Scientific Workshop: Flooding projections from elevation and subsidence models for oil palm plantations in the Rajang Delta peatlands, Sarawak, Malaysia

Date: 08^th June 2015

Venue: Corus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Peat swamp forests in Malaysia hosts commercially important tree species and play a critical role in climate regulation (carbon store and sink), biodiversity protection and water supply/storage. They also provide diverse goods and services which support local livelihoods. Yet, these valuable forests are diminishing exponentially. Drainage of peatlands for agriculture inevitably leads to carbon loss and subsidence. The  recognition of consequence of peatland subsidence after drainage, and the underlying process of peat oxidation and carbon loss, is however still lacking amongst scientific community and policy makers.

In order to deliver a broader understanding of the impacts of drainage-based agriculture development on peatland and future flooding in oil palm plantations, Wetlands International Malaysia has organised a Scientific Workshop under the Sustainable Peatland for People and Climate (SPPC)  project. Apart from that, flooding projection and subsidence modelling is well illustrated in a short video clip

Presentation slides from the following speakers are available here:

1.  Bas Tinhout — Sustainable Peatlands for People and Climate

2.  Dr. Aljosja Hooijer — Peatland subsidence _ sustainability

3.  Dr. Alexender Sayok — Flooding Investigation

The full report of the study was commissioned by Wetlands International and implemented by Deltares is available here.