Restoration of Tropical Peatlands: Science Policy and Practice

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3687

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Palembang, Indonesia
Interests: water management

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Guest Editor
Institute of Study and Development Worldwide (IFSD), Sydney, NSW 2148, Australia
Interests: cropping systems; fertilizer and nutrient management; cereals and legumes; crop/systems simulation modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Interests: tree

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Guest Editor
Research Centre for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens and Forestry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km.46, Cibinong Bogor, Jawa Barat 16911, Indonesia
Interests: tree breeding; peatland restoration; bioenergy; climate change mitigation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tropical peatlands provide a wide range of ecosystem goods and services (EGS), such as food, energy, climate regulation, and biodiversity. Due to increasing populations and associated demand for food, energy, and raw materials, there is greater pressure on peatlands. Unsustainable land-use practices have been modifying the structure and function of peatlands with an adverse impact on critical EGS. These concerns have raised the attention of scientists, policy makers, and practitioners, leading to a consensus to take urgent action. Research suggests that the restoration of degraded peatlands could provide potential solutions for eradicating fires and accompanying toxic haze, reducing the loss of biodiversity and achievement of the global goal of mitigating the climate crisis while supporting rural livelihoods.

This Special Issue highlights recent findings from our collaborative research on peatland restoration for food, energy, and environmental conservation in Indonesia.

The goal of this Special Issue is to present original research articles and review papers that provide insights into the science, policy, and practices associated with tropical peatland restoration in Indonesia. Specifically, the Issue aims to highlight the best practices and evidence from the literature on how degraded peatland can be restored to enhance soil fertility; improve production, income, and biodiversity on farms; and support the mitigation of, and adaptation to, the climate crisis and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts that link the following themes.

  • Restoration of degraded peatland;
  • Sustainable management of peatland;
  • Ecosystem goods and services from peatland;
  • Paludicultural practices.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Momon Sodik Imanudin
Dr. Jagadish Timsina
Dr. Raehyun Kim
Prof. Dr. Budi Leksono
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 7307 KiB  
Article
Local Perspectives on Agrosilvofishery in Peatlands: A Case Study of Perigi Village, South Sumatra, Indonesia
by Eunho Choi, Jaehui Jeong, Yustina Artati, Hyunyoung Yang, Dessy Adriani and A-Ram Yang
Land 2024, 13(4), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040539 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 333
Abstract
As the need for sustainable use peatlands increases, the aim of this study is to identify ways to increase the application of agrosilvofishery as an alternative to the traditional sonor system. Herein, the researchers investigate the perception of peatland degradation and the willingness [...] Read more.
As the need for sustainable use peatlands increases, the aim of this study is to identify ways to increase the application of agrosilvofishery as an alternative to the traditional sonor system. Herein, the researchers investigate the perception of peatland degradation and the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery among peatland residents. The researchers interviewed 228 households in Perigi Village, South Sumatra, Indonesia, and surveyed 137 peatland owners. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery and household expenses, plans to improve peatland productivity, and knowledge regarding mixed farming in farmer and non-farmer groups. Willingness to provide labor for agrosilvofishery was positively correlated with household expenses and experience with farmer organizations. For both groups, the willingness to participate had a more substantial impact on the willingness to contribute to the agrosilvofishery financially than on the willingness to provide labor. It is imperative to consider various educational, institutional, research, and cultural factors that enable peatland agrosilvofisheries to contribute to the income and livelihood of the residents of Perigi Village. Institutional arrangements should be established, including initial capital support for restoration projects and a system involving the entire village community. This study can contribute to offering guidance for implementing agrosilvofisheries and enhance the practicality of field applications for peatland restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoration of Tropical Peatlands: Science Policy and Practice)
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15 pages, 2810 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Peatland Fires in South Sumatra in 2019: Role of Groundwater Levels
by Muhammad Irfan, Erry Koriyanti, Khairul Saleh, Hadi, Sri Safrina, Awaludin, Albertus Sulaiman, Hamdi Akhsan, Suhadi, Rujito Agus Suwignyo, Eunho Choi and Iskhaq Iskandar
Land 2024, 13(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030373 - 16 Mar 2024
Viewed by 688
Abstract
During the dry season, extensive peatland fires in South Sumatra and another peatland in Indonesia result in environmental damage and pose health risks to humans. The Indonesian Government has implemented several measures to prevent the recurrence of these fires. One such measure involves [...] Read more.
During the dry season, extensive peatland fires in South Sumatra and another peatland in Indonesia result in environmental damage and pose health risks to humans. The Indonesian Government has implemented several measures to prevent the recurrence of these fires. One such measure involves the establishment of observation stations to monitor hydrometeorological parameters in different peatlands across Indonesia, including those in South Sumatra. To effectively control fires in South Sumatra’s peatland and minimize hotspot occurrences, it is essential to determine hydrometeorological parameters that can serve as fire control indicators. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between groundwater levels and hotspot occurrences by analyzing groundwater level data collected from six Peat Restoration Agency stations in South Sumatra’s peatland, along with hotspot data obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite measurements. The findings reveal a significant correlation between groundwater levels and hotspots at the six stations. As the GWL increased, the number of hotspots tended to decrease, and vice versa. This means that GWL can be used as a controlling variable for hotspot emergence. To effectively minimize hotspot occurrences, it is recommended to maintain a minimum groundwater level of −0.45 ± 0.09 m in the peatland of South Sumatra. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoration of Tropical Peatlands: Science Policy and Practice)
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14 pages, 2000 KiB  
Article
Synthesizing Recent Trends in Interventions and Key Ecosystem Services in Indonesian Peatland
by Hyun-Ah Choi, Cholho Song, Chul-Hee Lim, Woo-Kyun Lee, Hyunyoung Yang and Raehyun Kim
Land 2024, 13(3), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030355 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 847
Abstract
This study conducted a systematic literature review focusing on peatlands studies in Southeast Asia, specifically in Jambi, South Sumatra, and the Riau province of Indonesia, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. To ensure the quality and rigor of the analyzed articles, a [...] Read more.
This study conducted a systematic literature review focusing on peatlands studies in Southeast Asia, specifically in Jambi, South Sumatra, and the Riau province of Indonesia, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. To ensure the quality and rigor of the analyzed articles, a critical process and systematic review were employed. Journal articles were extracted using reputable resources, including Google Scholar and Scopus, to enhance the validity and reliability of the research results. We identified significant research topics based on region, province, and sector. Additionally, we synthesized the existing classification of ecosystem services, drawing on previous studies conducted in Indonesia. These services were categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. We also reviewed the classification of ecosystem service types based on peatland degradation and restoration. This study identified evidence of peatland intervention to evaluate ecosystem services in Indonesia. We found that large-scale cultivation and production of palm oil, local policies, and forest fires were the main intervening factors in Indonesian peatlands. Furthermore, Indonesian peatlands have undergone conversion to oil palm, timber, and crop plantations. It is imperative to substantiate the effectiveness of future peatland restoration plans and further refine the quantification of services provided by peatland ecosystems through cooperative projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoration of Tropical Peatlands: Science Policy and Practice)
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18 pages, 4713 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Past: Deep-Learning-Based Estimation of Historical Peatland Distribution
by Sungeun Cha, Junghee Lee, Eunho Choi and Joongbin Lim
Land 2024, 13(3), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030328 - 04 Mar 2024
Viewed by 928
Abstract
Acknowledging the critical role of accurate peatland distribution estimation, this paper underscores the significance of understanding and mapping these ecosystems for effective environmental management. Highlighting the importance of precision in estimating peatland distribution, the research aims to contribute valuable insights into ecological monitoring [...] Read more.
Acknowledging the critical role of accurate peatland distribution estimation, this paper underscores the significance of understanding and mapping these ecosystems for effective environmental management. Highlighting the importance of precision in estimating peatland distribution, the research aims to contribute valuable insights into ecological monitoring and conservation efforts. Prior studies lack robust validation, and while recent advancements propose machine learning for peatland estimation, challenges persist. This paper focuses on the integration of deep learning into peatland detection, underscoring the urgency of safeguarding these global carbon reservoirs. Results from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) reveal a decrease in the classified peatland area from 8226 km2 in 1999 to 5156 km2 in 2019, signifying a 37.32% transition. Shifts in land cover types are evident, with an increase in estate plantation and a decrease in swamp shrub. Human activities, climate, and wildfires significantly influenced these changes over two decades. Fire incidents, totaling 47,860 from 2000 to 2019, demonstrate a substantial peatland loss rate, indicating a correlation between fires and peatland loss. In 2020, wildfire hotspots were predominantly associated with agricultural activities, highlighting subsequent land cover changes post-fire. The CNNs consistently achieve validation accuracy exceeding 93% for the years 1999, 2009, and 2019. Extending beyond academic realms, these discoveries establish the foundation for enhanced land-use planning, intensified conservation initiatives, and effective ecosystem management—a necessity for ensuring sustainable environmental practices in Indonesian peatlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoration of Tropical Peatlands: Science Policy and Practice)
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