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Agroforestry as a way forward to mitigate climate change and loss of biodiversity in the development of tropical peatland. Mohd Norowi H., Zulkifli, M., Salma I., Suhaimi M., Jamaludin, J., and Ismail A.B . Strategic Resource Research Centre MARDI norowi@mardi.gov.my. Peatland Ecosystem.
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Agroforestry as a way forward to mitigate climate change and loss of biodiversity in the development of tropical peatland Mohd Norowi H., Zulkifli, M., Salma I., Suhaimi M., Jamaludin, J., and Ismail A.B . Strategic Resource Research Centre MARDI norowi@mardi.gov.my Nairobi, 23-28 Aug. 09
Peatland Ecosystem • Holds large amount of Carbon • Sequestered by vegetations • Organic materials in soil • Highly diverse ecosystem • Source of a valuable raw commodity • Provide various ecosystem services
Peatland Ecosystem • In Malaysia - 2.4 million hectares • 60.5 % are in Sarawak (Northern Borneo) • Income for rural communities • Agricultural activities
This practice reduces biodiversity and releases large amount of CO2 Felling and Burning Zero burning Peatland Agriculture
Sessang Peatland Research Station • Sustainable development of the tropical peatland • Multi disciplines • Multi nationals • RESTOREPEAT • CARBOPEAT
To evaluate the impact of various land clearing techniques on carbon emission and biodiversity changes • Land clearing techniques • Fell and burning: Maximum disturbance (MDP) • Selective land clearing: Less disturbance (LDP) • Non-developed (NP) • CO2 flux and biodiversity changes
Silica gel Rubber stopper Teflon tubing Thermometer Portable CO2 analyser (with built in pump) Evolution rate of CO2 per area PVC Chamber 15 cm CO2 20 cm Soil CO2 Flux Measurement – Closed Chamber Method (Bekku et al. 1995)
Carbon loss • CO2 flux (mg m-2 h–1) • Estimated annual C loss (Mega t ha-1 y-1) Clearing Tech. C loss MDP 48.3 LDP 10.2 NP 9.0
Biodiversity: Plant and Microbes • Plant sp. – MDP Before 1st 2nd 3rd (year) 147 93 81 92 (125) • Microbes – CFU • Bacteria the most abundance • High in LDP • Converge as vegetation re-generate
Conclusions • Carbon loss from LDP area were smaller compared to MDP • Change biodiversity, especially at the beginning of development period but seemed to recover latter. LDP was less variable compare to MDP • LDP (agroforestry) is a better approach to develop peatland
Practical issues • Tree to keep • Crop to grow Thank you