Comparison of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Spores Abundance Under Sengon (Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & Grimes) Planted on Deep Peat and Mineral Soils

Mycorrhizae are known as soil fungi because of their habitat in the rooting area (rhizosphere). Nearly 97% of terrestrial plant species interact or symbiotic with mycorrhizae. Symbiosis is formed in the form of an exchange between nutrients and carbohydrates and helps plants absorb P. elements. In Kalimantan, sengon often used as industrial material because it is fast-growing species and widely cultivated by the community. Sengon is a common species planted in mineral soils; however, due to the rising demand of sengon timber, it has been planted on peatlands. This study aims to compare the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores and identify the morphology of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores associated with Sengon planted on peatlands and mineral soils. This study used a wet sieving method and root staining from the modification of Vierherling et al. 1996 and calculation of root mycorrhizal colonization with gridline techniques. The research used the normality test of data distribution and the T test (Independent sample T test) to determine trends and comparison of differences in the abundance of FMA spores. The study results showed a significant difference in the abundance of AMF in the form of colonization by calculating the percentage of AMF colonization in the sengon root in mineral soils and peatlands of 23.56% 41.67%, respectively. The spore density on mineral soils and peatlands were  18.05 / 50gr and 1.09 / 50gr, respectively. Identification results showed that there were four genera found in peat soil locations, namely the genus Glomus, Gigaspora, Scutellospora, and Acaulospora, while in the mineral soil were found three generas namely genus Glomus, Scutellospora, and Acaulospora. Out of the four generas, the most abundant in both soil types was Glomus

Keragaman dan Komposisi Jenis Tumbuhan Sebagai Bioindikator Pemulihan Lahan Gambut di Kalimantan Tengah Setelah Terbakar

AbstrakDegradasi hutan menyebabkan perubahan komposisi jenis penyusun tegakan. Penelitian ini bertujuan memperoleh gambaran kemampuan regenerasi alami dari areal bekas terbakar berdasarkan parameter keragaman jenis dan menggambarkan proses regenerasi alami pada areal bekas terbakar. Survei untuk memperoleh data jumlah dan kerapatan jenis, keragaman, dan komposisi jenis penyusun tegakan pada tiga lokasi yakni areal hutan sekunder, bekas terbakar 1997, dan bekas terbakar 2015. Penentuan keragaman jenis tersebut menggunakan beberapa indeks ekologi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa komposisi jenis penyusun tegakan bervariasi antar lokasi. Pada areal bekas terbakar 2015, jumlah dan komposisi jenis penyusun tegakannya paling rendah, sedangkan pada areal bekas terbakar 1997 dan hutan sekunder mempunyai jumlah dan komposisi jenis yang hampir mirip. Perubahan komposisi jenis terbesar terjadi pada areal bekas terbakar 2015 dengan pengurangan jenis >82% untuk seluruh tingkat permudaan. Berdasarkan indeks ekologinya, areal hutan sekunder mempunyai tingkat kemerataan yang tinggi, tidak didominasi oleh jenis tertentu, dan jenis lebih beragam. Namun demikian, indeks ekologi pada areal bekas terbakar 1997 mendekati nilai dari hutan sekunder. Kondisi ini berdasarkan indeks kesamaan komunitas yang tinggi pada tingkat semai dan pancang >50%. Hal ini menunjukkan pemulihan alami pada areal bekas terbakar 1997 sangat mungkin terjadi dan areal bekas terbakar 2015 membutuhkan intervensi untuk meningkatkan kemampuan pemulihannya.AbstractThe forest degradation has altered stand composition. The research objectives was to obtain natural regeneration ability of post burning area based on species diversity parameter and describing the process of natural regeneration on the burnt area. The survey was carried out to obtain the data of number and species density, diversity and species composition of three stands including secondary forest, arean burnt in 1997 and 2015. Species diversity was measured with several ecological index. The result showed that species composition varied between those areas. The lowest stand species compositon was the 2015 burnt area. The 1997 burnt area and the secondary forest were similar in terms of stand species composition. The biggest changes of species composition was the 2015 burnt area with species removal of more than 82% for all regeneration stages. Based on the ecological indexes, the secondary forest had the highest evenness, no domination of a certain species and more diverse species existed. Nevertheless, ecological index of area burnt in 1997 was resembling the value of secondary forest. This condition was shown by the community similarity index of seedlings and saplings of  >50%. It indicated that the natural regeneration of the 1997 burnt area was happening and intervention was needed for the 2015 burnt area

Biodiversity in Lower Montane Forest of Petungkriyono: A Review

One of the symbols of biodiversity in Indonesia’s lower montane forest is Petungkriyono. Due to its location adjacent to populated areas, it has an impact on the survival of the local flora and animals in the Petungkriyono forest area. This study aims to provide a preliminary description of the plant and animal species found in the Petungkriyono forest area. A synoptic review method to Petungkriyono biodiversity publications was used in the writing of the article. The study’s findings revealed that the Petungkriyono forest region consisted of 168 species of wildlife and 204 species of plants. Certain species are endemic, while others fall into the IUCN conservation status categories of Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), and Critically Endangered (CR). It is also a certain that a number of species will be added to the CITES Appendix list in 2023 (Appendices I and II). The demands of population expansion and poaching are the current issues, burdening the forest areas that are already there. High biodiversity, stunning scenery, and the presence of indigenous knowledge can all present opportunities for ecotourism. Immediate implementation of conservative measures, such as maximizing current opportunities to preserve biodiversity, is essential

Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia

In recent years, widespread peatland degradation has occurred in Indonesia as a result of both natural events and human activities. Although there is a strong push for restoration from national and international stakeholders, at the local level, farmers and communities are still widely managing peatlands with unsustainable practices including their conversion into agricultural land. To understand the causes of such a challenging situation, we carried out a survey to investigate the drivers of local livelihoods in the typical peatland village community of Kayu Labu in South Sumatra Province. Our findings showed that while the unsustainable practices adopted do not align with either the long-term interests of this community or the wider public interest, they do align with the best socioeconomic interests of the farmers. A preliminary examination of the livelihood options chosen illustrates the strong contrast between public and private interests. In particular, in local communities like Kayu Labu, the profit margins for oil palm and rubber are higher than those for sustainable alternatives. We conclude that, to address the problem of peatland degradation and to design successful and sustainable peatland restoration initiatives, decision-makers need to understand the local socioeconomic situation, people’s livelihoods, and their expectations. A key option is to increase the roles and responsibilities of local communities in determining the rules that relate to land management. Only then are regulatory and policy interventions likely to improve peatland conservation and restoration outcomes

Facilitating new livelihoods to promote peatland restoration in Indonesia - what are the challenges for ensuring sustainable and equitable livelihood transitions?

Much of the peatland in Central Kalimantan is highly degraded because it has been cleared and drained over the last 30–40 years. Degraded peatland is highly susceptible to burning and oxidation and contributes 30–60 % of the annual greenhouse gas emissions of Indonesia. To combat these problems, the Government of Indonesia has made peatland restoration a high priority, with revitalisation of livelihoods being a critical component to help communities transition to rewet peat. We sought to understand this social transition in Tumbang Nusa, one of the villages that has had a high level of intervention through the recent peatland restoration efforts. Over the last five years, several new livelihood initiatives have been deployed in Tumbang Nusa including seven capacity building programs, five government assistance programs and 18 demonstration plots, but many of these initiatives have been unsuccessful, with only a handful of farmers having adopted the outcomes. In effect, the peatland has not been rewet and the community has largely not transitioned to a more sustainable set of livelihoods. To make peatland restoration work it is critical to overcome several barriers so that communities can embrace the restoration process and can drive it autonomously, rather than needing outside input and assistance to maintain momentum. There is also a clear need for a functioning carbon market, such that peatland communities benefit from peat rewetting. Only once the community directly benefits from restoration will it actively participate in ensuring its success

Social and Ecological Dimensions of Tropical Peatland Restoration: Foreword

Tropical peatlands in Indonesia have attracted international and domestic attention and concern in recent decades. Indonesian peatlands provide globally significant climate regulation and biodiversity provisioning ecosystem services and are central to the lives of local communities, yet they have undergone significant degradation via drainage and fire. There is a growing call for scientific knowledge of the social, environmental and practice dimensions of peatland restoration in Indonesia. This Special Volume of Mires and Peat is a collaborative effort by an Indonesian and Australian team of biophysical and social scientists to showcase primary research and systematic reviews that engage with the complexity of tropical peatland fire, conservation and restoration in Indonesia. We explore lives above ground (people and plants) and below ground (microbes, plants and the dynamic peat itself) and identify the following four themes that cut across the individual articles: 1) Livelihoods and land use; 2) Community engagement; 3) Bringing together multiple knowledges; and 4) Carbon; and draw out globally applicable lessons. We suggest that these themes highlight future directions for research which engage with the complexity of tropical peatland restoration in Indonesia, while centring the voices of local communities to support equity and sustainability in the transition to rewet peatlands

Formulating the Direction of Community Land Use to Support the Conservation of Javanese Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) Habitat at Petungkriyono, Central Java

The Petungkriyono forest is one of the few remnant tropical forests on the island of Java, particularly in Central Java. This forest is known for its high conservation value due to its abundance of biodiversity, particularly the endangered Javan gibbon or Owa Jawa (Hylobates moloch). The Petungkriyono people, on the other hand, rely on upland agriculture and cultivation on steep slopes as a means of subsistence, which poses a threat to the Petungkriyono forest. This paper aims to formulate the direction of the community land use at the habitat of Javanese gibbon at Petungkriyono. The method used the Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis (SMCA). SMCA was applied to create the initial model of the zoning description of sustainable land use in Petungkriyono. The SMCA analysis process includes goal setting and conceptualization, data collection, analysis, field ground checks, and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with the community and related parties. The result showed that considering the massive changes of land use at Petungkriyono almost 70% of the area is formulated for perservation and protection to support the conservation of Javan gibbon

Community perceptions of peat rewetting in Tumbang Nusa Village, Indonesia

Indonesia is committed to rewetting peatlands to reduce the risk of fires and to decrease national greenhouse gas emissions. The three main approaches currently being implemented for rewetting peatlands in Indonesia are: 1) installing dams in drainage canals - “canal blocking”; 2) filling in drainage canals - “backfilling”; and 3) drilling wells to access water to fight fires - “deep wells”. Tumbang Nusa in Central Kalimantan was chosen in 2020 as a pilot village to trial fire management through rewetting, although some engineering and logistical questions remain. Peatland rewetting is a complex process, and it is essential to determine public support as well as the potential for communities to live and work with rewet peat landscapes. Community attitudes to rewetting and their involvement in the process are not well understood. This article reports on 20 interviews conducted with villagers in Tumbang Nusa about their perceptions of rewetting. It identifies that the general attitude to rewetting is positive, but there is confusion and a lack of involvement with regard to where deep wells have been drilled and where canal blocks are located, as well as how they work and can be used. Villagers are concerned about their livelihoods and the impacts of fire. To support communities where rewetting will occur, careful management of the physical processes is needed, but even more important is the need for greater involvement of local communities in actively developing possibilities for their own futures on rewet peat

Identifying a shared vision for peatland restoration: adapting the Delphi method to enhance collaboration

In this article we propose and apply a methodology for collaboratively creating and reaching agreement over a shared vision for peatland restoration. The purpose is to identify a shared understanding of the various parts of a just, inclusive and sustainable restored peatland as well as productive tensions between and across divergent disciplinary domains focused on peatland restoration. We involved an interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners working on various aspects of tropical peatland restoration and management in Indonesia, where there is a recognised need for clearer goals and/or definitions of restoration outcomes to focus manifold stakeholder efforts. To increase opportunities for participation and interaction between participants, our methodology built on and adapted a well-established Delphi survey method by combining it with focus group discussions. This allowed multiple points of view to be considered and new knowledge to emerge. The vision produced through this process bridges across different disciplinary tensions to fulfil ecological and social outcomes. While the vision is specific to the complex political economic and socio-ecological context of Indonesia’s tropical peatland, the phased methodology for collaborative visioning can be adapted for application to other social ecological challenges, or to guide planning and practice by other stakeholder groups aiming to articulate a desired future state

Tree species that 'live slow, die older' enhance tropical peat swamp restoration : Evidence from a systematic review

Degraded tropical peatlands lack tree cover and are often subject to seasonal flooding and repeated burning. These harsh environments for tree seedlings to survive and grow are therefore challenging to revegetate. Knowledge on species performance from previous plantings represents an important evidence base to help guide future tropical peat swamp forest (TPSF) restoration efforts. We conducted a systematic review of the survival and growth of tree species planted in degraded peatlands across Southeast Asia to examine (1) species differences, (2) the impact of seedling and site treatments on survival and growth and (3) the potential use of plant functional traits to predict seedling survival and growth rates. Planted seedling monitoring data were compiled through a systematic review of journal articles, conference proceedings, reports, theses and unpublished datasets. In total, 94 study-sites were included, spanning three decades from 1988 to 2019, and including 141 indigenous peatland tree and palm species. Accounting for variable planting numbers and monitoring durations, we analysed three measures of survival and growth: (1) final survival weighted by the number of seedlings planted, (2) half-life, that is, duration until 50% mortality and (3) relative growth rates (RGR) corrected for initial planting height of seedlings. Average final survival was 62% and half-life was 33 months across all species, sites and treatments. Species differed significantly in survival and half-life. Seedling and site treatments had small effects with the strongest being higher survival of mycorrhizal fungi inoculated seedlings; lower survival, half-life and RGR when shading seedlings; and lower RGR and higher survival when fertilising seedlings. Leaf nutrient and wood density traits predicted TPSF species survival, but not half-life and RGR. RGR and half-life were negatively correlated, meaning that slower growing species survived for longer. Synthesis and applications. To advance tropical peat swamp reforestation requires expanding the number and replication of species planted and testing treatments by adopting control vs. treatment experimental designs. Species selection should involve slower growing species (e.g. Lophopetalum rigidum, Alstonia spatulata, Madhuca motleyana) that survive for longer and explore screening species based on functional traits associated with nutrient acquisition, flooding tolerance and recovery from fire.Peer reviewe