RESTOREPEAT (EU)
Project Summary
The project aims at research and development of new methods on the sustainable restoration of disturbed tropical peatlands and peat swamp forest ecosystems. The implementation will involve a range of measures including blocking of channels and drains, restoration of hydrology and ecological functions, rehabilitation of peat swamp forest and its biodiversity, identification of alternative funding mechanisms to promote sustainable livelihoods and formulation of guidelines for sustainable agriculture and forestry. These will be linked to a better understanding of the socio-economic base of local people and their communities by determining the nature and degree of their dependence on renewable natural resources and how this has been affected by major land development projects and fire. The problems of fire and inappropriate land use planning will be addressed by developing a model fire hazard warning and control system based upon remote sensing and operated by local communities through promotion of fire awareness, prevention and suppression. Stakeholder platforms and skills transfer to the DCs will be focal activities to provide ownership of the project outputs to the bottom levels and, through partnership with local governments, empower local people to become guardians of their own environment and its resources.
The RESTORPEAT project objectives
The following objectives have been identified in the project proposal:
- Coordinate international activities that address global and regional issues of carbon balance, water management, biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation related to restoration and management of tropical peatland;
- Provide access to existing knowledge and expertise and conduct targeted research on restoration of tropical peat swamp forest to promote sustainable livelihoods of local people;
- Provide a scientific and technological framework for knowledge transfer and human capacity development related to restoration of tropical peatland to the benefit of the EC and DCs.
Actions taken in RESTORPEAT
- Restore tropical peatland by recreating environmental conditions for reinstatement of ecological and natural resource functions and promote integrated, multiple land use to minimise damage to the peat carbon store and maximise potential for carbon sequestration;
- Promote sustainable livelihoods for members of local communities to alleviate poverty and protect and enhance natural resources;
- Develop a fire hazard warning system for forest and peatland based upon remote sensing and linked to local community awareness, prevention and suppression measures so that peatland restoration can be effective;
- Forge partnerships between local communities, local governments, DC Government Agencies, NGOs, international experts and other stakeholders to promote restoration and sustainable management of tropical peatland natural resources and ensure sustainability of the project objectives and outputs in the DCs after EU funding ends;
- Transfer knowledge of peatland restoration from EC partners to DCs by appropriate information dissemination activities, case studies and training programmes.
Dissemination of project results
- Results of the project will be disseminated to the target audience and stakeholders, including:
- European Commission;
- Development funding agencies;
- National Water Authorities, Agricultural and Environmental Government Departments, and Agencies in the countries where the project will take place;
- Regional and local Water, Agricultural and Environmental Government Departments, Agencies and Bodies;
- International, regional and local Non Governmental Organizations;
- Farmers’ and landowners’ associations;
- Scientific community
Illegal logging in tropical peat swamp forests
Land clearance for oil palm plantations in Central-Kalimantan
Peat fires release huge amounts of carbon dioxide
Slightly disurbed peat swamp forest (logged over once), as seen from a CO² measurement tower in Kalampangan Block C MRP, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Links:
RESTORPEAT folder
http://www.geog.le.ac.uk/staff/sep5/RESTORPEAT/RESTORPEAT.pdf