Peatlands, which are known as marginal lands, are ideally not intended for farming activities. However, due to limited productive land and the high living needs of people in the peat area and its surroundings, some peat areas are used as cultivation land. However, problems arise when cultivation activities are carried out not in accordance with the principles of sustainable peat management, which then contributes to the destruction of peatlands.
In principle, peatlands, which are naturally wetlands, must be maintained so that they remain wet. Therefore, if you want to use peatland for cultivation, the method without draining is one of the mandatory requirements for sustainable peatland management. Apart from that, peatland utilization activities for cultivation must be carried out in areas designated as cultivation land and not on deep peatlands.
Paludiculture is a method of cultivating plants by selecting types of plants that can grow well in wetlands, which can be recommended for practice in peatlands. Paludiculture practices can be combined with agroforestry systems or the development of multi-type plants consisting of forestry trees and annual plants to optimize production functions when cultivating, and at the same time support efforts to protect peatlands.
Developing multiple types of plants in one bed will minimize the potential for failure compared to planting one type (monoculture). Moreover, the combination of annual plants and trees is considered to be able to provide a source of income in the short term or as an investment to provide income in the long term.
In practice, the implementation of paludiculture requires carrying out 'rewetting' activities or re-wetting dry peatlands. This is in line with efforts to support the restoration of degraded peatlands. Then, by implementing the agroforestry system, planting forestry tree species, apart from providing economic benefits, also functions to regulate water management in peatlands. Trees function to capture water from rain and store it in the soil, thereby reducing water runoff on the peat surface which can cause erosion.
Agroforestry Practices ‘Business as Usual’
The agroforestry system has actually been widely adopted for farming activities on peatlands. However, many of these practices do not meet the principles of sustainable peatland management.
For example, the development of an agroforestry system uses dryland plant species that are not resistant to flooding, so the cultivation process still requires peatland drainage activities. This type of plant has been widely developed because its economic value is considered to be higher compared to types that are resistant to wetland conditions. In fact, the practice of draining peatlands is 'irreversible', that is, if the peatlands are already dry, it will be difficult for them to absorb water again. If the peat is dry, the peat, which plays a role in storing carbon, will actually release carbon, and the hydrological balance in the peat ecosystem will be disturbed. Furthermore, drying out peat makes it flammable.
Principles of Paludicultural Practice
To minimize the negative impacts of cultivation activities on peatlands, land drying activities must be avoided. And if peatlands are already experiencing drought, wetting activities must continue to be carried out to improve the hydrological condition of the peat.
Peatland rewetting activities accompanied by planting native peat species or types that tolerate wet conditions or waterlogging will be able to support peatland restoration efforts. Therefore, agroforestry practices based on paludiculture can be an alternative method of farming on peat.
To carry out this practice, the types of plants chosen are plants that can grow well in wet or flooded peat conditions, namely plants native to peat or types that are able to adapt to wet peat conditions. Of course, this type must also have high economic value, so that it can provide ecological benefits for the peat ecosystem and economic benefits for the community.
Potential of Paludicultural Species to Improve Community Economy
Several types of commodity-producing trees that are recommended to be developed on peatlands are types that produce non-timber forest products (NTFPs) which do not require logging activities to download the results, for example jelutung whose sap can be used, tengkawang whose seeds can be used, or fruit-producing trees.
Meanwhile, for annual plants, several species native to peat such as water mimosa, water lilies, vegetable daffodils and other species that can live in puddles such as kale and bitter melon can be alternative types of commodities that can be developed on peatlands.
Opportunities and Challenges of Paludiculture-Based Agroforestry
Until now, there are still several challenges related to the implementation of paludiculture-based agroforestry practices, including limited information and economic studies regarding paludiculture species, limited market access, and there are no real policies that can support increasing economic activities from paludiculture. Therefore, several efforts are needed so that the implementation of agroforestry based on paludiculture can be optimal.
First, further study is needed regarding species that have high economic value and have the potential to be developed in wet peatlands. Selection of alternative types of plants that are peat-friendly and economically profitable is important so that the implementation of agroforestry practices based on paludiculture can be realized. In addition, the right combination of several species will be able to optimize the results of apuludiculture-based agroforestry practices.
Second, studies related to the availability and market potential for paludiculture commodities are also important to optimize the economic benefits of developing this type. Without a clear market, the development of paludiculture species will be difficult because economic profit is one of the important considerations in developing a commodity.
Third, it is important to disseminate the results of the research, especially to relevant stakeholders so that agroforestry practices based on paludiculture can be implemented according to its principles.
Fourth, support from the government is needed to support paludiculture-based agroforestry practices. For example, the government can implement policies that encourage the implementation of paludiculture as a restoration approach along with efforts to rewetting dry peat until it reaches the saturation point (full-saturation rewetting). The government can initiate the formation of special areas equipped with systems and programs that can support agroforestry development activities based on paludiculture on peatlands. The government can recommend types of paludiculture plants that produce commodities according to market demand so that it will be easy for people to market their commodity products. The government can provide funding assistance to make it easier for the community to provide capital as well as to motivate the community to use peatlands that are economically valuable and sustainable. Apart from that, the government can also provide assistance so that agroforestry practices based on puludiculture can produce commodities optimally. In this way, sustainable use of peatlands that provide economic value for society can be realized.
ความคิดเห็น