Agroforestry on peatlands: combining productive and protective functions as part of restoration

Agroforestry on peatlands: combining productive and protective functions as part of restoration. Agroforestry, a contraction of the terms agriculture and forestry, is land use that combines aspects of both, including the agricultural use of trees.

The ASEAN countries, in particular Indonesia and Malaysia, are home to the world’s largest tropical peat stocks and have suffered the brunt of the conversion from natural forest cover to ‘fastwood’ (trees grown for pulp and paper), oil-palm plantations and other agricultural use. In order to control the use of fire and to avoid the deep drainage that is responsible for degradation, government commitments need to go beyond good intentions alone. Land-use solutions are needed that provide local livelihoods while keeping the peat profiles wet. Fortunately, certain forms of agroforest offer solutions and can be promoted more widely.