1. 1 PEATLAND UTILISATION IN MALAYSIA: THE PRESENT STATUS by James Dawos Mamit, MP President, the Malaysian Peat Society & Environmental Advisor to Sarawak State Govt. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

2. 2 Peatland Distribution Peatland Distribution Peatland area in Malaysia:   Total Area: approximately 2.4 million ha (8% of country’s total land area).   1.6 million ha in Sarawak (13% of State’s land area) Characteristics:   Intersected by rivers, deltaic channels & streams   65% organic matter   pH 3.85 – 4.15   Permanently saturated with water IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

3. 3 Land area - 328,750 km 2 Malaysia - 2.4 million ha Peninsular - 0.7 million ha Sarawak - 1.6 million ha Sabah - 0.1 million ha

4. 4 Economic Importance …. Forestry:   RM5 billion worth of timber products (33% of total export earnings of timber) from Sarawak.   Present rate of extraction in natural forests 600,000 m 3 in PSF in Sarawak, mainly from areas designated as Permanent Forest Estate.   No timber extraction in Peninsular & Sabah due to depletion. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

5. 5 Economic Importance …. Oil Palm Plantation:   About 400,000 ha already in mature plantations in Peninsular.   About 635,000 ha already planted in Sarawak from a total 800,000 ha alienated as plantations. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

6. 6 Economic Importance …. : Ecotourism:  Unique ecosystems; High diversity of flora; High diversity of fauna; such as Orang Utan, Red-Banded Langur & Proboscis Monkey.  : Latex, fruits, bark (no longer done) & medicinal plants (potential).  Non-timber products: Latex, fruits, bark (no longer done) & medicinal plants (potential). IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

7. 7 Environmental Significance ….  :  Maintaining global carbon balance: 15% of global peatland carbon reside in tropical peatland; draining of peatland oxidises carbon & CO 2 is released into the atmosphere.  :  Providing reservoirs of freshwater: peat dome has high water retention capacity; groundwater recharge is dependent upon ratio of depth of peatland dome, vegetation & water table gradient. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

8. 8 Environmental Significance ….  : peat releases stored water during drier period, acts as sponges & absorbs water during heavy rainfall, thereby reducing flood peaks & mitigating flooding & water stress.  Stabilizing water levels: peat releases stored water during drier period, acts as sponges & absorbs water during heavy rainfall, thereby reducing flood peaks & mitigating flooding & water stress.  :  Buffer against saline intrusion: waterlogged condition maintains constant base flows of underground water, preventing saline intrusion further upstream. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

9. 9 Impact of Peatland Development ….  Degradation of Peat Swamp Forest (PSF) Ecosystem:  Repeated forest harvesting leads to destruction of forest ecosystems & fauna habitats, causing hosts of fauna species to take refuge in neighbouring areas & become pests.  Loss of forest cover by conversion to agriculture plantations causes plant & animal species to disappear or perish; Red-banded langur most affected. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

10. 10 Impact of Peatland Development ….   Soil subsidence:  Draining of peatland lowers water table causing subsidence  Rate of subsidence 20 – 50 cm per year over a period of 5 years after drainage & thereafter 5 cm per year.  :  Oxidation & acidity:  Peatland water is acidic & once drained, peatwater causes severe damage to flora & fauna habitats in adjacent areas.  Compaction or shrinkage of peat soils may cause groundwater containing fertilizer or pesticide residues to flow from agricultural area to adjacent water catchment area. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

11. 11 Impact of Peatland Development ….  Flooding & loss of water supply sources:  Conversion of peatland into non-peat diminishes water retention capability, resulting in greater discharge volume of water from surface runoff rather than underground recharge, thus greater risk of downstream flooding.  Loss of water catchment areas, jeopardising water- supply intake. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

12. 12 Impact of Peatland Development ….  Water pollution:  Agricultural NPS is leading source of water pollution  Nitrates & phosphates have eutrophication effect  Pesticides & fertilizers IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

13. 13 Impact of Peatland Development ….  Air pollution from peatland fires:  Peatland fires create much more smoke & difficult to extinguish, smoldering underground.  Fire hazard during prolonged drought  Available peatland in Peninsular already degraded by fires. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

14. 14 Impact of Peatland Development ….  Loss of biodiversity:  Conversion to other land uses destroy forest stands & wildlife habitats IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

15. 15 Impact of Peatland Development ….  :  Loss of traditional knowledge:  Loss of sources of natural materials for useful non- timber products & traditional medicines if peatland is cleared, leading to erosion of traditional knowledge of indigenous people.  :  Impact on tourism:  Depletion of PSF has reduced opportunities on ecotourism. IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

16. 16 Is sustainability achieveable in tropical peatland utilisation? IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

17. 17 Development Management Strategies Should Consider …  Larger peatland areas as mainstay for forestry & biodiversity conservation  Periphery of independent peatland basin for agricultural purposes  Baseline data & information needed  Least impact strategy for peatland development IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

18. 18 Continuous assessment of harvested forest to determine future stocks and conduct silvicultural treatment where required IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol Sustainable Timber Production

19. 19 Conservation in Totally Protected Areas (TPAs): 312,420 ha designated mainly in Sarawak IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

20. 20 CONCLUSION  Understanding the physical, chemical, biological & ecological elements of tropical peatland resources & their responses to anthropogenic causes are important  Attention should focus on conserving of what is left  Sustainable development of peatland is necessary for the benefits of the present & future generations IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol

21. 21 dawos@tm.net.mydawos@tm.net.my dawos_mamit@hotmail.comdawos_mamit@hotmail.com IPS Meeting, 13-15 February 2009, Schiphol