Analysing human impacts on peat swamp forests in Coastal Jambi using satellite images

Lee G., . and Couturier S, . and Liew S. C., . (2004) Analysing human impacts on peat swamp forests in Coastal Jambi using satellite images. [Proceedings Paper]

This paper focuses on a 120 by 120 km stretch of the swamp forest area on the eastern coast of central Sumatra. The local economy is based on the direct exploitation of natural resources and hence some areas of the peat swamp PSF have been converted into plantations or agricultural plits. The paper aims to document the resource use of the peat swamp areas by analyzing the dynamics of the conversion of PSFs into plantations or agricultural plots for the past few years. The fires involved in clearing the land account for much of the damage to the forest environment. This has grave consequences since peat swamps play an imporant ecological role in the stability and resilience of the ecosystems. An updated land cover map of the area was obtained by classifying four 1999 SPOT images using the 1986 Sumatra map of Laumonier as a guide The vegetation and physiography of Sumatra 1997. The same area from 1986 was also digitized. The damage of the fire episode of 1997 in the area can be estimated using this method. The SPOT images show that most of the areas that burnt in 1997 were PSF. Much of the peat swamps that were not burnt in 1997 are no longer pristine swamp forests they have been degraded due to legal or illegal logging and conversion to plantations. By comparing images and maps from different years we are also able to identify changes in resource use of the peat swamps over the past few years. The paper shows the impact of intensified pressure on the natural resources in the area and sets a baseline so that a sustainability study can be conducted in the future.

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Abstract

This paper focuses on a 120 by 120 km stretch of the swamp forest area on the eastern coast of central Sumatra. The local economy is based on the direct exploitation of natural resources and hence some areas of the peat swamp PSF have been converted into plantations or agricultural plits. The paper aims to document the resource use of the peat swamp areas by analyzing the dynamics of the conversion of PSFs into plantations or agricultural plots for the past few years. The fires involved in clearing the land account for much of the damage to the forest environment. This has grave consequences since peat swamps play an imporant ecological role in the stability and resilience of the ecosystems. An updated land cover map of the area was obtained by classifying four 1999 SPOT images using the 1986 Sumatra map of Laumonier as a guide The vegetation and physiography of Sumatra 1997. The same area from 1986 was also digitized. The damage of the fire episode of 1997 in the area can be estimated using this method. The SPOT images show that most of the areas that burnt in 1997 were PSF. Much of the peat swamps that were not burnt in 1997 are no longer pristine swamp forests they have been degraded due to legal or illegal logging and conversion to plantations. By comparing images and maps from different years we are also able to identify changes in resource use of the peat swamps over the past few years. The paper shows the impact of intensified pressure on the natural resources in the area and sets a baseline so that a sustainability study can be conducted in the future.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Summary En
AGROVOC Term:	Peat
AGROVOC Term:	Forests
AGROVOC Term:	Coastal area
AGROVOC Term:	Satellite imagery
AGROVOC Term:	Lowland
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16421

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