Transcript RIVER BASIN INITIATIVE on integrating biological diversity

Forest Day
6th December, Poznan, Poland
Peatland Forest Degradation and
Emissions in South East Asia
Faizal Parish
Global Environment Centre
Marcel Silvius, Wetlands International
Integrated
Integrated Management
Management of
of Peatlands
Peatlands for
for Biodiversity
Biodiversity and
and Climate
Climate Change
Change
Presentation
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Peatlands in Se asia – characteristics and values
Peatland degradation and carbon emissions
Significance of peat emissions
Regional policy framework and action (ASEAN
Peatland Management Initiative and Strategy
(APMS)
Next steps
Peatlands in Se Asia are naturally forested
Borneo
Peatlands are wetlands where :
a) waterlogging delays decay ;
b) dead plants form peat
Colchis,Georgia
Peat accumulates for thousands of years
storing concentrated Carbon in thick layers
peat from
2 m deep
Lesotho
Peatlands and carbon
Kyrgystan
Peatlands globally are the most important carbon
(C) stocks of all terrestrial ecosystems and store
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
over thousands of years under the forest canopy
Peatland Forests store up to 3000 tonnes/ha
compared to 250tC/ha for other tropical forests
River
River
Organic matter
< 1m
Thickness
> 3m
< 1m
Mineral Soil
Distance
Peat layer up to 20 m thick
Source Nyoman Suriadiputra, Wetlands International Indonesia
Importance of peatland forest carbon
stocks
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Peatland forest carbon stocks in Se Asia are
more than 60 billion tonnes of Carbon or c 200
billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide
Non-peatland forests in Se Asia approx 20-25
billion tonnes of carbon.
Peatland forests store up to 20 times more
carbon per ha com
Peatlands provide water and prevent floods
Peatland Biodiversity has high value
Peatlands Feed communities
People in Peat swamp Forest in Pahang
Fishing, Pahang, Malaysia
Source: 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
Relation between CO2 emission and watertable depth
CO2 emission (t / ha / yr)
100
Source: Alterra
Tropics
Temperate
Boreal
80
60
40
20
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
average watertable depth (m)
0.8
1
• Drainage to 1 meter = emission of 90 ton CO2/ha/yr in
tropics - 30 ton CO2/ha/yr in temperate region
• SE Asia: Agriculture & agro-forestry on 12 million ha
contributes around 600 MtCO2/yr (drainage only)
Root Cause: Linkage between Drainage and Fires
1 km Transect at Drain
0
90
0
80
0
70
0
60
0
50
0
40
0
30
0
20
10
0
0
0
-1
0
0
-2
0
0
-3
0
0
-4
0
0
-5
0
0
-6
0
0
-7
0
0
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0
0
-9
0
-1
0
00
Water Level from Ground (cm)
0
50
100
150
200
250
Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Peatland Fires
Source: DANIDA/UNDP-GEF PSF Project
Burning peat releases more carbon
Tentative estimate of CO2 emissions from fires in Indonesia
C emission from peat fires
(CO2, Mt/y)
10000
Minimum estimate
(1.42 Gt/y average)
8000
Maximum estimate
(4.32 Gt/y average)
6000
4000
2000
0
1997 1998
1999 2000
2001 2002
2003 2004
2005 2006
• > 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
South East Asia - Local Impacts
Fires on peat swamp forest
Severe 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: fires
Courtesy MODIS Rapid Response
Team
Smoke Haze spreads across the region
1000 km
© NASA TOMS
Peat Fires in Plantations
South Selangor - 1997
Riau province, Sumatera - 24th Jan 2005
PKPS , Batang Berjuntai - 2002
Uncontrolled drainage leads to peat fires
Natural
condition
Draw down of
water table
and drying of
peat soil
Plantation adjacent
to peat causing
water outflow
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 –
ASEAN Government response
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ASEAN 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 - Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
To enhance understanding and build capacity on
peatland management issues in the region
To reduce the incidence of peatland fires and
associated haze in the region
To support national and local level implementation
activities on peatland management and fire
prevention
To develop a regional strategy and cooperation
mechanisms to promote sustainable peatland
management
ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS)
13 Focal Areas and 25 Operational Objectives
1.
Inventory and assessment
2.
Research
3. Capacity building and awareness
4. Information sharing
5. Policies and legislation
6. Fire prevention, control and monitoring
7. Conservation of peatland biodiversity
8. Integrated management of peatlands
9. Establishment of best managed peatland
demonstration sites
10. Restoration and rehabilitation
11. Peatlands and Climate
12. Regional cooperation
13. Financing of the Initiative
Next steps
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Strengthen joint action at the regional level through ASEAN (
IFAD-GEF project on rehabilitation and sustainable use of
peatlands in Se Asia 2009-2012)
ASEAN Coordination and cooperation on REDD (supported by
GTZ).
Pilot level activities in several countries with support from
multiple partners.
Establishment of clear methodologies and approaches for
protection, rehabilitation and management to reduce GHG
emissions and provide sustainable benefits to local stakeholders.
Establish climate change related financing and incentive systems.
Thank you