Conversion of Peatlands to Oil Palm Cultivation: Balancing Smallholder’s Economic Benefits Versus Environmental Sustainability
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Abstract
Peatlands are valuable for ecosystem services such as flood protection, water quality enhancement, food chain support, fresh water fisheries, feeding for marine fish and carbon sequestration. However, the shortage of fertile soil for oil palm cultivation in Malaysia especially in Sarawak pushing to convert them into productive agricultural land mainly for oil palm plantation. Previous research shows that some particular peatland areas are proved very suitable for oil palm cultivation. Therefore, the development of the peatland for oil palm has expected contributed significantly to the poverty eradication and enhancement of rural livelihoods. This study will analyze the economic and environmental sustainability with the aim to identify the smallholder’s economic benefits and environmental healthy ecosystem in peatland palm oil cultivation.
Data from independent oil palm smallholders will be collected through field surveys. The survey questionnaires were designed and adapted from standard instruments and will be pre-tested. Researchers and trained local numerators will collect the data through face-to-face interviews. This study involved three main variables: oil palm productivity, good agriculture practices (GAP) and peat land’s ecosystem health and services. The targeted sample size is 400 independent smallholders who are planted oil palm in peatland area in Matu and Daro District. The measurements ecosystem health and services consist of soil pH, plant growth rate and air quality will be done using scientific instrumental (soil pH meter, gas detector) and bio indicators (lichen and earthworm). With this study we provide a) comprehensive and integrated assessment guidelines on economic benefits of oil palm smallholders and healthy status of the peatland ecosystem b) mitigation and conservation plan for peatlands ecosystems with sustainable forms of oil palm cultivation.
Project Leader
