Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Peatswamp ecology and sustainable development in Borneo

Biodiversity & Conservation volume 7, pages 651–671 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

While tropical lowland peatswamp ecosystems are well-represented among the major forest formations of Borneo, they are rare outside South-East Asia. They are richly endowed with biological diversity, including the crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which is a threatened species, and are characterized by their organic (histosol) soils that have developed recently, approximately within the past 5000 years. Their unique ecological features, as well as logistical difficulties in accessing and utilizing peatswamps, have not, however, deterred exploitation. Some of the tallest, most commercially desirable timber species, such as ramin (Gonystylus bancanus) have been harvested routinely in the peatswamp forests of Sarawak. Also, due to its primary location in coastal lowlands in close proximity to human activity, drained and reclaimed peatswamp land is desirable for development of highways, housing, and industrial and plantation estates. Ecological information is needed urgently by decision-makers and land-owners, who may be contemplating conversion of natural peatswamp ecosystems to other land uses, to undergird conservation policy and best management practices for the wise stewardship and sustainable development of this ecosystem.

The paper provides an overview of peatswamp ecology with recommendations for avoiding or reducing potential ecological impacts associated with peatswamp development in Borneo, which include a moratorium on further development until a Borneo peatswamp survey and inventory as well as a holistic, multi-sectoral, integrated environmental assessment and planning procedure are completed; gazetting of pristine peatswamp forest parcels as totally protected areas; implementing highly restricted multiple-use policy that allows development only in degraded areas, and insuring protection of the critical hydrological role of peatswamps in providing fresh water supply for human use as an overriding criterion in assessing any development scheme.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

39,95 €

Price includes VAT (Netherlands)

References

  • Abang, H.K.B.A.M. and Gumal, M.T.(1995) The role of totally protected areas in preserving biological diversity in Sarawak. In Ecology, Conservation and Management of Southeast Asian Rainforests (R.E. Primack and T.E. Lovejoy, eds) pp. 204–20. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.A.R. (1961) The ecology and forest types of the peat swamp forests of Sarawak and Brunei in relation to their silviculture. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Vol. I (191 pp) and Vol. II (appendices). University of Edinburgh.

  • Anderson, J.A.R. (1964) The structure and development of peat swamps of Sarawak and Brunei. J. Trop. Geogr 18, 7–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.A.R. (1972) Trees of Peatswamp Forests of Sarawak. Forest Department of Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.A.R. (1976) Observations on the Ecology of Five Peat Swamp Forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Agriculture Technical Assistance Programme, 1974-77. Soil Research Final Report A.T.A. 106, Bulletin No. 3, pp. 45–55. Bogor, Indonesia: Soil Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.A.R. (1983) The tropical peat swamps of Western Malesia. In Ecosystems of the World, Vol. 4B, Mires: Swamp, Bog, Fen and Moor (A.J.P. Gore, ed.) pp. 181–99. Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.A.R. and Muller, J. (1975) Palynological study of a Holocene peat and a Miocene coal deposit from NW Borneo. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 19, 291–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderiesse, J.P. (1964) The Use of Sarawak Peat for Agriculture. Research Circular No.4, Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andriesse, J.P. (1972) The Soils of West Sarawak (East Malaysia). Memoir 1, Vol. 1, Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andriesse, J.P. (1974) Tropical Lowland Peats in South-East Asia. Communication 64. Amsterdam: Royal Tropical Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andriesse, J.P. (1988) Permanent constraints in peat reclamation. In Nature and Management of Tropical Peat Soils (FAO Soils Bulletin 59) pp. 81–91. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andriesse, J.P. (1992) Constraints and opportunities for alternative use options of tropical peatland. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia: 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 1–6. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armentano, T.V. and Verhoeven, J.T.A. (1988) The contribution of freshwater wetlands to the global biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Wetlands Shallow Wat Bodies 1, 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beccari, O. (1904) Wanderings in the Great Forests of Borneo (1986 reprinted edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E.L. (1988) Proboscis monkeys and their swamp forests in Sarawak. Oryx 22, 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E.L. (1989) Conservation and Management of Wetland Areas in Sarawak. WWF Project No. 3518 (MYS 92/86) final report. New York: Worldwide Fund for Nature, Kuala Lumpur/New York Zoological Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E.L. and Gombek, F. (1992) Wildlife and conservation in Sarawak’s peatswamp forests. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 307–10. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E.L., Caldecott, J.O., Kavanaugh, M. and Sebastian, A.C. (1985) Conservation status of Sarawak's primates. Sarawak Gaz. 61, 30–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E.L., Caldecott, J.O., Kavanaugh, M. and Sebastian, A.C. (1987) Primate conservation in Sarawak. Primate Conserv. 8, 180–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boelter, D.H. (1964) Water storage characteristics of several peats in situ. Proc Soil Sci. Soc. America 28, 433–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, F.G. (1955) Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and Their Products. Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia: Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruenig, E.F. and Droste, H.J. (1995) Structure, dynamics and management of rainforests on nutrient-deficient soils in Sarawak. In Ecology, Conservation and Management of Southeast Asian Rainforests (R.E. Primack and T.E. Lovejoy, eds) pp. 41–53. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chin, K. K. and Poo, H.L. (1992) The Malaysian experience of water management in tropical peat. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 218–27. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Driessen, P.M. and Soepraptohardjo, H. (1974) Soils for Agricultural Expansion in Indonesia. Bulletin 1. Bogor, Indonesia: Soil Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwiyono, A. and Rachman, S. (1996) Management and conservation of the tropical peat forest of Indonesia. In Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia, Proceedings of Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands, Cisarua, Indonesia, 3-8 July 1992 (E. Maltby, C.P. Immirzi and R.J. Safford, eds), pp. 101–18. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, D.S. (Earl of Cranbrook) (1994) A Tropical Rainforest, the Nature and Biodiversity in Borneo at Belalong, Brunei. Singapore: The Royal Geographical Society and Sun Tree Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterle, J.S. Calvert, G. Durig, D. Tie, Y.L. and Supardi (1992) Characterization and classification of tropical woody peats from Baram River, Sarawak and Jambi, Sumatra. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed) pp. 33–48. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1974) The Peat Swamp Forests of Sarawak and their Potential for Development. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Forestry and Forest Industries Development, Malaysia. FO: DP/MAL/72/009 Technical Report No. 3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, E. and McDonnell, J. (1986) Decomposition in man-modified peat soils. Internat. Peat J. 1, 99–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giesen, W. (1990) Vegetation of the Negara River basin. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Conservation of Sungai Negara Wetlands, Barito Basin, South Kalimantan, March 1989, pp. 1–51. Banjarbaru, Indonesia: Government of Indonesia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Malaysia (1993) HNDP: Highway Network Development Plan Study in Malaysia, Final Report. Tokyo: Japan International Cooperation Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton, R.A. (1995) Tropical forests and climate. In Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Southeast Asian Rainforests (R.B. Primack and T.E. Lovejoy, eds), pp. 263–89. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H.S. (1992) Utilization and conservation of peatswamp forests in Sarawak. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 286–92. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H.S., and Chai, F. (1996) Production functions of peat swamp forests in Sarawak. In Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia, Proceedings of Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands, Cisarua, Indonesia, 3-8 July 1992 (E. Maltby, C.P. Immirzi and R.J. Safford, eds.) pp. 129–36. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mailvaganam, Y. (1989) Hydrogeology of Sarawak with some aspects on groundwater development. In Seminar on Water Resources-Prospects and Challenges of the Coming Decade, 19-20 September 1989, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

  • Maltby, E. and Immirzi, C.P. (1992) The sustainable utilization of tropical peatlands. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Ma-laysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 66–80. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutalib, A.A. Lim, J.S., Wong, M.H. and Koonvai, L. (1992) Characterization, distribution and utilization of peat in Malaysia. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.), pp. 7–16. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ong, B.Y. and Yogeswaran, M. (1992) Peatland as a resource for water supply in Sarawak. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.), pp. 255–68. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, J., Francis, C.M. and Phillipps, K. (1985) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: The Sabah Society/World Wildlife Fund Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, V.D. (1997) Some ecological considerations of peatswamp development in Borneo. In Proceedings of Conference on Recent Advances in Soft Soil Engineering, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 5-7 March 1997 (B.B.K. Hunt and H.M. Bahia, eds) pp. 464–83. Kuching, Malaysia: Samasa Press Sdn. Bhd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayment, A. and Campbell, J. (1980) The influence of different drainage techniques on water outflow, soil aeration and crop growth on a Newfoundland peat soil. St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada: Agriculture Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieley, J.O. (1992) The ecology of tropical peatswamp forest — a South-east Asian perspective. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 244–54. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieley, J.O. and Ahmad-Shah, A.A. (1996) The vegetation of tropical peat swamp forests. In Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia, Proceedings of Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands, Cisarua, Indonesia, 3-8 July 1992 (E. Maltby, C.P. Immirzi and R.J. Safford, eds) pp. 55–73. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieley, J.O. Ahmad-Shah, A.A. and Brady, M.A. (1996) The extent and nature of tropical peat swamps. In Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia, Proceedings of Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands, Cisarua, Indonesia, 3-8 July 1992 (E. Maltby, C.P. Immirzi and R.J. Safford, eds) pp. 17–53. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shotyk, W. (1986) Impact of Peatland Drainage Waters upon Aquatic Ecosystem. NRCC number 27415. Ottawa, Canada: Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieffermann, R.G., Rieley, J.O. and Fournier, M. (1992) The lowland peat swamps of Central Kalimantan (Borneo): A complex and vulnerable ecosystem. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Geography in the Asian Region. 26 pp. Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

  • Silvius, M.J. and Giesen, W. (1996) Towards integrated management of swamp forests: a case study from Sumatra. In Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia, Proceedings of Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands, Cisarua, Indonesia, 3-8 July 1992 (E. Maltby, C.P. Immirzi and R.J. Safford, eds), pp. 247–267. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soule, M. (1987) Where do we go from here? In Viable Populations for Conservation (M. Soule,ed.) pp. 175–83. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J.M. (1992) Subsidence in cultivated peatlands. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 1994–200. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tie, Y.L. (1982) Soil Classification of Sarawak. Kuching, Sarawak: Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tie, Y.L. (1990) Studies of peat swamps in Sarawak with particular reference to soil-forest relationships and development of dome-shaped structures. Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Geography. London: Polytechnic of North London, UK

  • Tie, Y.L. and Esterle, J.S. (1992) Formation of lowland peat domes in Sarawak, Malaysia. In Tropical Peat, Proceedings of an International Symposium on Tropical Peatland, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-10 May 1991 (B.Y. Aminuddin, ed.) pp. 81–89. Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute & Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tie, Y.L. and Hoisington, C. (1997) Prioritizing land use in coast peat zones of Sarawak. In Proceedings of Conference on Recent Advances in Soft Soil Engineering, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 5-7 March 1997 (B.B.K. Hunt and H.M. Bahia, eds), un-numbered addendum. Kuching, Malaysia: Samasa Press Sdn. Bhd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tie, Y.L. Loi, K.S. and Li, E.T. (1989) Distribution of sago (Metroxylon spp.) in Sarawak and soils of the main sago areas. In Proceedings of the Technical Sessions, 26th Research Officer’s Annual Conference, 1989. Kuching, Malaysia: Research Branch, Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Meene, E.A. (1984) Geological aspects of peat formation in the Indonesian-Malaysian lowlands. In Bulletin 9. Bangkok: Geological Research and Development Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore, T.C. (1990) An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore, T.C. (1995) Comparing Southeast Asian and other tropical rainforests. In Ecology, Conservation and Management of Southeast Asian Rainforests (R. E. Primack and T.E. Lovejoy, eds) pp. 5–15. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitten, A.J., Damanik, S.J., Jazanul Anwar and Nazaruddin Hisyam (1984) The Ecology of Sumatra. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Gadjah Mada University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilford, G.E. (1960) Radiocarbon determination of quarternary deposits in Brunei and North-East Sarawak. In 1959 Annual Report of the British North Borneo Geological Survey Department. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Geological Survey Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, M.H. (1991) The Distribution, Characteristics and Agricultural Utilization of Peat in Sarawak. Kuching, Malaysia: Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yogeswaran, M. (1995) Geological considerations in the development of the Kuching area. In Dialogue Session: Geological and Geotechnical Considerations in Civil Works, 14 March 95, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Resource Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Victor D. Phillips

Authors
  1. Victor D. Phillips
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Phillips, V.D. Peatswamp ecology and sustainable development in Borneo. Biodiversity and Conservation 7, 651–671 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008808519096

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008808519096

  • tropical peatswamps
  • peatlands
  • conservation
  • biodiversity
  • Borneo

Search

Navigation