The natural resources functions of tropical peatlands

Page S. E., . (2004) The natural resources functions of tropical peatlands. [Proceedings Paper]

Tropical peatland is a unique ecosystem: it is both a peat-forming wetland and a tropical rain forests. As a peatland important natural resource functions include carbon water interception flood control and ground water recharge. As a forest tropical peat swamp contributes to microclimate stabilization and to the maintenance of regional and global biodiversityit also provides a range of economically important timber and non-timber products barks resins and rattans. These functions products and attributes are often greatly enhanced by the vast areas of landscape which tropical peatlands cover for example the Sg. Sebangau catchment in Central Kalimantan covers 5 000 square km most of which is peatland. These large blocks of tropical peatland not only have an importance at the local scale e.g. for habitat provision or the supply of forest products but they also have a wider influence both regionally e.g. through their hydrological role and globally through their role in global carbon dynamics. Owing to the sensitivity of this dual ecosystem to natural and man-induced changes wise use principles should be applied in any land development project. In this way the role that tropical peatlands play in providing goods and services to society can be assessed properly and the scale and consequences of various impacts forecast. This paper reviews current information on the resource of tropical peatlands highlighting both strengths and weakness in the published literature and concludes that ecological environmental and socioeconomic values should be fully recognised in any framework for the sustainable management and wise use of these wetland resources.

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Abstract

Tropical peatland is a unique ecosystem: it is both a peat-forming wetland and a tropical rain forests. As a peatland important natural resource functions include carbon water interception flood control and ground water recharge. As a forest tropical peat swamp contributes to microclimate stabilization and to the maintenance of regional and global biodiversityit also provides a range of economically important timber and non-timber products barks resins and rattans. These functions products and attributes are often greatly enhanced by the vast areas of landscape which tropical peatlands cover for example the Sg. Sebangau catchment in Central Kalimantan covers 5 000 square km most of which is peatland. These large blocks of tropical peatland not only have an importance at the local scale e.g. for habitat provision or the supply of forest products but they also have a wider influence both regionally e.g. through their hydrological role and globally through their role in global carbon dynamics. Owing to the sensitivity of this dual ecosystem to natural and man-induced changes wise use principles should be applied in any land development project. In this way the role that tropical peatlands play in providing goods and services to society can be assessed properly and the scale and consequences of various impacts forecast. This paper reviews current information on the resource of tropical peatlands highlighting both strengths and weakness in the published literature and concludes that ecological environmental and socioeconomic values should be fully recognised in any framework for the sustainable management and wise use of these wetland resources.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. QH87.3 I61 1999 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	NATURAL RESOURCES
AGROVOC Term:	PEATLANDS
AGROVOC Term:	TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS
AGROVOC Term:	ECOSYSTEMS
AGROVOC Term:	PRODUCTION FORESTS
AGROVOC Term:	HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
AGROVOC Term:	CYCLING
AGROVOC Term:	CLIMATE
AGROVOC Term:	WATER CONSERVATION
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL CONSERVATION
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16407

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