Browsing by Subject "PEAT SWAMP FOREST"
Now showing items 1-3 of 3
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(2016)Agricultural and other land uses on ombrotrophic lowland tropical peat swamps typically lead to reduced vegetation biomass and water table drawdown. We review what is known about greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics in natural and degraded tropical peat systems in south-east Asia, and on this basis consider what can be expected in terms of GHG dynamics under restored conditions. Only limited in situ data are available on the effects of restoration and the consequences for peat carbon (C) dynamics. Hydrological restoration seeks to bring the water table closer to the peat surface and thus re-create near-natural water table conditions, in order to reduce wildfire risk and associated fire impacts on the peat C store, as well as to reduce aerobic peat decomposition rates. However, zero emissions are unlikely to be achieved due to the notable potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) production from anaerobic peat decomposition processes. Increased vegetation cover (ideally woody plants) resulting from restoration will increase shading and reduce peat surface temperatures, and this may in turn reduce aerobic decomposition rates. An increase in litter deposition rate will compensate for C losses by peat decomposition but also increase the supply of labile C, which may prime decomposition, especially in peat enriched with recalcitrant substrates. The response of tropical peatland GHG emissions to peatland restoration will also vary according to previous land use and land use intensity.
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(2018)Degraded tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia are a major challenge for reforestation. Often treeless, drained and several times burnt, these peatland areas are nutrient-poor hostile environments prone to droughts, heavy flooding and extreme diurnal temperature changes. In order to succeed in establishment of a viable tree stand, careful selection of species and management techniques is needed. In this study we investigated the suitability of five native tree species for reforestation of tropical peatlands with three site preparation treatments for potentially enhancing seedling success: weeding, mounding and fertilizing. The study area was a clear-cut, drained and repeatedly burnt former tropical peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Seedlings were grown in a field nursery, planted in the field and their growth and survival were monitored regularly for 1.5 years. Seedling growth in response to environmental variables and treatments was studied by linear mixed models and seedling survival with Cox regression models. In most cases, weeding and fertilizing proved beneficial for the growth and survival of the seedlings, whereas mounding only had a minor impact on seedling performance. The seedlings of Shorea balangeran performed the best and can be recommended for reforestation of heavily degraded areas. Alstonia pneumatophora and Dacryodes rostrata performed relatively well depending on the treatments, whereas Dyera polyphylla had mixed results with problems in seedling production, and Campnosperma squamatum performed rather poorly. The effects of wildfires which engulfed the study area two years after planting were also monitored and are discussed.
