Project Peatland
Peatlands cover 3% of the Earth’s land area and store a large fraction of the World’s terrestrial carbon resources. Most rapid peatland degradation currently occurs in Southeast Asia, where peatlands are being deforested, drained and burnt for development of oil palm, pulp and paper plantations, agriculture and logging. Drainage of peatlands, necessary for exploitation, leads to aeration of peat material and hence to oxidation, resulting in CO2 gas emissions. Fires contribute also considerable to CO2 emissions. Apart from CO2 emissions, these developments are also a threat to biodiversity, as peatlands are an important habitat for many endangered species. (1)
The proposed SDWA programme aims to support large-scale implementation of mitigative water management and improved spatial planning of production and conservation areas in peatlands. This is done through five work packages focusing on soil and carbon emissions, ecology and biodiversity, land use change monitoring and fire risk forecasting, peatland (river) hydrology and the development of a knowledge base and training programme.
For project brochure (PDF, 0.4 Mb) please click here.
(1) Source: Hooijer A, Silvius M, Wosten H and Page S, 2006, PEAT-CO2, Assessment of CO2 emissions from drained peatlands in Southeast Asia. Delft Hydraulics report Q3943.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Aljosja Hooijer
Email: Aljosja.Hooijer@wldelft.nl
WL | Delft Hydraulics
The Netherlands
