Fire use, peatland transformation and local livelihoods: a case of positive reinforcement?
2002
Chokkalingan, U. | Tacconi, L. | Ruchyat, Y. (Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor (Indonesia))
A case study from the central extensive peatland section of the Middle Mahakam Area, East Kalimantan, is used to depict how local use of fire for agriculture or resource extraction activities could be a major factor driving peatland transformation. The peatland timber and vegetation appear to be of little value to these local communities whose economic mainstay is fishing, and more valuable wood products are available from the proximate surrounding uplands. Large-scale fires that occurred in the area in 1982/83 and 1997/98, have resulted in transformation of some of the forested peatlands to open grass and water patches. Many of these degraded areas continue to be subject to annual, largely uncontrolled, burning in the dry season for fish extraction. Conversion of the forested landscape to open grass and water areas, and ultimately to lakes with repeated burning may actually enhance fishing conditions and benefit local communities, at least in the short run. The potential long-term impacts repeated fires and landscape transformation on the vegetation, hydrological conditions fisheries, and local livelihoods need further investigation. The scope for harmonisation of potentially divergent local interests and activities, and non-local biodiversity conservation and climate stabilisation interests in this tropical peatland ecosystem are discussed
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