Peatland Forest Degradation and Peatland Forest Degradation and Emissions in South East Asia Emissions in South East Asia
Faizal ParishFaizal ParishGlobal Environment CentreGlobal Environment Centre
Marcel Silvius, Wetlands InternationalMarcel Silvius, Wetlands International
Forest Day
6th December, Poznan, Poland
Integrated Management of Peatlands for Biodiversity and Climate ChangeIntegrated Management of Peatlands for Biodiversity and Climate Change
PresentationPresentation
Peatlands in Se asia – characteristics Peatlands in Se asia – characteristics and valuesand values
Peatland degradation and carbon Peatland degradation and carbon emissionsemissions
Significance of peat emissionsSignificance of peat emissions Regional policy framework and action Regional policy framework and action
(ASEAN Peatland Management (ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative and Strategy (APMS)Initiative and Strategy (APMS)
Next stepsNext steps
Peatlands in Se Asia are naturally forested
Borneo
Peatlands are wetlands where :Peatlands are wetlands where : a) a) waterlogging delays waterlogging delays decaydecay ; b) dead plants form peat
Colchis,Georgia
Lesotho
Peat accumulates for thousands of years storing concentrated Carbon in thick layers
peat from 2 m deep
Peatlands globally are the most important carbon (C) stocks of all terrestrial ecosystems and store twice as large as the biomass of all the world’s forests combined
Kyrgystan
Peatlands and carbonPeatlands and carbon
All Coal and lignite and part of the “mineral” oil and natural gas originated from peat deposits of previous geological periods.
Peatlands cover 25 million ha in Se Asia
This represents about 25% of the forest area
Peat accumulates in thick layers Peat accumulates in thick layers over thousands of years under the forest over thousands of years under the forest
canopy canopy
Distance
Thickness
Mineral Soil
Organic matterRiver River
< 1m < 1m> 3m
Peat layer up to 20 m thick
Source Nyoman Suriadiputra, Wetlands International Indonesia
Peatland Forests store up to 3000 tonnes/ha compared to 250tC/ha for other tropical forests
Importance of peatland Importance of peatland forest carbon stocks forest carbon stocks
Peatland forest carbon stocks in Se Peatland forest carbon stocks in Se Asia are more than 60 billion tonnes Asia are more than 60 billion tonnes of Carbon or c 200 billion tonnes of of Carbon or c 200 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Non-peatland forests in Se Asia Non-peatland forests in Se Asia approx 20-25 billion tonnes of approx 20-25 billion tonnes of carbon.carbon.
Peatland forests store up to 20 times Peatland forests store up to 20 times more carbon per ha commore carbon per ha com
Peatlands provide water and prevent floods
Peatland Biodiversity has high value
People in Peat swamp Forest in PahangPeatlands Feed communities
Fishing, Pahang, MalaysiaSource: UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Peatlands support communities
Jelutong - Chewing Gum tree, Indonesia
Peatland drainage and fires are currently the largest single source of carbon released to the atmosphere from the land use sector.
Drained peat releases carbon
• Drainage to 1 meter = emission of 90 ton CODrainage to 1 meter = emission of 90 ton CO22/ha/yr in /ha/yr in
tropics - 30 ton COtropics - 30 ton CO22/ha/yr in temperate region /ha/yr in temperate region
• SE Asia: Agriculture & agro-forestry on 12 million ha contributes around 600 MtCO2/yr (drainage only)
Relation between CO2 emission and watertable depth
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1average watertable depth (m)
CO
2 em
issi
on
(t /
ha
/ yr
) Tropics
Temperate
Boreal
Source: Alterra
Root Cause: Linkage between Drainage Root Cause: Linkage between Drainage and Firesand Fires
Water Level from Ground (cm)
0
50
100
150
200
250
-100
0
-900
-800
-700
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
-100
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1 km Transect at Drain 1 km Transect at Drain
Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Peatland FiresPeatland Fires
Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Burning peat releases more carbonBurning peat releases more carbon
• > 60,000 fires in 3 out of 10 years (1997, 1998, 2002)
• In 2006: > 40,000 fires
• Tentative average annual emissions estimate: 1400 to 4300 Mt CO2/y
Tentative estimate of CO2 emissions from fires in Indonesia
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006C
em
iss
ion
fro
m p
ea
t fi
res
(CO
2, M
t/y
)
Minimum estimate(1.42 Gt/y average)
Maximum estimate(4.32 Gt/y average)
South East Asia - Local ImpactsSouth East Asia - Local Impacts
Fires on peat swamp forestSevere fires on (converted) peatlands in Riau occur yearly, result in smoke and haze endangering traffic on one of world’s key sea lanes and causing major air pollution in Malaysia
MODIS image June 2005 - Red dots: firesCourtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team
© NASA TOMS1000 km
Smoke Haze spreads across the region
Peat Fires in PlantationsPeat Fires in Plantations
Riau province, Sumatera - 24th Jan 2005 PKPS , Batang Berjuntai - 2002
South Selangor - 1997
Uncontrolled drainage leads to Uncontrolled drainage leads to peat firespeat fires
Natural condition
Plantation adjacent to peat causing water
outflow
Draw down of water table
and drying of peat soil
Dry peat very vulnerable to fire,
besides threat from burning in
plantation
Peatland cleared and Converted to oil palm – but flooded due to subsidence
Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Regional Action – Regional Action – ASEAN Government responseASEAN Government response
ASEAN Peatland Management InitiativeASEAN Peatland Management Initiative established by 10 ASEAN countries February 2003
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (2006-2020) endorsed by 10 ASEAN Ministers in November 2006
National Action Plans in preparation Funds being raised to support action for
the first implementation period 2007-2011
APMI - ObjectivesAPMI - Objectives1.1. To enhance understanding and build capacity on To enhance understanding and build capacity on
peatland management issues in the region peatland management issues in the region 2.2. To reduce the incidence of peatland fires and To reduce the incidence of peatland fires and
associated haze in the region associated haze in the region 3.3. To support national and local level implementation To support national and local level implementation
activities on peatland management and fire activities on peatland management and fire prevention prevention
4.4. To develop a regional strategy and cooperation To develop a regional strategy and cooperation mechanisms to promote sustainable peatland mechanisms to promote sustainable peatland management management
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS)006-2020 (APMS)13 Focal Areas and 25 Operational Objectives1. Inventory and assessment2. Research3. Capacity building and awareness4. Information sharing5. Policies and legislation6. Fire prevention, control and monitoring7. Conservation of peatland biodiversity8. Integrated management of peatlands9. Establishment of best managed peatland demonstration
sites10. Restoration and rehabilitation11. Peatlands and Climate 12. Regional cooperation13. Financing of the Initiative
Next stepsNext steps Strengthen joint action at the regional level through Strengthen joint action at the regional level through
ASEAN ( IFAD-GEF project on rehabilitation and ASEAN ( IFAD-GEF project on rehabilitation and sustainable use of peatlands in Se Asia 2009-2012)sustainable use of peatlands in Se Asia 2009-2012)
ASEAN Coordination and cooperation on REDD ASEAN Coordination and cooperation on REDD (supported by GTZ).(supported by GTZ).
Pilot level activities in several countries with Pilot level activities in several countries with support from multiple partners.support from multiple partners.
Establishment of clear methodologies and Establishment of clear methodologies and approaches for protection, rehabilitation and approaches for protection, rehabilitation and management to reduce GHG emissions and provide management to reduce GHG emissions and provide sustainable benefits to local stakeholders.sustainable benefits to local stakeholders.
Establish climate change related financing and Establish climate change related financing and incentive systems.incentive systems.
Thank you
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