Hotspots in a Hotspot: The Indonesian Peat Fire Crisis

M. E. Harrison, S. H. Limin, K. Yoyo, Hendri, Salahudin, M.

Idrus, B. Ripoll Capilla, S. J. Husson, and J. O. Rieley

Active Fires: 29 Sept-6 Oct 2014

Indonesia: huge peat areas, high value

• Indonesia peatland area: 206,950 km2

• Indonesia peat carbon: 57.4 Gt

• Sabangau-Kahayan swamps:– Total area ca. 9,000 km2

– High biodiversity and ecosystem service value

– Min. 68 mammal, 167 bird and 218 tree species

– Largest orangutan and southern Bornean gibbon populations

Why? Peat Drainage!

Peat Drainage + People + Drought = Fire!

Devastating Impacts

• Wildlife habitat loss – millions of hectares affected

• Economy: $20.1 billion lost (1997-98)

• Human health: respiratory problems, premature deaths

• Carbon emissions:

– 0.81-2.57 Gt carbon (1997-98)

– Equivalent to 13-40% mean annual global emissions from fossil fuels!!

– Average 1,700 Mt CO2e yr-1

– England’s peat store ~ 300 Mt C

Solution – Immediate

Solution – Long term

• Canal damming

• Forest patrols – preventing logging

• Incentivising conservation –sustainable livelihoods

• Community socialisaton and education

• Local capacity building

• Monitoring research

• See poster #28!!

Please Help!

www.outrop.com | facebook.com/outrop | @outrop

• Visit our website and social media

• Watch video – “In the line of fire”

• Spread the word

• Donate to our emergency fire-fighting appeal