Re-Peat! Restore the peat with repeating action

(Case Study: Riau, Sumatra Island, Indonesia)

Patriot Negri1, Dany Nugroho Dwiantoro2

1Master student, Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia 2 Master student, Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract Indonesia is the worlds third-largest carbon dioxide emitter. 60% of CO2 emissions is produce from peat

swamp forest soils due to logging and drainage for developing agricultural areas like oil palm plantations. Emissions between 149 Mton CO2 and 170Mton CO2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year caused by 13 million hectares of palm oil plantations on peat drainage for palm oil in Indonesia. Peatlands are not very suitable for oil palm production; soil fertility is poor and far too wet for these trees. Therefore they are being logged and deeply drained. This however leads to tremendous carbon dioxide emissions, soil subsidence and to the rapid loss of biodiversity. Sumatra has dramatic decline on peatland that plunged from 75% to 28% between 1990 to 2010. Some areas have been converted into agricultural land whereas others remain as wastelands suffering from annual wildfires in the dry season. The design try to restore mutually beneficial interactions between elements, that engage with local communities on finding a sustainable balance between the activities of people and the fragile peatland ecosystem they depend on. The design will be conducted at local scale that can be replicate on the needed space and have multiplier effect at bigger scale and triggering a system wide change. Our concept is Re-Peat! (restore the peat with repeating action) to bring ecosystem and habitat that have been destroyed to restore again where they are life-giving. Concept of Re-Peat! consist of 3 intervention on peatlands, such as Regreening, Rewetting, and Revitalizing. Re-Wetting is Hydrological Restoration and management on peatland area. Re-Greening is sustainable forestry and agriculture on peatland. Re-Vitalizing is acupuncture of flexible community space on surrounding peatland area. Design modul will take place on existing drainage by blocking the canal for rewetting the peatland, build paludiculture to cultivate biomass, and build connection between local communities with different activities in peatland area that beneficial in social and economy for them. Gradually the design will change the degraded peatlands into it formal state.

Keywords: Peatland; Regreening; Rewetting; Revitalizing; Riau

1. Introduction

Peat swamp forests are the main wetland forest type in Asia, covering approximately 25 million hectares of land in Southeast Asia. They provide water, prevent floods, and feed and supports communities. Peatlands have a unique biodiversity, are able to regulate climate change and store large amounts of carbon. Peatlands in South East Asia store 70 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon, twice as much as all forest biomass combined. Unfortunately, only 34% of Peat Swamp Forests remain relatively intact while 20% of peatlands have been converted to plantations and the balance is degraded or fragmented. Peatlands in Indonesia is quite extensive, reaching 20.6 million ha or 10.8% of Indonesia's land area. Peatlands are mostly found in four large islands of Sumatra, 35%, 32% Kalimantan, Sulawesi, 3%, and 30% of Papua. Peatlands are part of

the nature resources that has many function, such as for the preservation of water resources, flood reducer, prevention seawater intrusion, supporting various life / biodiversity, climate control (through its ability to absorb and store carbon) and so on. However, most of the peatlands area in Indonesia has been damaged or has undergone conversion to plantation estate, plantation forest, and mostly transform into plam oil plantation. Up to 2010, there were 897,718 ha of forest plantations and more than 2 million ha of oil palm plantation on peatlands in Indonesia and Malaysia. Peatland clearance and drainage for plantations may lead to fires, GHG emissions and haze; leading to transboundary smoke haze, which has been a problem that has led to various regional and national efforts to combat this pressing ASEAN problem.

1.1. Issues

The approximately 70.000 km2 of peatlands in Sumatra Island have been estimated to contain 19 Gt of carbon (Wahyunto et al. 2003), making them a globally considerable surface carbon deposit. In addition, peatlands have valuable ecological and hydrological functions. Peatlands regulate water flow and thereby

Contact Author: Patriot Negri, Master Students at Institut

Teknologi Bandung, Jl.Ganeca No.10, Indonesia

Tel: (+62)87825500570

e-mail: patriot.negri@gmail.com

stabilize evaporation rates on local and regional level. Furthermore, the Sumatran peat swamp forest ecosystems support unique flora and fauna (orang utan and Sumatran tiger) partially endemic to insular Southeast Asia (Rieley and Page 2005). Deforestation and land cover changes in peat swamp forest ecosystems directly affect the balance of the entire peatland area and thereby have consequences also on the communities surrounding the peatlands. Large scale exploitation of peat swamp forests is a rather recent phenomenon in Sumatra. Due to development in land conversion technologies, diminishing forest areas on mineral soils and escalating demand for forest and agricultural products, exploitation and conversion of Sumatran peat swamp forests started to accelerate rapidly in the late 1980s (Silvius and Diemont 2007). Since then, logging, drainage, plantation development and conversion to small-holder agricultural areas have taken place at high rate. These activities not only disturb the ecosystem functions of peatland areas but invariably increase carbon emissions due to the reduction of living biomass, surge in peat decomposition and increase in fire activity.

Riau is currently one of the richest provinces in Indonesia and is rich with natural resources, particularly petroleum, natural gas, rubber, palm oil and

fiber plantations. However extensive logging has led to a massive decline in forest cover from 78% in 1982 to only 33% in 2005. This has been further reduced an average of 160,000 hectares per year on average, leaving 22%, or 2.45 million hectares left as of 2009. Riau is the largest palm oil and pulp & paper industry in Indonesia. Deforestation for palm oil and paper has led to not only perennial serious haze over the province, but in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, intensifying flooding and landslides. Riau also known as ground zero for the haze wave. Riau have only 5% of Indonesias land area, but 40% of all fires hotspots and nearly 75% of all fire hotspots occur on peat. That's why we chose Riau province as site location to repair and restoration of living systems at there. The issue and problems can be seen in figure 1 below.

Our concept Repeat! (restore the peat with repeating action) to bring ecosystem and habitat that have been destroyed to restore again where they are life-giving. Concept of (Repeat!) divided into 3 design strategy, such as Regreening, Rewetting, and Revitalizing. Rewetting is hydrological restoration and management on peatland area. Regreening is sustainable forestry and agriculture on peatlands. Revitalizing is acupuncture of flexible community space on surrounding peatland area. This proposal try to change local community the paradigm about farming in peatlands. We proposed to ensure sustainability, an integrated management approach would ensure economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and societal well-being through water, soil and vegetation management in peatlands.

This Re-peat! designed by my collegues from master students at Institut Teknologi Bandung (Dany Nugroho Dwiantoro, Aszafaika Ladidinanda, Hastito Rahmadhika) and me for submissions of competition Futurarc 2015Student Category (December, 2014).

2. Methods 2.1. Vision

Repeat regenerating life in Riau peatland area as a self-sustain peatland emphasize on ecological sustainability is the main vision of this proposal. The benefits that will be obtained after the design completed is:

Habitat on peatland environtment back into its former state.

Reducing global warming CO2 emissions and land subsidence.

Increase income for residents around the location of peatlands.

Ensure hydrological restoration to (near) natural water patterns

Fig. 1 Issue, Problems and Proposed Concept

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Reduce and prevent land loss because of fire and flood

Give new kind of eco-tourism and educate society

We intervene in every canal that have been damaged with palm oil plantation and unsustainable agriculture because of drainaged (see figure 2 above). The propose design located in intersection between river and canal. Community itself participating in every design intervention to restore the peat with repeating action. The treatment will be in phases. In the final phase, the whole peatland area in Riau will be developed with sustainable peatland oriented development and making bigger impact for the surrounding community and the city. 2.2. Strategy

To solve the vision above, we have come up with 3 design strategy:

1) Rewetting - to manage the water table to prevent further decomposition, peatlands subsidence, prevent vulnerability to fires and reduce CO2 emissions.

2) Regreening - to re-vegetate degraded peatlands with indigeneous plant species and encourage natural regeneration

3) Revitalizing - To ensure sustainability, an integrated management approach would ensure economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and societal well-being through water, soil and vegetation management.

2.3 Design Concepts

To solve those 3 design strategy above, we have come up with 10 design concepts:

2.3.1 Hydrological Restoration Management

One of the way to prevent the water of peat decreasing, and also to prevent peat from burnt, is to build a dike around the peatlands. The existence of this dike sought not far from the river and made of soil minerals taken from the river with mounds form. To maintain a presence / water level in peat, especially during the dry season, the water can be pumped from rivers or other water reservoirs (such as lake / marsh) to the expanse of peat and it will protect the peat from the dangers of fire. Then, the water level in peatlands can be controlled by making a sewer / drainage (in the form of a small ditch or PVC pipe) and directed to another place which is located lower. That way can be applied by using canal blocking and eco hydro by-pass system.

2.3.2 Multithropic Aquaculture as Water Treatment Infrastructure

Were designing a water treatment infrastructure involving living organisms as the filters. While also cleaning the water, the organisms will form a new ecosystem. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. In this case, aquaculture can be applied by using the closed branch canal area as the fish pond. Several types of fish that can live in peat areas will breeded in this pond, such as cat-fish (Clarias batrachus), Blackwater Snakehead (Channa bankanensis), Peat Swamp Barb (Puntius rhomboocellatus), and Chocolate Gourami (Sphearichthys osphromenoides).

Fig.2 Vision on Peatland Areas in Riau

Fig.4 Hydrological Restoration Management

Fig.3 Bird Eye View Design Re-Peat!

2.3.3 Paludiculture

Paludiculture is the productive use of wet peat body is preserved. Paludiculture includes traditional activities such as reed mowing for thatch or collecting filter for bedding, as well as practices, such as the utilisation of biomass from wet peatlands for biofuel. In many cases even new peat is formed - the aboveground biomass is harvested and the belowground biomass forms new peat.

Rewetting and paludiculture provide: climate change mitigation by preventing CO2 emissions and by evaporating cooling, a halt to soil degradation and subsidence, habitats for rare species, recovery of the landscape water regime, decreased nutrient emissions to surface waters and seas, prevention of peatland fires, improved perspectives for (eco) tourism, raw materials for energy and industry, and employment in the rural area.

In this case paludiculture can applied by establishing commercial plantations in damaged peatland area with peat swamp forest species which need less water consumption. Using several types of plants such as Mahang (Macaranga pruinosa), Jelutong (Dyera polyphylla), Tengkawang (Shorea spp.), Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), Kapur paya (Dryobalanops rappa), Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu), Pineapple and Salak Palms (Salacca sp.)

2.3.4 Local materials & Modular Design

The structure will incorporate bamboo, wood and rattan, a local material thats very cheap, fast growing, and easy to find. Not only reducing carbon footprints, bamboos fast growth making it possible to be an alternative material for a sustainable future. Bamboo is also widely available in peatlands.

The modular design (1 meter x 1 meter in paludiculture & 2 meter x 2 meter in community tower)

will allow the infrastructure of the design to be replicated along intersection between river and canal in damaged Riau peatlands. The further expansion will go through phases, where in the final phase the peatland will back again into their original habitats.

2.3.5 Community Tower

Community tower allow community surround peatlands and tourist come to peatland. There are several activity spaces in this community tower, such as education room for children or tourist to know about peatlands, shelter for forest guard and community gathering, seed cultivation area for community to grow the crop seeds, and observation deck for fire control and bird watching. In the top of community tower there are rainwater harvesting to collect water during rainy season. In the bottom of community tower there are fish incubation pond to breed the fish. In this community tower there are several module combination so that community can choose according to their needs. 2.3.6 Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Community will learn not to rely on agriculture. In this proposal it has paludiculture to manage different type of agriculture. Local communities will get a supply of food on farms (plants from paludilculture), fish incubation pond, aquaponics and cattle (chicken, cow, goat) managed by their own. This sustainable agriculture and forestry design with closed loop system that maintain zero energy to produce agricultural products, livestock and fisheries.

Fig.6 Community Tower with local material & modular

Fig.7 Community Tower Design

Fig. 8 Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Fig.5 Paludiculture Design

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2.3.7 Energy Production

Energy production with wind turbine at community tower that convert energy created by the force of the wind into electricity, which can be stored in batteries. The energy that has been stored in batteries will be used by local inhabitants around the site.

2.3.8 Nature Tourism and Management

Low impact ecotourism activities such as canoeing, bird watching and guided walks are good ways to promote public awareness about the importance of peatlands and peatland conservation.

2.3.9 Appropriate Technology and Climate Adaptibility

The technology embedded in the design will be appropriate for the locals. The interaction that occurs between all elements in the ecosystem will maintain the continuity of the design. Guaranteeing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Using of local filtration and local bamboo raft hydroponic system can develop the water management system and

food producing. Using natural local material can reduce carbon footprint when build the surround infrastructure.

This design will respond to nature. The aquaponic system is designed with floating system that can respond flood happens. Dam design will respond with time. Water level in surrounding peatlands will gradually increase so the peatlands rewetted. Vegetation that grow on the dam, will connect the forest between canals. This connection will restore peatlands to their former condition.

2.3.10 Sustainable Closed Loop System

Closed loop system is designed into three parts, aquaponic, paludiculture, and cattle. Those three parts will be made by the local community and for their own needs. 2.4 Site Plan

In this site plan can be seen that the design intervention located at the intersection between river (Kampar River) and canal. In every section, we design sisir spillway system by blocking the canal to maintain the water level in that canal. Side of the canal, we design paludiculture and aquaculture for community not depend on a single type of agriculture and for breeding the seeds. Watching tower or community tower also created in the side of sisir spillway system for fire protection and tourist attraction. In the canal, theres also canal blocking in every drainage that also have paludiculture and aquaculture.

Fig. 9 Energy Production Diagram

Fig. 10 Bird Watching on Community Tower

Fig. 11 Appopriate Design for Local Communities

Fig. 12 Sustainable Closed Loop System Diagram

Fig. 13 Site Plan Design

3. Conclusions

Our concept Re-peat! (Restore the peat with repeating action) to bring ecosystem and habitat that have been destroyed to restore again where they are life-giving. Concept of (Repeat!) divided into 3 design strategy, Regreen, Rewetting, and Revitalizing. The design ensure sustainability, with an integrated management approach that would ensure economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and societal well-being through water, soil, vegetation, and community management in peatlands. Used of natural material and appropriate technology will easily blend the design to the nature. Gradually the design will change the degraded peatlands into it formal state.

4. References

1) F., Cheah, R., Ahmad, N. A., Chee, T. Y., Chin, S.Y. and

Lew, S.Y. (2014) Enhancing Sustainability of Forestry Practices on

Peatlands. Global Environment Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.

2) Cris, R. Buckmaster, S. Bain, C. Reed, M. (Eds) (2014)

Global Peatland Restoration demonstrating SUCCESS. IUCN UK

National Committee Peatland Programme, Edinburgh

3) Noor, Y.R. dan J. Heyde. 2007. Pengelolaan Lahan Gambut

Berbasis Masyarakat di Indonesia. Proyek Climate Change, Forests

and Peatlands in Indonesia. Wetlands International Indonesia

Programme dan Wildlife Habitat Canada. Bogor.

4) Wahyunto, S. Ritung and H. Subagjo, Maps of

peatlanddistribution and carbon content in Sumatra, 1990 2002,

Wetlands International, Bogor, Indonesia, 2003.

5) M. Silvius and H. Diemont, Deforestation and

Degradation of Peatlands, Peatlands International, vol 2/2007,

2007.

6) Van Eijk, P. & Leenman, P.H. (2004) Regeneration of Fire

Degraded Peatswamp Forest in Berbak National Park and

Implementation in Replanting Programmes. Alterra, Wageningen.

7) Miettinen, J., Shi, C. & Liew, S.C. (2011a) Two decades of

destruction in Southeast Asias peat swamp forests. Frontiers in

Ecology and the Environment, doi:10.1890/100236.

8) Miettinen, J., Shi, C. & Liew, S.C. (2011b) Deforestation

rates in insular Southeast Asia between 2000 and 2010. Global

Change Biology.

9) J.O. Rieley and S.E. Page (eds), Wise use of tropical

peatlands: focus of Southeast Asia, ALTERRA Wageningen

University and Research Centre and the EUINCO STRAPEAT and

RESTORPEAT Partnership, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2005.

Fig. 14 Conclusion from Past-Present-Propose-Future