Efforts to prevent land fires through the use of potential peatlands in coastal areas

Abstract

The development of the agricultural sector for coastal communities, especially on peatland plays an important role in the structure of the regional economy. In Riau province, there are potential peatlands of approximately 64% of the total land area, that support the local people's lives, especially for agriculture. These peatlands also have various ecological functions such as flood and global climate controls. Therefore, this study aims to determine efforts to prevent land fires through the development of superior commodities in potential peatlands. This study was carried out through a survey using the developmental research method and the data were collected with a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach. The food crops cultivated on the peatland were rice, corn, and cassava, and were carried out for the first 2-3 years. Furthermore, long-term crops such as rubber, sago, and coffee were also planted. The results showed that the use of peatland with an economic value has a positive impact on its management. Therefore, this effort is capable of preventing the occurrence of land fires.