracted peatland in NE Estonia. The following results were obtained: (1) The MRPP tests indicate that there are compositional differences between the treatments. (2) Altogether, 23 vascular plant and 3 bryophyte species were recorded in the treatment areas. (3) Nine years after these ash treatments, the highest mean vascular plant species richness was recorded for WA15 (3.8 ± 0.3) and the lowest for OSA8 (2.0 ± 0.3). (4) A greater number of vascular plant species was observed in the WA15 area. (5) Mixed ash and wood ash had a significant effect on the amount of biomass in vascular plants. Treating with either wood ash or a mixture of ash ensured the rapid formation of vascular plants and bryophyte layers, contributing to the restoration of the abandoned peatland ecosystem.

Initial impacts of wildfire on overwintering conditions for a Species-at-Risk snake

Peatlands are important ecosystems that are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-mediated disturbances such as wildfire, which can threaten peatland hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological function. However, the magnitude of these changes and their impacts to peatland-dependent species worldwide is a key knowledge gap. Peatlands in the eastern Georgian Bay, Ontario, region provide overwintering habitat for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus), a species considered at-risk across its North American range. Overwintering habitat is considered suitable when peat temperature is above 0°C and the water table position provides moisture without risk of prolonged flooding. This combination of suitable ecohydrological conditions, also known as the life zone or resilience zone, commonly occurs in hummocks which are raised microforms on the peatland surface. Due to a changing climate, peatlands are at risk of increased wildfire frequency and burn severity which may reduce overwintering habitat availability and suitability through changes in peat thermal and hydrological properties. In 2018, a wildfire burned over 11,000 ha of the eastern Georgian Bay landscape which supports critical habitat for the massasauga at the northern limit of the species range. To assess the potential impact of wildfire on massasauga overwintering habitat, we monitored water table position, snow depth, and peat thermal dynamics in hummocks across a burn severity gradient (unburned to severely burned) in three burned and three unburned peatlands across three winters (2019–2022). We found that hummocks were able to provide unflooded habitat above 0°C regardless of peat burn severity; however, there was moderate evidence that hummock burn severity influenced mean daily resilience zone size. Overall, hummock overwintering suitability appears to be dominantly controlled by peatland surface topography and interannual winter weather. With the frequency and intensity of wildfires predicted to increase globally under a changing climate, it is critical to understand how interannual variability of winter weather conditions influences overwintering habitat suitability after wildfire, to identify peatland ecosystems that provide resilient species at risk habitat.

Strong climate mitigation potential of rewetting oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands

For decades, tropical peatlands in Indonesia have been deforested and converted to other land uses, mainly oil palm plantations which now cover one-fourth of the degraded peatland area. Given that the capacity for peatland ecosystems to store carbon depends largely on hydrology, there is a growing interest in rewetting degraded peatlands to shift them back to a carbon sink. Recent estimates suggest that peatland rewetting may contribute up to 13 % of Indonesia's total mitigation potential from natural climate solutions. In this study, we measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes, soil temperature, and water table level (WTL) for drained oil palm plantations, rewetted oil palm plantations, and secondary forests located in the Mempawah and Kubu Raya Regencies of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. We found that peatland rewetting significantly reduced peat CO2 emissions, though CH4 uptake was not significantly different in rewetted peatland compared to drained peatland. Rewetting drained peatlands on oil palm plantations reduced heterotrophic respiration by 34 % and total respiration by 20 %. Our results suggest that rewetting drained oil palm plantations will not achieve low CO2 emissions as observed in secondary forests due to differences in vegetation or land management. However, extrapolating our results to the areas of degraded oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan suggests that successful peatland rewetting could still reduce emissions by 3.9 MtCO2 yr−1. This result confirms that rewetting oil palm plantations in tropical peatlands is an effective natural climate solution for achieving national emission reduction targets.

Impact of severe drought on biogenic volatile organic compounds emissions from Sphagnum mosses in boreal peatlands

Climate change and the associated increased frequency of extreme weather events are likely to alter the emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from boreal peatlands. Hydrologically sensitive Sphagnum mosses are keystone species in boreal peatland ecosystems that are known to emit various BVOCs. However, it is not known how their emissions respond to seasonal droughts. In this study, we quantified the effect of severe drought, and subsequent recovery, on the BVOC emissions from Sphagnum mosses using mesocosms originating from wet open and naturally drier treed boreal fens and bogs. Here we report the emissions of 30 detected BVOCs, of which isoprene was the most abundant with an average flux rate of 5.6 μg m−2 h−1 (range 0–31.9 μg m−2 h−1). The experimental 43-day ecohydrological drought reduced total BVOC and isoprene emissions. In addition, in mesocosms originating from bogs, sesquiterpene emissions decreased with the drought, while the emissions of green leaf volatiles were induced. Sesquiterpene emissions remained low even six weeks after rewetting, indicating a long and limited recovery from the drought. Our results further imply that long-term exposure to deep water tables does not decrease sensitivity of Sphagnum to an extreme drought; we did not detect differences in the emission rates or drought responses between Sphagna originating from wet open and naturally drier treed habitats. Yet, the differences between fen and bog originating Sphagna indicate local variability in the BVOC quality changes following drought, potentially altering the climate feedback of boreal peatland BVOC emissions.

Zero-Burning Policy in Land Preparation: Social Changes and Its Impact on Communities and the Environment

In Indonesia, forest and land fires have become an annual occurrence, with devastating effects. Following major fires in 2015, the government implemented policies restricting the use of fire in land preparation. This policy has affected the livelihoods of traditional farmers who still use fire for land clearing. The research aims to analyze the social changes that have occurred among traditional farmers as a result of the policy to ban burning in land preparation, and to assess its impact. The study was undertaken in Pulang Pisau Regency (Central Kalimantan) and Ogan Komering Ilir Regency (South Sumatera). Findings reveal two types of social transformation processes, namely, changes in agricultural commodities and changes in livelihoods. In general, fire policy restrictions in land preparation improved peatland ecosystems, but has had a detrimental impact on some rural communities living around peatlands. To anticipate these effects, the government promoted no-burn land preparation techniques and initiated a new paddy field construction scheme. However, both were less successful due to local resistance for their unsuitability in the local context.

Peatland wetness as an indicator of fire occurrence in forest and land fires (FLFs)

Background: Peatland ecosystems play an important role in the hydrological cycle and carbon cycling. In Indonesia, peatlands store about 28.6 gigatonnes of carbon which is equivalent to 10 years of global fossil fuel emissions. Peatlands act as a water storage during wet seasons and slowly release water during dry seasons to maintain river discharges and hydrological balance. However, climate change induced prolong drought has increased peatland dryness in recent decades which elevate the risks of unwanted peatland fires. During El Nino-induced drought in 2015, over 2.6 million hectares of forest and land burned, emitting 0.81–1.4 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases. The extreme fires damaged biodiversity, degraded water quality and displaced thousands of locals. This study aimed to analyze peatland wetness as an indicator of fire occurrences in forest and land fires (FLFs) in Riau, Indonesia by examining the relationship between degree of peatland wetness derived from satellite imagery and hotspots data. Methods: Peatland wetness was estimated from microwave backscattering coefficients at several RadarSat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) wavelengths and cross validated with water table depth measurements from 120 monitoring wells. Hotspots data between 2015-2020 were obtained from NASA's MODIS active fire product. Finding: Preliminary results showed significant negative correlations between peatland wetness and numbers of hotspots in peatlands, with more hotspots occurring in drier peatlands compared to wetter ones. This implies that maintaining peatland hydrological functions through continuoussaturation is pivotal to prevent severe peatland wildfires under future climate change. Conclusion: Conservation efforts to restore hydrological balance in degraded peatlands through re-wetting strategies are recommended. Further research utilizing machine learning algorithms to produce high-resolution peatland wetness maps can improve fire risk monitoring in peatlands. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study introduces the novel concept of utilizing peatland wetness as a key indicator for predicting and mitigating forest and land fires in Indonesia, particularly in Riau Province. By combining peatland moisture and temperature data, the research establishes threshold values to better predict fire risks and guide timely mitigation efforts, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of FLF response activities.

Optimalisasi Model Paludikultur Sebagai Mata Pencaharian Untuk Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Petani di Lahan Gambut Kabupaten Oki Sumatera Selatan

Peatland restoration cannot be separated from balancing ecological functions and the needs of community life. Empowering farmers is the initial capital for a peat restoration program with a 3R strategy (rewetting, revegetation, revitalization) that can be carried out appropriately. This balancing concept is useful for environmental sustainability and also the livelihoods of local peat communities. The aim of this research is to analyze the optimization of the paludiculture model as a livelihood to improve the welfare of farmers in the peatlands of South Sumatra. This research uses a survey method conducted in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, one of the four priority districts for peat restoration in South Sumatra Province. Data analysis uses an optimization model, namely maximum income and profit, optimal land use and labor, analyzed using a Linear Programming model with land, capital and labor constraints. The results of the research show that the balance of peatland ecosystem functions must be harmonized with maintaining sources of livelihood that can be carried out by generations of farming communities, namely the need to optimize community income by implementing the paludiculture model which provides optimal benefits obtained from the third scenario, agrosilvofishery, agrisilviculture and agroforestry, which is from the Scenario The third has an optimal profit in the agroforestry scenario of IDR. 71,629,870/year.

The importance of variance and microsite conditions for growth and hydraulic responses following long-term rewetting in pedunculate oak wood

Key messageEarly rewetting influenced growth variability and hydraulic uniformity in Pedunculate oak wood on disturbed peatland. Long-term study highlighted vessel widening's importance in adapting to water availability changes.Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is a widely recognized flood-tolerant tree that thrives on fertile and moist soil conditions, such as on or close to peatland ecosystems. In the frame of climate change counteracting policies, rewetting peatland ecosystems is gaining increasing interest, while the ecological consequences are not always clear. Whereas the effect of flooding on wood anatomical traits of pedunculate oak is widely documented, little is known about the effect of permanent rewetting. In this study, we investigated the wood anatomical responses of 12 pedunculate oak trees located on a formerly drained peatland in NE Germany, that experienced flooding and a consequent rewetting. Wood anatomical traits were analyzed via CARROT, a tool that employs the accuracy and efficiency of artificial intelligence to identify tree rings and vessels. Growth anatomical traits (e.g., tree ring width) showed a sudden increase after the rewetting started in 1995, while hydraulic traits (Dh and Ks) displayed a decreasing trend only after the rewetting process was fostered by the opening of an artificial canal in 2004. Variance analysis highlighted subtle changes in the trait’s distribution over time: high soil water content triggered variability in the growth anatomical traits and, simultaneously, homogeneity in the hydraulic traits. Results suggest the relevance of the “vessel widening” mechanisms to develop coping strategies in response to the later stage of the rewetting, and pose relevant insights concerning the importance of specific site conditions for the implementation of rewetting policies in peatlands with presence of pedunculate oak.

Efforts by the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency to Foster Environmental Awareness Among Students in Dumai City

Forest and peatland fires, as well as coastal abrassion, are environmental issues that require serious attention. This study aims to analyze the efforts made by the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency in building ecological awareness, specifically regarding peatland and mangrove ecosystems. The research employs qualitative methods through interviews, observations, documentation, and literature review. The findings indicate that the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency's efforts to promote environmental awareness involve a collaborative approach to socialization and education. The Agency collaborates with the Dumai City Government, particularly the Department of Education, in the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5). Learning about peatland and mangrove ecosystems is incorporated as a local content highlight in the P5 curriculum. Dumai has even become the first region in Riau Province to launch the P5 Peatland and Mangrove Curriculum. Policy interventions in educational institutions are latent efforts aimed at fostering a love for the environment concerning peatland and mangrove ecosystems and ensuring future conservation. This effort is crucial due to the increasing potential loss of peatland ecosystems in Dumai City as a result of land conversion for industrial areas. Similarly, the problem of abrassion is increasingly alarming due to the degradation of mangrove ecosystems, both from natural causes and human activities.

A critical review of peatland ecosystem services research in Indonesia: Uncovering knowledge gaps and research needs

Peatlands provide a broad range of ecosystem services (ES) that are critical to ecosystem regulating and human well-being. However, anthropogenic activities threaten their existence, leading to degradation, destruction, and loss of these ecosystems. To effectively convey the value of peatlands, it is important to share knowledge on the ES they provide. This review aims to provide an overview of the ES provided by peatlands in Indonesia. We undertook a critical review of articles published on Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar to investigate various aspects of peatland ES. Our examination encompassed data types, valuation methods, modes of assessment, ecosystem services categories, study site scale, temporal patterns, purposes of publication, and study limitations related to peatland ES. From a set of 1,115 potentially relevant papers, 45 were selected for analysis. Our findings showed that ES studies are heavily concentrated on the Kalimantan and Sumatra islands, with most studies focused on specific provinces such as Central Kalimantan and Riau. The most commonly used data type, method, and mode of assessment were secondary data, look-up tables, and economic valuation, respectively. Provisioning services were the most frequently studied ES category, followed by regulating services, supporting services, and cultural services. However, gaps persist, including limited data, understanding, and long-term sustainability consideration. Future research should address these gaps by focusing on underrepresented peatland ecosystems, integrating diverse approaches, and considering global peatland issues.

Multi-resolution remote sensing for flark area detection in boreal aapa mires

ABSTRACT Peatlands have suffered significant degradation globally due to human impacts, which has increased the need to monitor the condition and changes in peatland ecosystems. With remote sensing, point-based in-situ observations can be upscaled to larger areas but there is a need to develop scalable monitoring methods. We predicted wet flark area extent, a key ecological indicator for patterned flark fens, in five sites in central Finland. Our primary aim was to test how the spatial and spectral resolution of different optical satellite image products (Landsat 8–9, Sentinel-2, PlanetScope) affect flark area coverage prediction. We also tested if there were seasonal or site-specific differences in prediction accuracy. Lastly, we upscaled the flark area coverage to entire mire areas. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived flark area classification as a ground reference data to compare satellite sensors’ prediction accuracies. We predicted flark area coverage using spectral bands and indices as predictor variables using random forest regression. All sensors provided accurate results with some differences between Landsat (pseudo-R2 32−84%, root-mean squared error (RMSE) 10 − 18%), Sentinel-2 (R2 61−92%, RMSE 6−14%), and PlanetScope (R2 46 − 92%, RMSE 6 − 17%). The shortwave infrared bands of Landsat and Sentinel-2 did not increase the prediction accuracy. There were notable site-specific variations in prediction accuracy despite all the sites having typical open aapa mire wet flark – dry string patterns. With single-site models, the prediction accuracies were similar for early and late summer data, but when transferring the models to the other sites, performance significantly decreased, especially with the models using the late-summer imagery. Finally, we successfully upscaled the flark area coverage across entire mire areas. Our results demonstrate that the combination of UAV and satellite imagery can be used successfully to monitor peatland conditions and changes in them.

Economics of Peatland Ecosystem Services: A Study of Use and Non-Use Values and People Interplays in Sumatra, Indonesia

Peatlands play an important role in the global environment and the well-being of humans by providing valuable ecosystem services. Yet, anthropogenic activities pose significant hazards for peatland management, including low levels of community participation due to lack of awareness and financial incentives. Understanding the social–cultural and economic value of these ecosystems will raise awareness to protect these important ecosystems. Here, we estimated a total economic value (TEV) of peatland ecosystem services and examined relationships between the TEV and landscape characteristics in Riau province, Indonesia. A questionnaire was used to investigate household socioeconomics, perception of peatland importance, peatland product collection, and willingness to pay for habitat and biodiversity protection from May to June 2023. A total of 200 household individuals (92% confidence) in five villages across distinct landscapes in the Sungai Kiyap-Sungai Kampar Kiri Peatland Hydrological Unit participated in the survey. The respondents obtained numerous advantages from the peatlands with an estimated TEV of USD 3174 per household per year (about 1.3 times their annual income). Approximately 81% showed a use value, especially food provisioning from fish and soil fertility. To a lesser extent, non-use values included a habitat for endemic and endangered species, biodiversity conservation for future generations, and community bonds with sacred forests. The landscape characteristics, illustrating habitat types, biophysical conditions, and property rights regimes, interplay with the relative benefits derived from the peatlands. Proximity to secondary peat swamp forests and riparian zones, especially within protected areas, enhanced economic value. Protected area co-management is essential to balance peatland conservation with sustainable livelihoods. Primary forests need restrictive protection. Meanwhile, buffer zone designation and agroforestry practices, especially in the peatland–farm interface, reduce land use tensions and promote local stewardship. This study can be used as a reference by planners and policymakers to recognize factors that promote effective peatland management, especially those that balance ecosystem protection and livelihood maintenance.

Policy design for biodiversity: How problem conception drift undermines “fit-for-purpose” Peatland conservation

Abstract For over two decades, scientists have documented the alarming decline of global Peatland ecosystems, regarded as the planet’s most crucial carbon sinks. The deterioration of these unique wetlands alongside their policy attention presents a puzzle for policy scientists and for students of anticipatory policy design. Two contrasting explanations have emerged. Some argue that pressures from economic globalization compel governments to relax environmental standards, while others point to deficiencies in policy design and implementation. Our paper applies Cashore’s Four Problem Types framework to assess a more nuanced explanation: that failure of global and local policies to curb ecosystem degradation is owing to a misalignment between how the problem is currently conceived of, and what conception is required for, effective environmental management. We find overwhelming evidence that reversing Peatland degradation necessitates a fundamental shift in applied policy analysis—from treating the crisis as a Type 3 (Compromise), Type 2 (Optimization), or even Type 1 (Commons) problem, to conceiving it as a Type 4 (Prioritization) challenge. Achieving this requires undertaking four essential policy design tasks: engaging sequentialist/lexical ordering processes; identifying key features of the problem that any solution would need to incorporate to effectively overcome; applying path dependency analysis to uncover policy mix innovations capable of “locking-in” sustainability trajectories that can fend off pressures for policy conception drift; and organizing multistakeholder “policy design learning” exercises that integrate complex sources of knowledge produced within, and across, the ecological and policy sciences.

Collaboration Among Stakeholders in Efforts to Control Peatland Ecosystem Damage to Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)

Introduction: The government's efforts to control peatland ecosystem damage are a corrective measure to improve management systems in peatland areas. This case study focuses on the KHG Kampar River – Gaung River and KHG Gaung River – Batangtuaka River in Riau Province. These locations were chosen due to their representation of peatland ecosystem restoration activities from 2017 to 2022. Theoretical Review: Hajer and Wagenaar (2003: 33-37) explain in more detail that deliberative policy is an approach in the public decision-making process that focuses on deep discussion and reflection of various views and approaches before reaching a final decision. This approach involves the active participation of various stakeholders or citizens in decision-making. Collaborative policy dialogue is an alternative approach in policy-making that is becoming increasingly relevant in the Information Age due to technological changes and globalization. Methods: Using a systematic qualitative methodology, this study adopts a descriptive approach to describe field phenomena. Result and Discussion: This study identifies stakeholders, their involvement, and the impact of their collaboration and synergy. Stakeholder collaboration is crucial for addressing peatland ecosystem management issues in these areas. The collaborations include interactions between central and local governments (provincial and district), the government and the private sector, and the government and local communities. Conclusion: Successful stakeholder collaboration has supported the region's sustainable development goals (SDGs). Four pillars were achieved in the efforts to control peatland ecosystem damage: the social pillar, the economic pillar, the environmental pillar, and the governance pillar.

Sustainable Rural Business Ecosystem of Pineapple Commodity in Peatland and Mangrove Ecosystem with One Village One CEO (OVOC) Program

Sustainable Rural Business Ecosystem of Pineapple Commodity in Peatland and Mangrove Ecosystem with One Village One CEO (OVOC) Program

Challenges in Standardizing Global Emission Factors for Peatlands

Peatlands have a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, acting as significant carbon sinks, but become a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when peat extraction is taking place. This article presents a comprehensive overview of peatland ecosystems, emphasizing their classification across various climatic zones and the complex set of different characteristics that determine contribution to GHG emissions. Currently, inconsistency exists in definition of emission factors used between countries leading to varied approaches in estimating peatland emissions and posing significant challenges in the comparison and aggregation of global data on peat extraction related GHG. The aim of the study is to analyse the disparities in emission factors and calculation methodologies employed by different countries. Data from national GHG emission reports are submitted under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions report data calculations and emission factors can be based either on nationally determined data or on data specified in the IPCC guidelines. Consequently, emission factor data for four countries - Latvia, Finland, Sweden and Germany - are collected and processed, which were compared with IPCC guideline data. The data were compared in two ways: by equating units of measurement and by modeling. The results show there is a pronounced difference between the emission factors of each country, however, all these factors are lower than the maximum values specified in the IPCC guidelines. It was also determined that comparing the total emission factors with the modeled results, no significant difference is observed between these results. The study concludes that emission factors are predetermined differently for each country, and it is not possible to specify the differences among assumptions for parameters included in the determination of the emission factors. The results suggest there is a need for development of more transparent accounting of emissions with regard to the diverse environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing peatland ecosystems. Factors like composition, depth of peat, water table levels, and local land-use practices further compound this variability in emission accounting. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of GHG emission reporting under international frameworks like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.