LESSONS FROM HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION IN THE SABANGAU FOREST, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN
We dedicate this research to the memory of Dr Ir Suwido H. Limin MS
In partnership with:
Bernat Ripoll Capilla, Ici P. Kulu,K. Kusin, Y. Ermiasi, Idrusman, Salahudin, M. E. Harrison, S. Husson, H. Morrogh-Bernard
TROPICAL PEATLANDS OVERVIEW
Tropical Peatlands cover 3% Earth’s land area → but store 1/3 total soil carbon(Page et al. 2011)
38% of total peat area found in SEA
Containing 76% peat carbon pool(T. Gumbriht et al. 2017)
Tropical Peatlands provide ecosystem services, flood prevention and non-timber forest products
Although peat soils are waterlogged, highly acidic and nutrient-poor, species diversity there can be comparable to forests on mineral soils
Ie. Sabangau Forest: 215 tree, 55 fish, 11 amphibian, 45 reptile, 172 bird and 64 mammal species (Harrison et al. In press)
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ?
• Tropical peat swamp forests (TPSF) have suffered from high levels of disturbance
1990-2015 → 7.3 Mha degraded or converted (J. Stibig et al. 2015)
In Indonesia primary forest loss increased 400 % in the last 10 years (Hansen et al. 2014)
• Forest loss drivers: Logging for timber
Conversion to oil palm and Acacia plantations
Drainage channels for agriculture
Fire
(Muhamad 2011, Rieley 2001, Gaveau et al. 2014)
eg. Mega Rice (1996) 1 Mha convertedIts failure left a vast area of drained and degraded peatland
Environment
Loss of species diversity and forest cover Habitat degradation Huge carbon emissions (Sept-Oct 2015 SEA: 227 ± 67 Mt C)
(Page et al. 1999; Morrogh-Bernard 2009; Yule 2010; Posa et al. 2011, Huijnen et al., 2016)
Society
Loss of ecosystem services Loss of land management /livelihoods Impact on human health: 69M People exposed for 3 months
500,000 reported sick (2015)(Sjarkowi 2002, Harrison et al. 2009, Crippa 2015 et al., Gol et al. 2015, BNPB)
Economy
Possible loss of USD 30 billion Up to 50% of agricultural income lost in rural areas Effect on economic activities and transport throughout SEA
(Sjarkowi et al. 2002, Harrison et al. 2009, Crippa et al. 2015, World Bank 2016)
CONSEQUENCES
TACKLING THE PROBLEM
Conservation initiative ‘levels’International
NationalLocal
• Rarely one problem, rarely one driver, rarely one solution…
• Spatio-temporal variation – evolving threats
• Need to deal with:Immediate short-term impacts Underlying drivers (long-term solutions)
BNF CONSERVATION APPROACH
RESEACH AND ECOLOGICAL MONITORING
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
HABITAT RESTORATION
HABITAT PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESPeat drainage (Canals) Peat decomposition (Fire, CO2 emissions) Forest Loss, degradation & fragmentation
“To maintain and enhance Kalimantan’s ecosystems, biodiversity and the benefits that these provide to human communities.”
HABITAT PROTECTION
In 2004 CIMTROP established a Community Patrol Team in order to protect the NLPSF area in Sabangau; BNF is currently setting up 3 new Community Fire-fighting Teams.
Socialisation andawareness activities
Fire-fighting rapid response
Daily patrolling protecting against
illegal activities
Implementing local conservation
projects
HABITAT PROTECTION RESULTS FROM LAHG - SABANGAU
Fig. Summary of the 3 main activities/events reported by the Community Patrol
Interventions represent 9.58% / total yearly patrolled days
Incidences of illegal logging, hunting and electric fishing has reduced
Fire events (El Niño) are unpredictable and require in situ conservation action
Need for permanent presence to protect the forest
N=19
N=18N=23
N=9
N=5
N=5
N=6N=5
N=3
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N=1 N=1
N=9
N=15
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
% R
epor
ted
activ
ities
Fire Illegal fishing/hunting Illegal Logging
HABITAT RESTORATION
DAM BUILDING AND
HYDROLOGY RESTORATION
•Restoring natural flooded swamp hydrology
• Monitoring hydrology trends pre-/post-damming
• Improving effectiveness of dams
SEEDLING NURSERY
AND REFORESTATION
• Assisting natural regeneration
• Increasing understanding of techniques
• Understanding habitat restoration barriers
Fig. Water discharge pre- and post -dam construction
More than 500 dams built in 14 canals
Dams built every 100m reduce water discharge by an average of 73%(*) Independent T-tests Significant for Water discharge (m3/day) pre- and post-dam building
HYDROLOGY RESTORATION
Methodology:- 6 canals (monthly hydrolgy monitoring)- Water-flow recorded (6 positions / 250 m)- Ground Water Levels measured(40 forest locations + canals)
- Pre-/post-dam construction
10 years of Ground Water Levels: pre- and post-dam construction in Canal D
Ground Water Table fluctuations affected by:
Canal condition (pre-/post-damming) and dam decay Climate event - Niño vs. non-Niño year
(*) ANOVA Significance for both factors but not for its interaction
REFORESTATION
Methodology:
- Aprox. 5 000 trees grown and transplanted
-15 Peat-swamp forest species planted (evenly distributed)
- 9 plots (250m long) in disturbed forest/sedge
- Post-planting monitoring (1W, 1M, 6M, 1Y, ...)
- Variables: tree health, height, basal diameter and number of leaves
- Micro habitat data: 1m diameter (competition effect)
Latin name Local Name N % Survival RatesPittosporum sp. Prupuk 345 68,7 239,6 (*)Syzygium spp. Tampohot 111 56,8 9,4Shorea balangeran Balangeran 168 51,2 96,5 (*)Dimocarpus longan Kajalaki 25 52,0 6,2Combretocarpus rotundatus Tumih 38 47,4 340,9 (*)Licania splendens Bintan 187 26,7 134,3 (*)Dyera lowii Jelotung 114 21,9 83,6 (*)Callophilum hosei Jinjit 130 10,8 146,5 (*)
% Height increase
Average GWL in RG plots is 20cm
Planting trees > 30cm height increasesby 22% the survival rates
0
20
40
60
80
Plot RG 1 Plot RG 2
Surv
ival
rate
s
Survial rates vs. tree height
Planted < 30cm heightPlanted > 30cm height
Current reforestation initiatives:
Reforesting 3 600 ha in 2015 burned areas
Setting a Long-term Habitat Restoration Strategy
Developing Community Nursery concept in nearby villages
Testing Organic polybag → Technique & ComDev support
84%86%88%90%92%94%96%98%
100%
Prupuk Balangeran
Surv
ival
rate
s
Polybag vs Organic - Survival rates in burned area after 6 months
Polybag (Control)
Organic Polybag
REFORESTATION
1. The underlying causes of forest fires – peat drainage and local poverty – must be continuously addressed by ensuring permanent presence and action on the ground.
2. Although expensive, patrol and fire-fighting teams are effective, at least in relatively small areas that can be patrolled daily.
3. Damming demonstrated to be an effective tool to restore forest hydrology, but it requires long-term monitoring and maintenance.
4. It is essential to understand reforestation barriers (eg. GWL fluctuations, sp. competition, etc. ) and learn from successful trials before designing large-scale replanting programmes.
5. Planting water-loving and heat-tolerant tree species (with heights above the maximum Ground Water Tables) will ensure higher survival rates in open areas as forest edges.
6. Collaboration and data-sharing between local partners and communities are essential to ensure long-term conservation success.
LESSONS and CONCLUSIONS
