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Ignitions for peat fires in Indonesia: A critical look

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Fires in the peatlands of Kalimantan and Sumatra in Indonesia are significant sources of greenhouse gases (GHG). Ignitions for these fires are widely regarded as occurring because of land clearing associated with palm oil and timber production and smallholder agriculture. The scale of peat forest degradation has led to intra- and inter-governmental, academic, and NGO efforts to monitor, document and reduce GHG emissions. Laws and policies are emerging as a result of these efforts. However, naming broad economic reasons for fire use in peatlands is inadequate for formulating land management policies and for implementing programs to reduce GHG emissions from peatlands. A more detailed understanding of the biophysical conditions and human activities associated with peatland fires is needed.

Parent Publication

Keywords

wildland fire, prescribed fire, planning, response, recovery, wildland urban interface, disturbance, ecology, behavior, diversity, fire effects, fuels and fuels management, air quality, smoke management

Citation

Ryan, Kevin C.; Vayda, Andrew P.; Jessup, Timothy C.; Cochrane, Mark A. 2020. Ignitions for peat fires in Indonesia: A critical look. In: Hood, Sharon M.; Drury, Stacy; Steelman, Toddi; Steffens, Ron, [eds.]. Proceedings of the Fire Continuum-Preparing for the future of wildland fire; 2018 May 21-24; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-78. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 325-328.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/63237