Page 10 - Tropical Peat Swamp Forests of Sarawak FA
P. 10
domes or as an extensive central area where Source of natural products
BOX I. Extent of the world’s tropical development has not proceeded to later stages. Peat swamp forests provide a large number
Phasic Community 5 occurs locally. Phasic Com-
of valuable timber species, including ramin
peatlands munity 6 is the inal known phase in raised-bog (Gonystylus spp.)and meranti (Shorea spp.). Peat
development with variable peat thickness that
swamp forests also provide a large variety of
The tropical peat swamps of the world cover may exceed 20 m. non-timber forest products, such as latex, edible
30-40 million hectares; this is about 10-12 fruits, edible palm shoots, medicines, bark, and
% of the world’s total area of peatlands. Peat swamp forests are often regarded as being lowers. Numerous medical plants (climbers,
Most of the tropical peatlands are found in relatively low in biodiversity, compared to other herbs, ferns, shrubs and trees) can be found in
peat swamp forest, and these have contributed
tropical rainforest types. However, most of the
Southeast Asia (±26 Mha). Small areas occur tree families of lowland dipterocarp rainfor- signiicantly to the wellbeing of local commu-
in tropical Africa, tropical South and Central est can also be found in peat swamp forests. nities. Nowadays not only local populations
America, and locally in the state of Florida. There are few endemic species, probably due search for forest products, but also urban people
Of the Asian peat swamp forests, 82% are to the fact that most peat swamp forests grow seek ornamental plants, like orchids, wild yams
found in Indonesia, mostly in Sumatra and on peat domes less than 10,000 years old. Still, and other creepers, for decoration, or as orna-
Kalimantan, 8.8% in Papua New Guinea, and many plant species have their stronghold in mental garden species.
peat swamp forest. The aquatic habitats in peat
8.3% in Malaysia. Smaller areas occur in the swamp forests hold a great diversity in ish spe-
Phillipines (240,000 ha), Vietnam (183,000), cies. “Peat swamp forests provide
and Thailand (68,000 ha). All the igures
mentioned here represent maximum areas, Although throughout Southeast Asia much peat a large number of valuable
as vast tracts of peat swamp forest have been swamp forest has been lost to logging, conver- timber species, including
subjected to clearing, drainage, and conver- sion, and ire, it remains the dominant habitat Un-disturbed peat swamp forest canopy in
for the rare False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegelii),
sion throughout the region, especially during which is found only in Sumatra, Borneo, and Maludam National Park area, Sarawak, Malaysia. ramin and meranti.”
the past three decades. Peninsular Malaysia. It is also the preferred hab-
itat for the rare Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi),
the Bornean orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus), and Water bodies in peat swamp areas provide vari-
Phasic Community 1 is the initial phase of the the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). The Values of peat swamp forests ous edible ish species, as well as the sought af-
primary peat swamp forest and occurs as a peat swamp forest of Maludam National Park Apart from direct economic beneits from ex- ter giant freshwater prawn. For local Iban com-
more or less extensive, often narrow zone on the in Sarawak holds the world’s only population ploitation, peat swamp forests also have many munities, peat swamp forests traditionally form
perimeter of peat swamps. ramin (Gonystylus of the globally threatened red banded langur other values for a variety of sectors. Although an important hunting ground for bushmeat.
bancanus) is very common in this community. (Presbytis melalophos cruciger). many of these values are hidden and not easily
Phasic Community 2, on more steeply-rising old recognised, degradation of peat swamp forests
peat domes, occupies a usually rather narrow following exploitation for short term economic
zone between P.C.s 1 and 3. alan bunga (Shorea beneits, in the long term may have severe nega-
albida) is the most common tree species in this tive social and economic impacts. Some of the
community. Phasic Community 3 covers exten- long term beneits and values of peat swamp
sive areas, especially in Brunei and Northern forests are listed below.
Sarawak. Phasic Community 4 is transitional be-
tween P.C.s 3 and 5, as a narrow zone on old peat
“Peat swamp forests
Section through a have many values
deltaic peat swamp
with the complete for a variety
series of Phasic
Communities and of sectors.”
the corresponding
peat dome (After
Bruenig 1990). A monotypic plant genus Hosea lobbiana (C.B.
Clarke) Ridl. endemic to the peat swamp forests of
Borneo.
10
10 11 11
BOX I. Extent of the world’s tropical development has not proceeded to later stages. Peat swamp forests provide a large number
Phasic Community 5 occurs locally. Phasic Com-
of valuable timber species, including ramin
peatlands munity 6 is the inal known phase in raised-bog (Gonystylus spp.)and meranti (Shorea spp.). Peat
development with variable peat thickness that
swamp forests also provide a large variety of
The tropical peat swamps of the world cover may exceed 20 m. non-timber forest products, such as latex, edible
30-40 million hectares; this is about 10-12 fruits, edible palm shoots, medicines, bark, and
% of the world’s total area of peatlands. Peat swamp forests are often regarded as being lowers. Numerous medical plants (climbers,
Most of the tropical peatlands are found in relatively low in biodiversity, compared to other herbs, ferns, shrubs and trees) can be found in
peat swamp forest, and these have contributed
tropical rainforest types. However, most of the
Southeast Asia (±26 Mha). Small areas occur tree families of lowland dipterocarp rainfor- signiicantly to the wellbeing of local commu-
in tropical Africa, tropical South and Central est can also be found in peat swamp forests. nities. Nowadays not only local populations
America, and locally in the state of Florida. There are few endemic species, probably due search for forest products, but also urban people
Of the Asian peat swamp forests, 82% are to the fact that most peat swamp forests grow seek ornamental plants, like orchids, wild yams
found in Indonesia, mostly in Sumatra and on peat domes less than 10,000 years old. Still, and other creepers, for decoration, or as orna-
Kalimantan, 8.8% in Papua New Guinea, and many plant species have their stronghold in mental garden species.
peat swamp forest. The aquatic habitats in peat
8.3% in Malaysia. Smaller areas occur in the swamp forests hold a great diversity in ish spe-
Phillipines (240,000 ha), Vietnam (183,000), cies. “Peat swamp forests provide
and Thailand (68,000 ha). All the igures
mentioned here represent maximum areas, Although throughout Southeast Asia much peat a large number of valuable
as vast tracts of peat swamp forest have been swamp forest has been lost to logging, conver- timber species, including
subjected to clearing, drainage, and conver- sion, and ire, it remains the dominant habitat Un-disturbed peat swamp forest canopy in
for the rare False Gavial (Tomistoma schlegelii),
sion throughout the region, especially during which is found only in Sumatra, Borneo, and Maludam National Park area, Sarawak, Malaysia. ramin and meranti.”
the past three decades. Peninsular Malaysia. It is also the preferred hab-
itat for the rare Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi),
the Bornean orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus), and Water bodies in peat swamp areas provide vari-
Phasic Community 1 is the initial phase of the the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). The Values of peat swamp forests ous edible ish species, as well as the sought af-
primary peat swamp forest and occurs as a peat swamp forest of Maludam National Park Apart from direct economic beneits from ex- ter giant freshwater prawn. For local Iban com-
more or less extensive, often narrow zone on the in Sarawak holds the world’s only population ploitation, peat swamp forests also have many munities, peat swamp forests traditionally form
perimeter of peat swamps. ramin (Gonystylus of the globally threatened red banded langur other values for a variety of sectors. Although an important hunting ground for bushmeat.
bancanus) is very common in this community. (Presbytis melalophos cruciger). many of these values are hidden and not easily
Phasic Community 2, on more steeply-rising old recognised, degradation of peat swamp forests
peat domes, occupies a usually rather narrow following exploitation for short term economic
zone between P.C.s 1 and 3. alan bunga (Shorea beneits, in the long term may have severe nega-
albida) is the most common tree species in this tive social and economic impacts. Some of the
community. Phasic Community 3 covers exten- long term beneits and values of peat swamp
sive areas, especially in Brunei and Northern forests are listed below.
Sarawak. Phasic Community 4 is transitional be-
tween P.C.s 3 and 5, as a narrow zone on old peat
“Peat swamp forests
Section through a have many values
deltaic peat swamp
with the complete for a variety
series of Phasic
Communities and of sectors.”
the corresponding
peat dome (After
Bruenig 1990). A monotypic plant genus Hosea lobbiana (C.B.
Clarke) Ridl. endemic to the peat swamp forests of
Borneo.
10
10 11 11
