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