Peat lost by fire in kalampangan area, central kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Fire is a major threat to the existence of peatlands because once drained, dry peat is flammable. In addition, tropical peat ecosystems, including their flora and fauna, are affected more severely by fire than by illegal logging. Fires in peatlands are mostly caused by human activities, such as opening canals for plantations and agricultural development. The peat soil becomes dry due to the lowering of the groundwater level, therefore it is very easy to burn. We recorded that the peat loss within the area of regrowing forest was reaching 44.2 cm deep on average, 32.1 cm within the opened and 53.9 cm within the degraded forest area. Loss of peat will also cause loss of carbon, about 337.9 tC/ha in the regrowing forest area, 240.0 tC/ha in open area and 382.6 tC/ha in the degraded forest area.