Tropical Swamp Forests
by: Alex Saber, Seungju Yang and Vittorio Migliuolo
How Swamp forest is formed
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The reason it occurs in tropical region
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Hook-billed bulbul (Setornis criniger) classified as “Vulnerable” (10)
The peat soils in Southeast Asia are not suitable for agricultural use and difficult to get into. While this has resulted in low population densities, the areas are still important to millions of people for the production of crops such as rattan, for fisheries, hunting and forestry. The world’s most precious timber resources – Meranti, Rahmin and Ironwood trees – are found in these ecosystems (9). Humans harvest peat and have been using it as a source of energy for over 2000 years. It was useful as an alternative to firewood for cooking and heating. Peat extraction is only one land use option for peatswamps and often competes with other land use alternatives such as agriculture or preservation (7).
There are many reasons for the increase in deforestation that has resulted in many extinct and endangered species in Southeast Asia to this day however among the key reasons is, population growth, increased poverty, a shortage of resources for conservation as well as corrupt national institutions[5]. As a population grows it requires more resources and if this demand is not met through sustainable means then the environment will be effected. This is why population growth is considered one of the key factors inducing deforestation in Southeast Asia[5].
What is a Swamp Forest?
Swamp forest refers to forest inundated with water. Usually it occurs in the lower reaches of rivers where the water can be retained. Since waterlogged soil does not allow wood and leave decompose, it creates peculiar acidic peat over the water and the forest. (4) This layers of acidic peat and its humid climate due to the inundation make this ecosystem home of a number of endemic animals and plants, and provides special usages for the humans.
Freshwater swamp forest vs. Peat swamp forest
Generally, there are two types of swamp forest, which are freshwater and peat. Freshwater swamp forest is inundated, yet does not consist acidic peat layer. Freshwater forest can be found in all boreal, temperate and tropical region (9). Peat swamp forest occurs when accumulation of acidic peat layer happens in freshwater for many years, and therefore freshwater swamp forest turns into the peat swamp forest (7). Unlike freshwater, more than 85% peat swamp forests are located in Southeast Asian region, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea (4).
How Swamp forest is formed
When water is retained from nearby river or by the rainfall, waterlogged soil is created, and accumulation of organic matters from leaves and wood occurs. In this, decomposition of the organic matters slows down due to the waterlogged soil, and it becomes acidic (Ph2.5- 4.5). The water color also changes into brownish black. After many years of this process, acidic peat layer is created and it becomes peat swamp forest. (7)
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The reason it occurs in tropical region
Generally tropical region is humid so the water is easily retained. Also, since trees in tropical region are bigger sizes compared to other regions, it provides more logs in the water and therefore creates more layer of acidic peat (10). Peat Swamp forest represents approximately 12% of the Southeast Asian area, which is more than 27 million hectares (7).
(7)Endemic, endangered animals/plants
The forested tropical peatlands of Southeast Asia
store at least 42,000 megatonnes of soil carbon, of which 35,000 megatonnes are
stored in Indonesian peatlands. And it serves critical role in preserving many
species.
Tropical peat
swamp forests are home to thousands of animals and plants, including many rare
and critically endangered species such as the orangutan and Sumatran Tiger (8).
Other endangered species include asian
elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, tigers, clouded leopards, and Malayan tapir (2).
Nearly unknown species such as the White-winged
Duck, Storm’s Stork, and False Gavial have small populations which are mainly
located in peat swamp forests (9).
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Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes)
Dipterocarp (Shoria Albida)
Endemic birds
Javan-White Eye (Zosterops flavus) classified as “Near Threatened” (11)
Hook-billed bulbul (Setornis criniger) classified as “Vulnerable” (10)
Uses by humans
The peat soils in Southeast Asia are not suitable for agricultural use and difficult to get into. While this has resulted in low population densities, the areas are still important to millions of people for the production of crops such as rattan, for fisheries, hunting and forestry. The world’s most precious timber resources – Meranti, Rahmin and Ironwood trees – are found in these ecosystems (9). Humans harvest peat and have been using it as a source of energy for over 2000 years. It was useful as an alternative to firewood for cooking and heating. Peat extraction is only one land use option for peatswamps and often competes with other land use alternatives such as agriculture or preservation (7).
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Peat swamp forests provide a variety of benefits in the form of forestry and fisheries products, energy, flood mitigation, water supply and groundwater recharge (3). Farmers also mix peat with soil to improve the soil’s structure and to increase acidity. Peat maintains moisture when the soil is dry and prevents the excess of water from killing roots when the soil is wet. Peat also stores nutrients (7).
Peat swamp forests provide a variety of benefits in the form of forestry and fisheries products, energy, flood mitigation, water supply and groundwater recharge (3). Farmers also mix peat with soil to improve the soil’s structure and to increase acidity. Peat maintains moisture when the soil is dry and prevents the excess of water from killing roots when the soil is wet. Peat also stores nutrients (7).
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Conservation Efforts and Human Effects on the Environment
The swamp forests located in South East Asia contain a multitude of species of plants and animals that are endemic to this region. This means it is an important biodiversity hotspot that must be taken care of seeing as all hotspots are regions undergoing major loss of habitat. Despite this, Southeast Asia has been known to have an extremely high rate of deforestation and could, if it continues at it’s current rate, result in a loss of three quarters of its original forests by the start of the 22nd century[5].
There are many reasons for the increase in deforestation that has resulted in many extinct and endangered species in Southeast Asia to this day however among the key reasons is, population growth, increased poverty, a shortage of resources for conservation as well as corrupt national institutions[5]. As a population grows it requires more resources and if this demand is not met through sustainable means then the environment will be effected. This is why population growth is considered one of the key factors inducing deforestation in Southeast Asia[5].
Through massive forest fires, exploitation of wildlife and the lack of public awareness Southeast Asian swamp forests have become increasingly smaller in scale and less diverse. Without effective conservation efforts many endemic species of plants and animals will become extinct and more will become endangered. Although there is a bleak outlook on the future, there are key actions that can take place that will aid in the conservation of these forests. Seeing as many reasons for the loss of diverse habitat cross international boundaries such as an increased demand for timber and agricultural land in order to feed a growing population, the efforts for conservation will have to involve international and multidisciplinary strategies. Some of the solutions would be to increase the awareness of the public about the current and ongoing destruction of habitat and allowing for governmentally funded incentive campaigns to increase the conservation efforts[6].There are other possibilities that can occur such as an increase in technology that would result in more efficient use of agricultural land (reduces amount of land that will be used in the future). Some other conservation recommendations for the future would include reforestation of regions with major losses in swamp forest habitat and the implementation of natural wildlife corridors that would increase natural reforestation[6].
Citations
1. BirdLife International. 2012. “Setornis criniger”, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T22713158A38162011. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22713158A38162011.en. Downloaded on 24 November 2015.
2. BirdLife International. 2012. “Zosterops flavus”, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T22714082A38231230. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22714082A38231230.en. Downloaded on 24 November 2015.
3. ENERGY USE OF PEAT” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Web. http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5872e/x5872e0b.html
4. Fund, W. “Peninsular Malaysian Peat Swamp Forest”, Encyclopedia of Earth: 2014. Web
5. Navjot S. Sodhi, Lian Pin Koh, Barry W. Brook, Peter K.L. Ng, Southeast Asian biodiversity: an impending disaster, Trends in Ecology & Evolution December 2004, Pages 654-660, (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534704002666)
6. Navjot S. Sodhi, Lian Pin Koh Conserving Southeast Asian forest biodiversity in human-modified landscapes, Biological Conservation Issue 10, October 2010, Pages 2375-2384, (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320709005370)
7. Nik, Abdul Rahim, “Malaysia Peat Swamp Forest”, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), April 2006.
8. “Peatlands”, Wetlands International, 2005. Web. http://www.wetlands.org/Whatarewetlands/Peatlands/tabid/2737/Default.aspx
9. “Tropical Peat Swamp Forest”, Wetlands International, 2005. Web.
10. “Sumatran Freshwater Swamp Forests”, World Wildlife Fund, Nov 2012. Web.
11. Yule, Catherine M, “Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Indo-Malayan peat swamp forests”, Springer Science+Business Media B.V, November 2008. Web.
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