Peatland Research Articles

The variations of surface wetness recorded by multi-proxies in Yuanchi peatland of the Changbai Mountains from 1962 to 2008.

Surface wetness of Yuanchi peatland in the Changbai Mountains were reconstructed by comprehensive analysis on plant residue, testate amoeba and humification, using the age-depth model established with AMS 14C and 137Cs dating methods. The response of surface wetness to climate change was addressed. Results showed that plant residues in the top 50 cm of peat sequence were dominated by mosses. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of plant residue revealed that axis 1 of DCA biplot might represent mire surface wetness (MSW). MSW from 1962 to 2008 as indicated by axis 1 scores of DCA on plant residue were compared with depths to water table derived by testate amoebae-DWT transfer function and humification measurements, and the results showed that the trends of MSW reconstructed by three proxies were largely consistent. They were wetter MSW from 40-50 cm (1962 to 1975), 27-40 cm (fluctuating from wet to dry from 1975 to 1987), and 0-27 cm (drier from 1987 to 2008). Compared with instrumental data from nearby Erdao weather station, the reconstructed MSW was basically consistent with temperature change in this period. The decreases of MSW occurred when mean summer temperature and mean annual temperature were higher than long-term mean value. Our results suggest that the variability in MSW in the recent 46 years predominantly responded weakening of effective precipitation induced by increasing temperature.

Variations of inorganic ions and dissolved organic matter in different types of peat bogs and its ecological significance.

Peat bogs, which cover only 3% of the global land surface, store about 30% of the global soil carbon (C), and are important carbon pools in terrestrial ecosystems. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important part of carbon cycle in peatland, and also an important participant in biogeo-chemical process of peat. The variation of redox ability of DOM and inorganic ions in surface water, groundwater, and pore water of two sampling peatland (minerotrophic fen, LB; ombrotrophic bog, OS) were analyzed using novel electrochemical method and stable carbon isotope. The results showed that in the LB plot, inorganic elements were rich, and that anaerobic respiration dominated by inorganic electron acceptor was the main process. The redox ability differed across different LB water sources (surface water, groundwater, and pore water), which was mainly affected by the actual redox potentials. Iron and sulfate were generally in reduced state in the profile of pore water. The reaction level and depth of redox active groups of DOM which participated in redox process were influenced by inorganic electron acceptor. In the OS plot, organic matter was extremely rich, and organic electron acceptor contributed significantly in redox process. The redox ability of OS water samples from different sources performed differently, which was also mainly attributed to the actual redox potentials. The redox ability of pore water profile was affected by the chemical composition in peat substance at different depths. Therefore, electron accepting capacities (EAC) and oxidation index (OI) values could be used to identify the redox conditions along the gradient and to indicate the redox state of organic matter in aquatic systems.

Ameliorant engineering to elevate soil pH, growth, and productivity of paddy on peat and tidal land

To support the government’s program towards world food barns in 2045, the use of sub-optimal wetlands such as peatlands and tidal land is a viable alternative. The problem of acidity in both types of land can be controlled, one of which is by providing ameliorant. Thus, the purposes of this study were to examine the effect of ameliorant application in increasing soil pH, as well as its influence in increasing the growth and production of paddy plants. The study was conducted using a nested factorial completely randomized design. The factors were soil (peat soil/l1 and tidal swampland/l2) and ameliorant types (without ameliorant/p0, dolomite/p1, chicken manure/p2, paddy husk ash/p3, paddy husk charcoal/p4, and baglog oyster mushroom waste/p5) that given 10 t ha−1 each. The results showed that all ameliorants applied could increase soil pH, growth, and paddy yield. Dolomite, chicken manure, and baglog oyster mushroom waste significantly elevated the pH of peat and tidal soils. The highest paddy productivity was at chicken manure application. The application of ameliorant increased soil pH to be suitable pH for paddy growing on peat and tidal soils.

Dynamics of local governance: The case of peatland restoration in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Since 2016, peatland restoration policy is implemented in Central Kalimantan province through facilitation and coordination by Peat Restoration Agency (Badan Restorasi Gambut [BRG]), with the goals of reducing the peat subsidence, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to fire of peat areas. After years of implementation, local peat fires persist, however, and knowledge is still lacking about the challenges and opportunities for supporting the restoration process. This study examines policy implementation from the perspective of regional stakeholders by unraveling the dynamics of stakeholder interactions associated with the policy process. It reveals that the current state of governance somewhat restricts the ability of restoration actors to adaptively address emerging policy challenges and proposes measures for addressing these challenges.

Development Model on Prevention of Land and Forest Fire in the Peat Land Area with Empowerment Society Approach (Case Study in West Kalimantan)

Land fires are an annual agenda in Indonesia, especially in areas covered by peatlands. Peatland management using fire is the main cause. The general paradigm for land fires is that the farmers' economy is low. In fact, the factors that cause land fires are not only from the economic aspect, but from the social and institutional aspects which affect the behavior of farmers. Therefore, the purpose of this study is (1) to analyze the correlation of factors that influence land burning behavior, and (2) to determine the model for the changing of burning behavior into non burning farm land cultivation, in order to prevent land fire in Kuburaya Disrict and Bengkayang District, West Kalimantan. The research involved farmers farming on peatlands in both districts. Regression models was used for the correlation analysis. Based on the results of the regression analysis, a land burning behavior change model was determined based on the influencing factors descriptively. The result of the analysis showed the factors that significantly influence land burning behavior at the household level are knowledge level (consist of farming problems faced by farmers, agricultural extension materials and the application of technology), observance of rules, activeness of mutual assistance, cosmopolitan level, appraisal on burning behavior, and imitation level. The resulting model for changing the behavior of burning land is implementing activity of assistance, social capital stimulus and positive agreements/ pressure to the land users.

Potential of Agroforestry System on Peat Land to Enhance Food Security and Environmental Sustainability

Indonesia is a country with the largest tropical peatlands in the world. utilization of peatlands has been widely associated with fires and environmental issues like carbon dioxide emissions because of the highest land-use. The reduction or loss of the peat forest ecosystem for the development of dry land plants on a massive scale has reduced the quality of the environment, so that the function and benefits of the peat ecosystem as a hydrological buffer for the surrounding area are disturbed. This paper aims to synthesize all research results qualitatively to explore the potential for developing agroforestry systems on peatlands in an effort to increase food security and protect the environment. This review paper uses the Qualitative Review Systematics method with stages: 1) formulation of questions, 2) literature search, 3) screening and selecting appropriate research articles, 4) analyzing and synthesizing qualitative findings, 5) presenting finding. Agroforestry has the potential to have a real impact on food security, climate change including mitigation and adaptation, and preserving the environment. Some research results show that the agroforestry systems can be an effective buffer in peatlands in fire control because the peat stabilization process requires control materials to maintain the elemental composition, carboxyl (COOH) and OH-phenol functional groups, so that the peat conditions become stable.

The diversity of macrofauna in peatlands that planted by palm oil and without palm oil in jambi region, Indonesia

Macrofauna in peat land consist of invertebrates that have size more than 2 mm. Each kind of macrofauna has different biological role on the soil ecosystem. If the soil is disrupted, the life of macrofauna will have instability. One of disruptive activity is converse peatlands into the palm oil plantation. Therefore, the research is conducted in order to make descriptive analysis on the condition of peatlands that planted by palm oil plantations and without palm oil plantation. This study is held in Gambut Jaya village in Sungai Gelam by using purposive sampling technique. There are 3 research locations where 3 repeating transect are done in each location. Each transect consists of 8 monolith excavations and 10 pitfall traps. The excavation has 25 x 25 cm size with the depth 10 cm to avoid watery soil in the deeper land. The traps are placed during 24 h. The result showed that the diversity index in location A (peatland without palm oil) is 2, 27 and in location B (peatland with palm oil plantation) is 1, 97 which are categorized as medium. There are 28 species in location A which are not found in location B, while 11 species found in location B which are not found in location A. Then, 14 same species found in both locations.

Consolidation settlement of soil foundations containing organic matters subjected to embankment load

Peatland is distributed in China widely, and organic matters in soil frequently induce problems in the construction and maintenance of highway engineering due to the high permeability and compressibility. In this paper, a selected site of Dali-Lijiang expressway was surveyed in China. A numerical model was built to predict the settlement of the foundation of the selected section employing the soft soil creep (SSC) model in PLAXIS 8.2. The model was subsequently verified by the result of field observance. Consequently, the parameters of 17 types of soils from different regions in China with organic contents varying from 1.1–74.9% were assigned to the numerical model to study the settlement characteristics. The calculated results showed that the duration of primary consolidation and proportion of primary settlement in the total settlement decreased with increasing organic content. Two empirical equations, for total consolidation settlement and secondary settlement, were proposed using multiple linear regression based on the calculated results from the numerical models. The analysis results of the significances of certain soil parameters demonstrated that the natural compression index, secondary compression index, cohesion and friction angle have significant linear relevance with both the total settlement and secondary settlement, while the initial coefficient of permeability exerts significant influence on the secondary settlement only.

The Governance of Risk Management on Peatland: A Case Study of Restoration in South Sumatra, Indonesia

This study assessed critical aspects in the governance of peatland restoration in South Sumatra and its possible impacts.

The early benefits of agroforestry as the solution of social conflict and peat land degradation in Kampar - Riau, Indonesia

Agroforestry has been mentioned has good potency to be selected as one of the tools to overcome the problem of degraded tropical peat swamp forest (TPSF) which was associated with social conflict. Here, we evaluated the early benefits of agroforestry for some aspects which has relationship with the attempt to overcome social conflict and peatland degradation*. We established the experimental plot of agroforestry in the conflict area at forest area with special purpose (KHDTK) in Kepau Jaya Village, Kampar District, Riau Province. We planted three native tree species of TPSF, namely were Balangeran(Shorea balangeran), Geronggang(Cratoxylum arborescens)and Gelam(Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana.In this plot, between rows of tree plantation the local farmer cultivated their crop. At 11 months after plantation; the ranges of survival rate, height and collar diameter increment of all tree native species were 56.2% - 72.44%, 97.4 m/year – 163.0 m/year and 2.04 cm/year – 3.2 cm/year, respectively. Furthermore, from the yields of the three types of seasonal crops (melon, chilli and luffa), the average income which was gathered by farmers was of 6,000,000 IDR. We also observed that during this agroforestry activity, the intensity of forest disturbance by the local community around KHDTK was relatively reduced. It is important to manage and increase those diverse benefits in further years.

Physical simulation of load displacement resistance of peat land surface on test bench

Physical simulation of load displacement resistance of peat land surface on test bench

ANALISIS SIFAT KIMIA GAMBUT PASCA KEBAKARAN DENGAN BERBAGAI UPAYA PEMULIHAN HUTAN DI KAWASAN HUTAN DENGAN TUJUAN KHUSUS (KHDTK) TUMBANG NUSA, KALIMANTAN TENGAH

Peat land has an important role, function, and benefit for human life, biodiversity, and global climate. The peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan was devastated to a very large extent, which addresses the restoration of peat swamp forests, has changed the characteristics of peat which contain physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Peat recovery efforts carried out at the KHDTK Tumbang Nusa consist of natural succession and revegetation. The study aimed to analyze the chemical properties of peat soils in different types of post-fire forest protection and to assess the spatial variability of peat chemical properties in Forest Areas for Special Purposes (KHDTK) Tumbang Nusa, Desa Tumbang Nusa, Jabiren Raya District, Pulang Pisau Regency. The research plot consisted of forest restoration efforts, namely secondary forest, revegetation, and natural regeneration. Variable measured consisted of pH, total organic C, CEC, N, P, K, exchangeable K, Na, Ca, Mg, as well as ash content and water content. The results showed that secondary forest treatment was the best peat swamp forest restoration technique. Spatial variability sub-plots and sample points did not significantly affect the differences in chemical properties of the peat, but the differences in chemical properties of peat is the peat swamp forest was determined by restoration technique.

Sustainable Finance: Customer Loyalty or green environment?

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to see how the Indonesian bankers in response to OJK roadmap (Financial Services Authority) about sustainable finance. Sustainable financing has several interpretations that are understood differently by every banker. Sustainable finance that explain by OJK is financing for eco-friendly product such as forestry and peat land, energy and transportation, and agricultural. Banks encourage to have healthy or green lifestyle in bank such as drink in a tumbler compared to plastic glass or bottle. On the other hand bank also encourage their marketing directorate to choose potential customer which have a good product and high profitability. The good relationship with customer can made customer loyal to the bank and their business with bank will sustain. The method used in this research is qualitative by in-depth interview on 10 bankers who work in 10 largest banks in Indonesia. We are choosing team leader of credit marketing in each bank, as we already known that marketing is the main profit generator in banks and the person who is directly meet the customer, not only existing customer but also new customer. Consideration of choosing potential customer is marketing responsible. They are made some assessment to the client which is suitable with banks aims. The results in this study indicate that the roadmap that has been launched by OJK has not been in line with marketing employees as there is some information that has not reached the bankers. As some of them still thinking a good relationship with customer will make bank business sustainable. Moreover, in their view of sustainable finance is not only focused on the financing for environmentally friendly efforts, but must be on the view of a good long-term relationship between the bank and its creditors in order to get mutual reciprocal relationship.

Smallholder perceptions of land restoration activities: rewetting tropical peatland oil palm areas in Sumatra, Indonesia

The Indonesian government committed to restoring over 2 million ha of degraded peatland by the end of 2020, mainly to reduce peat fires and greenhouse gas emissions. Although it is unlikely the government will meet this target, restoration projects are still underway. One restoration strategy involves blocking peatland drainage canals, but the consequences of this for smallholder farmers whose livelihoods are dependent on agriculture are unclear. This paper investigates perceived impacts of canal blocks on smallholder farmers and identifies factors that affect their willingness to accept canal blocks on their land. We use data from 181 household questionnaires collected in 2018 across three villages in Jambi province, Sumatra. We found that the majority of respondents would accept canal blocks on their farms, perceiving that the blocks would have no impact on yields or farm access, and would decrease fire risk. Respondents who would not accept blocks on their farms were more likely to use canals to access their farms and perceive that canal blocks would decrease yields. The majority of farmers unwilling to accept canal blocks did not change their mind when provided with an option of a block that would allow boat travel. Our results improve understanding of why some smallholders may be unwilling to engage with peatland restoration. Further research is needed to understand the impact of canal blocks on smallholders’ yields. Engaging with stakeholders from the outset to understand farmers’ concerns, and perceptions is key if the government is to succeed in meeting its peatland restoration target and to ensure that the costs and benefits of restoration are evenly shared between local stakeholders and other actors.

PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT KAKAO (Teobroma cacao L) DENGAN BERBAGAI PEMBERIAN DOSIS SERBUK GERGAJI PADA VARIETAS (BUNDO-F1) DI TANAH GAMBUT

This study aims to determine the growth of cacao seeds (Teobroma cacao L) with various doses of sawdust on Vairietas (Bundo-F1) on peat lands. This research has been carried out in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic University of Indragiri Tembilahan, Tembilahan Hulu Subdistrict, Indragiri Downstream District. When the study began from April to July 2019 this research was a field trial using a non-factorial randomized block design (RBD) consisting of 6 levels, namely M0 = peat only, M1 = 1: 1 (sawdust: peat), M2 = 2 : 1 (sawdust: peat), M3 = 3: 1 (sawdust: peat). Each treatment was repeated three times to obtain 18 experimental trial plots in the field. Data from this study were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the treatment of M2 = 2: 1 (sawdust: peat) could have a significant effect on plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves (strands),

THE IMPACT OF INDONESIA CAPITAL RELOCATION TO KALIMANTAN PEATLAND RESTORATION

East Kalimantan is the location designated by President Jokowi Dodo as the new capital city of Indonesia. In terms of autonomy, the reason for moving the capital city according to the government is for the sake of equitable development. Decentralization is the idea and spirit of the founders of the state, with division of territories including their powers. This is stated in the provisions of Article 18 of the 1945 Constitution which encourage the implementation of regional autonomy in a broad and concrete manner, with the hope that disadvantaged areas can develop themselves and align themselves with other regions in order to advance welfare. The relocation of the new capital city will create new problems in this country, not only peat problems, but will result in ecological disasters. It is hoped that the relocation of the capital city will really be studied and evaluated because it will seriously threaten the sustainability of peatlands in East Kalimantan, where 0.3 million hectares are peatlands. The role of local government is very important because in its implementation in realizing good environmental governance, the ability of local governments to protect and manage the environment is needed. This study uses a qualitative research approach which is a scientific method used and carried out by a group of researchers in the field of social sciences, including education.
 Keywords: Peatland Restoration, Political Ecology, Respons to Indonesia Capital Relocation, Decentralization, Regional Autonomy

REWETTING DESIGN FOR TROPICAL PEATLAND RESTORATION

Peatlands located in tropical climates are estimated to have an area of ​​11% of the total peatland on earth. The scope of ​​tropical peatland is proportional to the significant role this ecosystem plays in the stability of the earth and everything in it. Various efforts have been made to restore the condition of the peatland ecosystem, especially in tropical areas that have been affected by human activities. This study using the literature review method attempts to collect and summarize various peatland restoration efforts carried out in various countries in the world, then serve as a reference and basis for consideration in redesigning peat rewetting infrastructure. The result of this study is a canal blocking design using a PVC pipe filled with peat soil in its cavity. The layout of this PVC pipe canal blocking is designed by considering various factors. Challenges and prospects related to the idea of ​​this canal blocking with PVC pipe were also taken into consideration in the design. It is hoped that the innovation of canal blocking materials can increase resource efficiency and fund for canal blocking construction while maintaining its function and development objectives.
 Keywords: peatland rewetting design, canal blocking, PVC pipe

Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Restorasi Gambutdi Desa Rimbo Panjang

This study aims to determine how community participation in peatland restoration activities in Rimbo Panjang village. The research method uses primary and secondary data sources. Primary data is obtained through interviews with the village community of Rimbo Panjang while secondary data is data obtained by researchers from indirect data sources by collecting information and references related to the problem under study. The research sample took figures deemed necessary in the research, namely village officials, fire fighting community groups, sustainable peat community groups, noble peatland community groups and thorn pineapple community groups. The method used is verstehen or also known as interpretive understanding, which is a way or an attempt to understand an act of subjective meaning / meaning for oneself and associated with others. The results of this study indicate that community participation in peat restoration, village officials and community groups as well as with BRG-Kemitraan. Restoration in this case is known as 3R, namely Rewetting, Revegetation or replanting and revitalization or improvement of community welfare. Benefits that are felt by the community, such as wetting, are drilling wells, providing tools and patrolling, in the field of community empowerment through training in catfish businesses, prickly pineapple community groups and agriculture by providing seeds, fertilizers to peatland farmers.

Near-complete loss of fire-resistant primary tropical forest cover in Sumatra and Kalimantan

Deforestation in Indonesia in recent decades has made increasingly large parts of the region vulnerable to fires. Burning is particularly widespread in deforested peatlands, and it leads to globally significant carbon emissions. Here we use satellite-based observations to assess loss and fragmentation of primary forests and associated changes in fire regimes in Sumatra and Kalimantan between 2001 and 2019. We find that fires did not penetrate undisturbed primary forest areas deeper than two kilometres from the forest edge irrespective of drought conditions. However, fire-resistant forest now covers only 3% of peatlands and 4.5% of non-peatlands; the majority of the remaining primary forests are severely fragmented or degraded due to proximity to the forest edge. We conclude that protection and regeneration of the remaining blocks of contiguous primary forest, as well as peatland restoration, are urgently needed to mitigate the impacts of potentially more frequent fire events under future global warming.

Design alternative on peat soil

Construction on peat soil has its own difficulty and challenge due to its properties of low shear strength, high compressibility, high water content, and flammable material. Indonesia ranked 4th on peat land area around the world after Canada, Russia, and United States. Based on recent mapping, peat land covers 14,9 million hectare in Indonesia. This paper presents the finding from literature studies regarding peat soil, construction on peat soil, case studies for road infrastructure construction on peat soil at West Borneo, Indonesia, and provide analysis and recommendation for the problems faced. Construction on peat soil requires special attention, especially on the design and execution. In the event where construction must be performed on a peatland which thickness is < 3m, the approach recommended is peat removal and replacement. If the peat thickness is 3-10 m, adopt the preloading, construction with vertical and sand drain, lightweight fills, surface mattress, stone column, etc. If the peat thickness is < 10m, use pile as foundation. Unit price contract is preferable over lumpsum contract due to the high uncertainties of peat soil. Environment impact due to construction on peat soil need to be accounted for, also the risk of peat fires need to be considered if dewatering used.