So, when peatland areas are damaged, there are land degradation activities, causing the peat to lose its natural function to absorb water
Jakarta (ANTARA) - There is a connection between peatland damage, which causes such lands to lose their function of absorbing and storing water, and potential hydro-meteorological disasters, such as flooding, according to a peatland monitoring researcher, Agiel Prakoso.

"It can be said that the answer is yes, because as we know that existing activities in peatland areas are quite massive," Agiel said during a virtual discussion held by Pantau Gambut, an independent peatland monitoring initiative, on Tuesday.

The use of peatland areas without taking into account sustainability issues, such as draining the land, which makes the peat ecosystem lose its wetness, has been going on for a long time, he noted.

In response to the damage inflicted on peatlands, the importance of massive restoration measures has been echoed in recent times, Agiel said.

However, unsustainable utilization practices over the long term have degraded the ecosystem and reduced peatland function, he added.

"It has also experienced a reduction in its function, namely absorbing a large amount of water," he noted.

Peatlands have the ability to absorb and store a lot of water, Agiel pointed out.

"So, when peatland areas are damaged, there are land degradation activities, causing the peat to lose its natural function to absorb water," he said.

One way to prevent peatland degradation is implementing paludiculture, which refers to the cultivation of plants native to peat swamps on wet or wetted peatlands without drainage, he added.

The plants selected are also native to peat ecosystems and have economic value for non-timber use, he explained.

These plants include purun (Lepironia articulata), water spinach, bitter melon, agarwood, and eucalyptus, he added.

"With this paludiculture, we try to carry out activities or cultivation paying attention to the principles of sustainable peat," said Agiel.

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Translator: Prisca TV, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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