Date: 6-7th February 2004

Venue: Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Background

Peatlands support a very high diversity of flora and fauna species, many of which are unique to this ecosystem. Peatlands also play a key role in moderating global climate and also support livelihood options for many local communities by providing food, water supply and non-timber products. However, with the increasing pressure for land development, reclamation, agriculture cultivation, mining, as well as unsustainable logging or agriculture this unique ecosystem is fast depleting. The rapid degradation of peatlands not only contributes to the loss of habitat for biodiversity, but also increased the emission of carbon through burning or subsidence.

The importance of peatlands has been increasingly recognized in global and national fora – but there is still a lack of available information on the best strategies for integrated management as well as sound techniques for rehabilitation of degraded peatlands.

The Workshop

The Workshop on Integrated Management and Rehabilitation of peatlands was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-7 February 2004. The workshop was jointly organized by the Global Environment Centre and Wetlands International with support from UNEP/GEF, UNDP-GEF, DANIDA and CIDA-CCFPI. The workshop was part of the UNEP-GEF Funded project on Integrated Management of Peatlands for Biodiversity and Climate Change. It was held immediately prior to the COP7 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and In Conjunction with the meeting of the Global Biodiversity Forum. It was intended to provide a platform to share experiences and lessons learned in relation to rehabilitation of peatlands and development of strategies and action plans for integrated management – as well as feeding into the work of related conventions, such as the CBD, Ramsar Convention and UNFCCC as well as give guidance to countries and other agencies.

It was attended by more than 100 technical experts and representatives from a broad range of government agencies from 14 countries around the world. A total of 25 papers were presented in this two days workshop. It was officially opened by the Deputy Director General of the Forestry Department, Peninsular Malaysia, Y. Bhg. Dato Shaharuddin bin Mohd Ismail. This workshop examined two main themes, namely ‘Integrated Management and Policy’ and ‘Rehabilitation and Restoration of Peatlands’. Two Working Groups on 6th and 7th of February reviewed, in detail, issues related to the themes mentioned and prepared a broad range of recommendations which were presented at the panel discussions.

Download the Workshop Background and Programme!

The Presentations are available for download below.

PAPER PRESENTATIONS:

Day 1: February 6, 2004

SESSION I: Overview of Peatland Integrated Management and Rehabilitation
Chairperson: Abdul Rahim Nik

Overview on Peatland, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faizal Parish
Peatland Restoration in Central Europe: From Economic Necessity to Economic Opportunity, Hans Joosten
Starting Points in Peatland Restoration – the European Perspective, Stuart Brooks
ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative and Strategy, Adelina Kamal/Chee Tong Yiew
Recent Experiences in Peatland Rehabilitation in Indonesia, Nyoman Suryadiputra

SESSION 2

Theme A. Integrated Management and Policy
Chairperson: Lars Wolleson

Key Considerations in the Management of South-East Pahang Peat Swamp Forests, Murugadas/ Khali Aziz Hamzah
Challenges of Peatland Rehabilitation in Malaysia, Shamsudin Ibrahim
Best Practices and Water Management in Peatland Tree Plantations on Peat, Eliezer Lorenzo
Tropical Peat Accumulation and Decay in Relation to Management, Michael Brady
Integrated Management of the Air Hitam Laut Peatland Basin, Indonesia, Ingrid Gevers

Theme B. Rehabilitation and Restoration
Chairperson: Stuart Brooks

Canada’s Experience in Peat Rehabilitation, Francois Quinty
Russian Rehabilitation Experience, Andrej Sirin
Peatland Management in Rouergai Marshes, China, Zhang Xiao Hong/Chen Ke Lin
Estonian Experience in Peat Rehabilitation, Andres Kimmel
Rehabilitation of Cut-Over Peat in Western Russia, Vladimir Panov

Day 2: February 7, 2004

SESSION 3

Theme A. Integrated Management and Policy
Chairperson: Hon. James Dawos Mamit

Strategy and Action Plan for Central Eastern Europe Peatlands, Marcel Silvius
Policies and Strategies for Peat Management and Fire Prevention in the ASEAN Region, Liana Bratasida
Russian Peatland Policy, Tatiana Minaeva
Thai Guidelines for Wetland Rehabilitation, Nirawan Pipitsombat
STRAPEAT Project, Adi Jaya

Theme B. Rehabilitation and Restoration
Chairperson: Nyoman Suryadiputra

Vietnam’s Experience in Peatland Rehabilitation, Thai Thanh Luom
Guideline for Rehabilitation of Peat Swamp Forest in Thailand, Tanit Nuyim
Integrated Water Management in Peat Swamp Forest, Tony Greer
Rehabilitation Programme in the Ex-Burnt Peat Swamp Forest Area Inside the Berbak National Park, Jambi, Iwan Tri Cahyo Wibisono
Rehabilitation of Logged Over PSF in Peninsular Malaysia, Ismail Parlan