INQUA 2422 sy: Settlement Effect on Peatland of Kalimantan (SEPOK)

Peatlands are vital carbon sinks, helping regulate the Earth’s climate by storing large amounts of organic matter. However, they are increasingly threatened by human activities like urban expansion and land use change.

Abstract

Peatlands play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s carbon balance, acting as major carbon sinks that store large amounts of organic matter. However, human activities, such as urban development and land use changes, can lead to peatland degradation. In light of the Indonesian government’s ongoing plans to relocate the nation’s capital to East Kalimantan, which is surrounded by tropical peatlands, the SEPOK (Settlement Effects on Peatland of Kalimantan) project was initiated to examine the long-term impacts of human settlement on peatlands.

The project, ran from December 2023 to September 2024, was led by a diverse team consisting of Monika Ruwaimana, Gusti Anshari, Daniel Gavin, and Alex Cobb. It focused on Pontianak, a city in West Kalimantan that has been established on peatland for over 250 years. Pontianak’s urban expansion and the resulting environmental degradation make it an ideal case study to understand how urbanization can affect peatland morphology, carbon storage, and the broader ecosystem.

Objectives:

• Investigating Urban Impact on Peatlands: to assess the morphological changes and carbon storage losses in peatlands caused by human settlements. This included estimating how much carbon has been lost due to urban expansion and understanding the extent of peatland degradation. The study used peat core sampling and satellite altimetry data to quantify these impacts over time.
• Knowledge Dissemination and Capacity Building: designed to share knowledge on the methods used in peatland research, focusing on remote sensing and paleoecology. The project sought to build capacity for managing peatland ecosystems and promote collaboration by engaging local researchers, students, and practitioners.

The SEPOK project’s findings have important implications for both local and national planning, particularly in light of Indonesia’s plan to relocate its capital to Kalimantan. The research revealed that while urban development in Pontianak has led to significant peatland degradation, substantial amounts of peat still remain beneath the city. This suggests that careful planning and management strategies could mitigate some of the environmental impacts of future development projects, especially in areas rich in peat.

This project also shows the importance of historical data in understanding long-term environmental changes. The Dutch map from 1888, combined with modern satellite data, provides a detailed picture of how human activities have influenced peatland over time. This historical perspective can inform current land-use planning and help policymakers avoid repeating past mistakes. Furthermore, the project highlighted the critical role of remote sensing in studying peatland ecosystems. Using ICESat-2 data to create topographic models offers a non-invasive way to monitor peatland changes, making it an invaluable tool for future research and conservation efforts.

By combining fieldwork, historical analysis, and modern technology, the project has provided valuable insights into the long-term impacts of urban development on these vital ecosystems. Moreover, through its seminars and workshops, SEPOK has helped build the capacity of local researchers and practitioners to manage better and conserve peatlands. By balancing development with environmental conservation, it may be possible to protect these critical carbon sinks for future generations.

Project leaders:

• Monika Ruwaimana, Dept Biology, Universitas Atma Jaya Ygyakarta, Yogyakarta
• Gusti Anshari, Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
• Daniel Gavin, Dept of Geography, University of Oregon, USA
• Alexander R. Cobb, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology(SMART), Singapore