Tropical Peat Research Articles

Principles for equitable and resilient tropical peatland restoration in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Indonesia's tropical peatlands are crucial global carbon stores but have been heavily degraded in recent decades. We present seven principles for equitable and resilient tropical peatland restoration in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, host to 19% of Indonesia's tropical peatland area, where local livelihoods, cultural practices, and indigenous social relations remain closely connected. Our collaborative methods employed a Delphi survey and focus group discussions with researchers from various disciplines to develop a shared vision for restoration. This vision served as a boundary object during interviews with diverse stakeholders involved in peatland restoration in Central Kalimantan, allowing for refinement and adaptation of the vision and the development of principles to achieve it. The principles emphasize inclusive and collaborative decision‐making, planning, and implementation; site‐specific approaches adapted to local social and ecological conditions; and ensuring the informed consent of and fair benefit distribution to all local social groups. They also emphasize a holistic, integrated, and long‐term approach to restoration that considers multiple aspects, including hydrological function, vegetation regeneration, fire prevention, locally appropriate livelihood benefits, inclusive governance, and adaptive management practices. These principles serve as a starting point for resilience‐oriented social‐ecological restoration practice and policy formulation, aiming to facilitate equitable, effective, and resilient tropical peatland restoration outcomes.

Carbon dynamics in high‐Andean tropical cushion peatlands: A review of geographic patterns and potential drivers

AbstractPeatlands store large amounts of carbon (C), a function potentially threatened by climate change. Peatlands composed of vascular cushion plants are widespread in the northern and central high Andes (páramo, wet and dry puna), but their C dynamics are hardly known. To understand the interplay of the main drivers of peatland C dynamics and to infer geographic patterns across the Andean regions, we addressed the following question: How do topography, hydrology, temperature, past climate variability, and vegetation influence the C dynamics of these peatlands? We summarize the available information on observed spatial and inferred temporal patterns of cushion peatland development in the tropical and subtropical Andes. Based on this, we recognize the following emerging patterns, which all need testing in further studies addressing spatial and temporal patterns of C accumulation: (1) Peatlands in dry climates and those in larger catchments receive higher sediment inputs than peatlands from wet puna and páramo and in small catchments. This results in peat stratigraphies intercalated with mineral layers and affects C accumulation by triggering vegetation changes. (2) High and constant water tables favor C accumulation. Seasonal water level fluctuations are higher in wet and dry puna, in comparison with páramo, leading to more frequent episodes of C loss in puna. (3) Higher temperatures favor C gain under high and constant water availability but also increase C loss under low and fluctuating water levels. (4) C accumulation has been variable through the Holocene, but several peatlands show a recent increase in C accumulation rates. (5) Vegetation affects C dynamics through species‐specific differences in productivity and decomposition rate. Because of predicted regional differences in global climate change manifestations (seasonality, permafrost behavior, temperature, precipitation regimes), cushion peatlands from the páramo are expected to mostly continue as C sinks for now, whereas those of the dry puna are more likely to turn to C sources as a consequence of increasing aridification.

Microbial DNA sample preservation and possible artifacts for field-based research in remote tropical peatlands

Surveying bacterial and archaeal microbial communities in host and environmental studies requires the collection and storage of samples. Many studies are conducted in distant locations challenging these prerequisites. The use of preserving buffers is an important alternative when lacking access to cryopreservation, however, its effectivity for samples with challenging chemistry or samples that provide opportunities for fast bacterial or archaeal growth upon exposure to an aerobic environment, like peat samples, requires methodological assessment. Here, in combination with an identified optimal DNA extraction kit for peat soil samples, we test the application of several commercial and a homemade preservation buffer and make recommendations on the method that can most effectively preserve a microbiome reflective of the original state. In treatments with a non-optimal buffer or in the absence, we observed notable community shifts beginning as early as three days post-preservation lowering diversity and community evenness, with growth-driven artifacts from a few specific phyla. However other buffers retain a very close composition relative to the original state, and we described several metrics to understand some variation across them. Due to the chemical effects of preservation buffers, it is critical to test their compatibility and reliability to preserve the original bacterial and archaeal community in different environments.

CO2 emissions of tropical peat soils under controlled groundwater table depths: A laboratory-based experiment

The groundwater table (GWT) is widely recognized as a key factor influencing CO2 emissions in tropical peatlands. However, previous studies investigating this relationship have reported diverse results. This variability likely stems from the dynamic nature of field-based groundwater conditions. To address this, our study investigated the relationship between controlled GWT and CO2 emissions in a laboratory experiment using PVC columns filled with peat soil. GWT depths were adjusted to 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, and 60 cm within a large container filled with peat pore water. CO2 emissions were measured using an Infra Red Gas Analyzer - Environmental Gas Monitoring-4 instrument, with a closed-chamber system. Our findings revealed significant differences in CO2 emissions between treatments, except for the transition from 20 cm to 30 cm GWT. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation (R² = 0.25). Notably, CO2 emission factor values based on average yearly emission rates displayed a substantial increase with decreasing GWT, exhibiting a strong exponential relationship (R² = 0.99).

Estimation of above-ground biomass using machine learning approaches with InSAR and LiDAR data in tropical peat swamp forest of Brunei Darussalam

Estimation of above-ground biomass using machine learning approaches with InSAR and LiDAR data in tropical peat swamp forest of Brunei Darussalam

Preliminary Assessment of Selected Physico-chemical Properties of Peat Water in Relation to Land Use Conversion in Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland, Philippines

Tropical peatlands are unique wetland ecosystems that provide various ecosystem services such as carbon and water storage. However, these ecosystems have been significantly altered by anthropogenic activities. In this study, the impact of land use conversion on the selected physico-chemical properties of surface water in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland was investigated. Surface peat water was collected from peat swamp forest, peatland converted to grassland and peatland under cultivation. The surface peat water temperature was measured on-site and the collected water samples were analyzed for turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4), and total dissolved solids (TDS). It was found that the physico-chemical properties of water such as temperature, pH, and TDS were significantly higher in disturbed land use (cultivation) areas. The direct relationship between the temperature of surface peat water to both phosphate and TDS suggests that increasing temperature brought by peatland conversion may directly lead to increasing phosphate and total dissolved solids concentration in water. Strong relationships were also found between TDS and phosphates as well as between pH and dissolved oxygen. Finally, the increasing trend of values of the examined peat water physico-chemical properties with land use disturbance (cultivation) indicates peatland degradation.

Paleoenvironment and vegetational history of a Middle Pennsylvanian intramontane peat swamp: an example from the Lower Radnice Coal, Kladno coalfield (Czech Republic)

AbstractThe depositional environment, hydrology and vegetational history of the Lower Radnice Coal (Duckmantian) in the Kladno coalfield was studied using sedimentary geology, coal petrology and paleobotanical/palynological methods. The peat accumulating wetland of the coal formed in a fluvial paleovalley approximately 15 km long and 2–5 km wide, bordered by basement paleohighs and landlocked in the interior of the central European Variscides. The peat swamp evolved on top of mud-dominated floodplain successions pedogenically modified to a vertic gleyed Protosol. Probably climatically controlled rising ground water table resulted in paludification that from downstream part gradually spread upstream. Most clastic load was deposited in the upper part of the valley, whereas only mud suspension was dispersed downstream throughout the vegetated swamp. The best conditions for peat accumulation were situated in the eastern part of the paleovalley, where up to 1.5 m thick coal with thin bands of impure coal and carbonaceous mudstone formed in an occasionally inundated rheotrophic system with peat accretion controlled by regional ground water table. The peat swamp was vegetated mainly by lepidodendrid lycopsids with Lepidodendron and Paralycopodites being dominant genera. Shrubby to ground cover vegetation was represented by medulosallean pteridosperms, small shrubby lycopsids, sphenopsids, and herbaceous ferns. Tree ferns were locally abundant, especially in mineral-rich substrates. The rheotrophic character of the peat swamp may indicate higher seasonality of the Variscan interior, compared to coastal areas in the North Variscan foreland with contemporaneous ombrotrophic peats. Modern equivalents of the Lower Radnice Coal swamp are inland planar tropical peat swamps in tributary paleovalleys of the Tasek Bera in peninsular Malaysia and central Congo basins. Graphical abstract Lower Radnice Coal peat swamp.

Initial assessment of the peatlands of the upper-Ucayali Valley, Central Peruvian Amazon: Basic analysis of geographic products & predictors

We present an assessment of the tropical peatlands in the upper-Ucayali Valley in central Peru—an Amazonian region that has been largely ignored in ecological and wetlands research. We focused on groundtruthing and identifying the strongest landscape-level predictors of peat depth. The 2015 product from the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) appears to be a sufficient proxy, primarily due to its inclusion of the aguajal category, identified as bosque inundable de palmeras (Bi-pal) or palm swamp, which are typically associated with Amazonian peatlands. Aberrations in the MINAM product are also present in attempted updates addressing aguajales, wetlands, and conservation threats, regardless of the varied geographic methodologies employed by previous studies. Our analysis of the CIFOR Global Wetlands Map lends credence to these methodologies, although our results are inconsistent with the depth predictions contained within the product. The predictive strength of factors contained with the MIANM classification is explored, most notably contact segments indicative of transitions from high-terrace terra firma forests (bosque de terraza alta) directly to low-lying inundated and wetland zones. The potential of factors related to elevation (slope, rise, steepness) is likewise questioned based on their performance in multiple linear regression analyses. Future studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the hydrogeologic settings and associated geochemical attributes of palm swamps and peatlands in The Amazon.

Survival and Growth Performance of Calophyllum inophyllum L. Seedlings in Peat Soil and at Different Levels of Groundwater

Selecting proper tree species for revegetation is important for restoring tropical peatland. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) has been suggested one of the promising native species in Indonesia for the revegetation of tropical peatland; however, there is a lack of understanding of its growth in peat soil with different groundwater levels. We investigated the survival rate, plant height, number of leaves, root collar diameter, and dry biomass of tamanu seedlings grown in peat soil with different groundwater levels using a randomized block design in a water tank. The study involved five groundwater level treatments and 12 tree-level replicates each: M0 (non-groundwater level, control); M1 (−15 cm below the soil surface); M2 (−10 cm); M3 (−5 cm); and M4 (0 cm, soil surface level). The results showed that all tamanu seedlings survived in every treatment. However, their plant height, number of leaves, and root collar diameter growth were significantly inhibited in the highest groundwater level condition (M4, 0 cm) at 81 days after sowing, while their growth in −15 cm of groundwater level (M1) was as good as the growth in the fully drained conditions in M0 (control). This result indicates that the groundwater level should not be higher than −15 cm for the growth of tamanu. Considering that peatlands in Indonesia are assessed to be degraded when the groundwater level is lower than −40 cm, this study suggests that maintaining groundwater levels between −40 cm and −15 cm in peatland is the best condition for rapid growth of early tamanu seedlings while protecting peatlands. Further studies are needed to extend the range of water levels and water treatment duration.

Tropical Peatland Water Table Estimations From Space

AbstractTropical peatlands store copious amounts of carbon (C) and play a critical role in the global C cycle. However, this C store is vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, leading these ecosystems to become weaker C sinks or even net C sources. Variabilities in water table (WT) greatly influence the magnitude of greenhouse gas flux in these biomes. Despite its importance in C cycling, observations of the spatiotemporal dynamics of tropical peatland WT are limited in spatial extent and length. Here, we use in situ WT measurements from tropical peatlands in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Peru to evaluate the satellite‐based Optical Trapezoid Model (OPTRAM). The model uses the pixel distribution in the shortwave infrared transformed reflectance and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) space to calculate indices that are then compared against in situ WT data. 30‐m resolution Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 images were utilized for model parameterization. We found OPTRAM to best capture tropical peatland WT dynamics in minimally forested and non‐forested areas (low to intermediate NDVI) (0.7 < R < 1) using the “best pixel” approach (the pixel with the highest Pearson‐R correlation value). In areas with relatively higher NDVI, OPTRAM index did not correlate with WT (average R of −0.04 to 0.24), likely due to trees being less sensitive to WT fluctuations. OPTRAM shows potential for reliably estimating tropical peatland WT without the need for direct measurements, which is challenging due to site remoteness and harsh conditions.

Tracing the dynamics of Late Holocene Tropical Peatland: A case study from the Bram Itam Peatland Protection Area, Coastal Sumatra, Indonesia

Tropical peatland ecosystems in Southeast Asia offer essential ecological services but face various threats such as sea level alterations, climate change and human activities. However, our understanding of the origins of peatlands and their dynamics is still limited. Reconstruction of historical vegetation and environmental changes is imperative to comprehend tropical peatlands' origins, evolution and responses to natural factors (e.g., precipitation, sea level) and to human influences (e.g., agriculture). This study employed a multi-proxy palaeoecological analysis, encompassing pollen and spore analysis, macro-charcoal examination, and radiocarbon dating, using a sediment core extracted from the Bram Itam Peatland protection area in Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi province. The investigation highlights four distinct palynological periods: from ca. 4750 to 1250 cal yr BP, a dominant mangrove forest thrived in the study area during high sea levels; from 1250 to 450 cal yr BP, as sea levels receded, the mangrove forest was replaced by swampy vegetation, and peatland forests developed under the influence of high precipitation, while agricultural activities with possible rice cultivation were conducted remote from the study area; from 450 cal yr BP to 1950 CE, a mature peatland forest developed. There was no evidence of agricultural practice during this period. After 1950, intensive human activities, including logging, oil palm plantation, and rice cultivation, profoundly impacted the peatland vegetation. The presence of cereal pollen dates back to around 1250 cal yr BP and the introduction of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) since roughly 1950 CE may indicate potentially enduring changes in agricultural practices of local people in the study area. This study of peatland vegetation dynamics and environmental changes in the Bram Itam peatlands highlights its change from mangrove forest to a matured peatland forest influenced by climate, sea level and human activities.

Quantifying the fluxes of carbon loss from an undrained tropical peatland ecosystem in Indonesia

Conservation of undrained tropical peatland ecosystems is critical for climate change mitigation as they store a tremendous amount of soil carbon that is preserved under anoxic water-logged conditions. Unfortunately, there are too few measurements of carbon fluxes from these ecosystems to estimate the climate change mitigation potential from such conservation efforts. Here, we measured carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes as well as fluvial organic carbon export over the peat swamp forest within an undrained tropical peatland landscape in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Our measurements throughout one year (Oct 2022–Sep 2023) showed that despite its water-logged condition, peat and water overlying the swamp forest on average emits 11.02 ± 0.49 MgCO2 ha−1 yr−1 of CO2 and 0.58 ± 0.04 MgCO2e ha−1 yr−1 of CH4. Further, the fluvial organic carbon export contributes to additional carbon loss of 1.68 ± 0.06 MgCO2e ha−1 yr−1. Our results help improve the accuracy of carbon accounting from undrained tropical peatlands, where we estimated a total carbon loss of 13.28 ± 0.50 MgCO2e ha−1 yr−1. Nevertheless, the total carbon loss reported from our sites is about half than what is reported from the drained peatland landscapes in the region and resulted in a larger onsite carbon sink potential estimate compared to other undrained peat swamp forests. Together, these findings indicate that conserving the remaining undrained peatland ecosystems in Indonesia from drainage and degradation is a promising natural climate solution strategy that avoids significant carbon emissions.

The Dynamics of Vegetation Structure, Composition and Carbon Stock in Peatland Ecosystem of Old Secondary Forest in Riau and South Sumatra Provinces

Lowland tropical rainforests provide an abundance of biodiversity as well as dynamic and stable ecosystems. These forests include tropical peat forests in various locations and forest types that have vegetation structure and composition characteristics, and carbon stocks that still need to be explored more deeply. Research on the structure and the composition of the vegetation and carbon stock in the old secondary peat forest was carried out in the protected areas of Bukit Batu, Riau Province, and Muara Merang, South Sumatra Province. Based on a 1-hectare permanent plot established in Bukit Batu and Muara Merang, 25 subplots of 20 m by 20 m were established in each location for measurement purposes. The results showed that Bukit Batu and Muara Merang had 42 and 36 species belonging to 26 and 20 families, respectively. Bukit Batu had a species diversity index (H’) of 2.93, and the dominant tree species were Palaquium xanthochymum with an importance value index (IVI) = 66.27%, Eugenia sp. (IVI = 32.76%), and Litsea sp. (IVI = 18.39%). The Muara Merang location had a species diversity index (H’) of 2.82, and the dominant tree species were Eugenia sp. (IVI = 60.88%), Alseodaphne insignis (IVI = 26.34%), and Adenanthera pavonina (IVI = 22.11%). In Bukit Batu, forest stands with a diameter of ≥10 cm contained a biomass of 178.10 tonnes/ha and carbon stock of 83.70 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 307.20 tonnes CO2/ha. Meanwhile, in Muara Merang, it was 190.41 tonnes/ha and 89.49 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 328.44 tonnes CO2/ha. This research, especially that in Bukit Batu, Riau Province, enriches the data and information available to date and is very useful in supporting restoration practices in Riau Province’s Giam Siak Kecil Biosphere Reserve, which was designated by UNESCO as part of the Man and Biosphere Program.

Benefits of tropical peatland rewetting for subsidence reduction and forest regrowth: results from a large-scale restoration trial

Drainage and deforestation of tropical peat swamp forests (PSF) in Southeast Asia cause carbon emissions and biodiversity loss of global concern. Restoration efforts to mitigate these impacts usually involve peatland rewetting by blocking canals. However, there have been no studies to date of the optimal rewetting approach that will reduce carbon emission whilst also promoting PSF regeneration. Here we present results of a large-scale restoration trial in Sumatra (Indonesia), monitored for 7.5 years. Water levels in a former plantation were raised over an area of 4800 ha by constructing 257 compacted peat dams in canals. We find peat surface subsidence rates in the rewetted restoration area and adjoining PSF to be halved where water tables were raised from ~ − 0.6 m to ~ − 0.3 m, demonstrating the success of rewetting in reducing carbon emission. A total of 57 native PSF tree species were found to spontaneously grow in the most rewetted conditions and in high densities, indicating that forest regrowth is underway. Based on our findings we propose that an effective PSF restoration strategy should follow stepwise rewetting to achieve substantial carbon emission reduction alongside unassisted regrowth of PSF, thereby enabling the peat, forest and canal vegetation to establish a new nature-based ecosystem balance.

Identification of Groundwater Aquifers Using Geoelectric Methods with Schlumberger Configuration in Peatland Areas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

The geoelectric-resistivity method with Schlumberger configuration is commonly used for groundwater exploration. This method helps identify changes in the resistivity of rock layers beneath the Earth's surface by flowing direct current (DC). In this research, geoelectric-resistivity was used to search for the existence of groundwater aquifers in water crisis areas with peat soil structures. In addition, this research aims to determine the depth of the aquifer layer based on resistivity values below the surface and to identify variations in resistivity values below the surface. The method used in this research was the Schlumberger configuration resistivity geoelectric method with 4 measurement points, each with a stretch length of 500 m . The research results show that the subsurface resistivity value in the Parit Haji Muksin II area is 2.69 ?m to 264 ?m. The unconfined aquifer at the research location was found at point 1 and point 2 at a depth of 3.94 m to 35.5 m, while the confined aquifer was found at points 3 and 4 at a depth of 13.6 m to 61.8 m. This study indicates the presence of potential groundwater resources in tropical peatlands, highlighting the necessity for further comprehensive research to ensure their sustainable utilization in the future.

Lowland Tropical Peatlands – A Brief Review of Their Important Role in the Global Carbon Cycle and Biodiversity Support

Tropical peatlands are crucial ecosystems, storing vast carbon reserves and supporting rich biodiversity. Despite covering a small land area, they play significant roles in global carbon cycling and climate regulation. However, these ecosystems face escalating threats from human activities, including agricultural expansion and peatland drainage. This paper provides a concise overview of tropical peatlands, focusing on their distribution, characteristics, and ecological importance in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. It highlights the diverse vegetation communities and notable animal species found in peat swamp forests, underscoring their conservation value. Peatland degradation leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, land subsidence, and loss of traditional livelihoods for local communities. Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches, including conservation efforts to protect and restore intact peat swamp forests, sustainable land-use practices, and policy interventions to regulate land management. Research collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities is essential for developing evidence-based conservation strategies. By prioritizing the preservation of tropical peatlands, we can mitigate climate change impacts, conserve biodiversity, and safeguard the well-being of local communities.

Analysis of Drought Index and Soil Infiltration to Control Fire Risk in Tropical Peatland Forest

Peatlands in Indonesia cover an area of more than 7% of the land area, around 14.95 million hectares spread over the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua, and a small part of Sulawesi. Peatlands are made use of by establishing a drainage system and clearing land. Due to the peatland’s inability to absorb water, land fires and irreversible drying are all consequences. This also takes place in a protected forest in Liang Anggang Protected Forest. The purpose of this study is to reduce the risk of fire in Liang Anggang Protected Forest by establishing a correlation between the drought index on peatlands and infiltration data. Based on an understanding of the hydrological processes that occur in peatlands, which are characterized by reduced rainfall, high drought index values, and the soil’s ability to absorb water, especially in the dry season. From June to October, especially in September, the soil is very dry. It is vulnerable to fire. Extreme caution is required in the land management process with fire from the citizens around the area.

Large variation in carbon dioxide emissions from tropical peat swamp forests due to disturbances

The huge carbon stock of tropical peat swamp forest (PSF) in Southeast Asia has been threatened by environmental disturbances due to quasi-periodic El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) droughts, biomass and peat burning, smoke haze, drainage, and deforestation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from such disturbances have not been well quantified because of insufficient field data. Therefore, we quantified the ecosystem-scale CO2 balance and examine the disturbance effects from a long-term field experiment for 12–15 years at three PSF sites with different degrees of degradation in Indonesia. Here, we show a drastic change of an undrained PSF from a CO2 sink to a source owing to the transient groundwater lowering by the droughts, a significant decrease in ecosystem photosynthesis due to the radiation attenuation by smoke haze in drought years, and long-lasting CO2 emissions through enhanced peat decomposition by drainage. The impact on CO2 emissions was greater from drainage than drought-induced disturbances.

Research Progress in the Field of Peatlands in 1990–2022: A Systematic Analysis Based on Bibliometrics

Peatlands are major natural carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems globally and are essential to a variety of fields, including global ecology, hydrology, and ecosystem services. Under the context of climate change, the management and conservation of peatlands has become a topic of international concern. Nevertheless, few studies have yet systematized the overall international dynamics of existing peatland research. In this study, based on an approach integrating bibliometrics and a literature review, we systematically analyzed peatland research from a literature perspective. Alongside traditional bibliometric analyses (e.g., number of publications, research impact, and hot areas), recent top keywords in peatland research were found, including ‘oil palm’, ‘tropical peatland’, ‘permafrost’, and so on. Furthermore, six hot topics of peatland research were identified: (1) peatland development and the impacts and degradations, (2) the history of peatland development and factors of formation, (3) chemical element contaminants in peatlands, (4) tropical peatlands, (5) peat adsorption and its humic acids, and (6) the influence of peatland conservation on the ecosystem. In addition, this review found that the adverse consequences of peatland degradation in the context of climate change merit greater attention, that peatland-mapping techniques suitable for all regions are lacking, that a unified global assessment of carbon stocks in peatlands urgently needs to be established, spanning all countries, and that a reliable system for assessing peatland-ecosystem services needs to be implemented expeditiously. In this study, we argued that enhanced integration in research will bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate the systematic synthesis of peatlands as complex systems, which is an imperative need.

Impacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem

Uncontrolled fires place considerable burdens on forest ecosystems, compromising our ability to meet conservation and restoration goals. A poor understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystems and their biodiversity exacerbates this challenge, particularly in tropical regions where few studies have applied consistent analytical techniques to examine a broad range of ecological impacts over multiyear time frames. We compiled 16 y of data on ecosystem properties (17 variables) and biodiversity (21 variables) from a tropical peatland in Indonesia to assess fire impacts and infer the potential for recovery. Burned forest experienced altered structural and microclimatic conditions, resulting in a proliferation of nonforest vegetation and erosion of forest ecosystem properties and biodiversity. Compared to unburned forest, habitat structure, tree density, and canopy cover deteriorated by 58 to 98%, while declines in species diversity and abundance were most pronounced for trees, damselflies, and butterflies, particularly for forest specialist species. Tracking ecosystem property and biodiversity datasets over time revealed most to be sensitive to recurrent high-intensity fires within the wider landscape. These megafires immediately compromised water quality and tree reproductive phenology, crashing commercially valuable fish populations within 3 mo and driving a gradual decline in threatened vertebrates over 9 mo. Burned forest remained structurally compromised long after a burn event, but vegetation showed some signs of recovery over a 12-y period. Our findings demonstrate that, if left uncontrolled, fire may be a pervasive threat to the ecological functioning of tropical forests, underscoring the importance of fire prevention and long-term restoration efforts, as exemplified in Indonesia.