Recognizing the Complexity of Tropical Peatland Ecosystems and Management for Sustainability Purposes

Authors:
Medrilzam, John Herbohn, Paul Dargusch, Carl Smith

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
climate-policy, drivers-of-deforestation, redd, system-thinking, tropical-peatland

Documentfile:
Medrilzam et al 2012: Recognizing the Complexity of Tropical Peatland Ecosystems and Management for Sustainability Purposes

Summary:

Theme IX. Tropical peatlands

SUMMARY

This paper examines the drivers of change to peatland vegetation cover in Central Kalimantan Indonesia, one of the largest sources of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions globally. Systems analysis is used to understand the complexity of the factors involved in land use change, and results are explained using causal loop diagrams and a state and transition model of peatland vegetation cover change. The results indicate that interventions that address poverty and livelihood considerations are likely to be the most effective way of reducing human-induced greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands in Central Kalimantan Indonesia.