In Central Kalimantan lies Mawas, a vast expanse of peat swamp forest, home to one of the largest remaining populations of wild orangutans in the world. These unique ecosystems not only support incredible biodiversity but also play an essential role in climate regulation and environmental sustainability.
Peat swamp forests are a type of wetland habitat that occurs mostly in tropical locations. Layers of organic material, primarily dead and decaying plant matter, collect in waterlogged circumstances, generating peat. These peat layers can be several meters thick and store massive amounts of carbon that have been deposited over thousands of years.
Peat swamp forests are unlike any other ecosystem. Their high water table, acidic and nutrient-poor soils, and dense, tangled vegetation create a challenging yet uniquely rich environment. The forest floor is typically spongy, with deep peat layers that act like a massive natural sponge, absorbing and storing water.
Indonesia contains the largest tropical peatland area in the world, with over 13.4 million hectares (Wetlands International, 2023). Much of this lies in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. These make the country one of the most critical stewards of global peatland conservation.
Peat swamp forests are found throughout Southeast Asia, with Indonesia accounting for nearly half of the global tropical peatlands. In Central Kalimantan, the Mawas area, or ex-mega rice project, spans over the peat swamp forest. This region holds an estimated 2,500–3,000 wild orangutans. One of the highest population densities in any single forest area in Borneo. The complex structure of the forest allows orangutans to live with minimal human disturbance and makes this area the last stronghold for the wild population.
Peatlands store an estimated 57 gigatonnes of carbon in Southeast Asia alone (Page et al., 2011). Their preservation is crucial in the fight against climate change, as drained or burned peatlands release significant amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Indonesia’s peatlands are estimated to release up to 1.1 Gt CO₂ annually when degraded (Hooijer et al., 2010). Additionally, peat swamp forests regulate water flows, mitigate flooding, and filter groundwater, making them critical for both environmental health and human livelihoods.
Unfortunately, peat swamp forests are one of the most threatened ecosystems. The main causes include land conversion for plantations. Furthermore, issues such as illegal logging and habitat fragmentation often lead to disasters such as forest and land fires.
Between 2000 and 2020, Indonesia lost over 2.6 million hectares of peatland forest, much of it in Kalimantan (Global Forest Watch, 2023). The consequences are far-reaching: increased greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and irreversible damage to critical orangutan habitat. In Mawas itself, conservation efforts that have been carried out include rewetting canals or blocking to keep the water conditions in the area wet. These efforts are also accompanied by area patrols involving local communities in community development programs. These activities not only degrade peat soils but also fragment orangutan habitat, increasing conflict with humans and reducing reproductive success.
Peat swamp forests, with their depth of carbon, richness of biodiversity, and resilience against environmental stress, are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. As home to the critically endangered Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), these forests offer hope for the species’ future, if protected.
Protecting peatlands like those in Mawas means safeguarding both wildlife and the climate, preserving natural heritage, and empowering local communities. Let us not wait until these forests vanish beneath our feet before we recognize their worth.
References:
- Page, S.E. et al. (2011). “Global and regional importance of the tropical peatland carbon pool.” Global Change Biology.
- Hooijer, A. et al. (2010). “Current and future CO₂ emissions from drained peatlands in Southeast Asia.” Biogeosciences.
- Wetlands International (2023). “Tropical Peatlands and their Conservation.”
- Global Forest Watch (2023). “Tree Cover Loss in Indonesia.”
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