Peat lost by fire in Kalampangan area, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Fire is a major threat to the existence of peatlands because once drained, dry peat is flammable. In addition, tropical peat ecosystems, including their flora and fauna, are affected more severely by fire than by illegal logging. Fires in peatlands are mostly caused by human activities, such as opening canals for plantations and agricultural development. The peat soil becomes dry due to the lowering of the groundwater level, therefore it is very easy to burn. We recorded that the peat loss within the area of regrowing forest was reaching 44.2 cm deep on average, 32.1 cm within the opened and 53.9 cm within the degraded forest area. Loss of peat will also cause loss of carbon, about 337.9 tC/ha in the regrowing forest area, 240.0 tC/ha in open area and 382.6 tC/ha in the degraded forest area.

Sustainable Peatland Management Model-A Case of Kalampangan Village, Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…A more severe fire occurred before the COVID-19 phenomenon was in the El Nino year of 2019. Some peat layer loss ranges from 20 to 50 cm as a result of frequent fires [40,41]. Carbon emissions from peat fires are a major problem in the areas.…”

Fit-Model Sustainable Competencies of Palangka Raya Indonesia Peat Lands in the Environmental Literacy (P-PSEL) Questionnaire for Teacher-Candidates

“…Central Kalimantan has the largest remaining peatlands in Southeast Asia but experienced a very rapid decline in the percentage of peatlands still covered by forest from 1990 to 2015 [1]. The peatlands loss within the area of regrowing forest was reaching 44.2 cm deep on average, loss of peat will also cause loss of carbon [2]. The use of peatlands has changed the nature of the land and caused it to become more and more damaged [3,4], causing CO 2 and CH 4 emissions [5].…”

Farmers' lives and adaptation strategies toward the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia: Evidence from Central and South Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…The frequent forest fires are caused by slash burn agriculture practices, palm oil companies' activities, and illegal logging (Watts et al 2019). Kusin et al (2020) stated that fire is a major threat to the existence of peatlands because once the area is drained, dry peat is more flammable. Furthermore, tropical peat ecosystems, including their flora and fauna, are affected more severely by fire than illegal logging.…”