BIODIVERSITY AND CARBON STORAGE IN THE TROPICAL PEAT SWAMP FORESTS IN RIAU BIOSPHERE RESERVE, SUMATRA INDONESIA

Abstract

The Gi am Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve covers a total area of 698,663 ha. It is unique because 75% of its total area is covered by peatland. Poor management and land conversion, however, resulted in a loss of almost 300,000 ha of natural peat swamp forest from 1998 to 2002. Moreover, forest fires occur annually, especially in the dry season due to draining for agriculture as well as illegal logging activities. In this study, we characterized the peat swamp forest ecology and assessed natural regeneration processes. Next, we clarified the amount of above and below ground carbon in various land uses. Then we conducted rehabilitation activities of degraded logged-over forest using tree species endemic in the area and which have economic importance to the local community. Mixed Peat Swamp Forest and Bintangur Forest, which have distinct dominant species, floristic composition, diversity, and local environment characteristics, were identified as the main forest types in the biosphere reserve Our measurement of above and below carbon show varying amounts of above carbon storage under different forest land uses. In particular, our measurement of below carbon is generally higher compared to other earlier studies conducted in other peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia. Our initial rehabilitation efforts demonstrate that some indigenous species of peat swamp forests (i.e., Cratoxylom arborescens, Dyera lowii, Callophyliim lown, Palaquium sumatranum, Palaquium burckii and Tetramerisla glabra) have good potential to improve both ecosystem services as well as provide timber and non timber forest products for local communities. Based on our study, we proposed a sustainable management model of the Biosphere Reserve