Peatlands Function Change Threatens Water Supply in the Future of Riau

Associated with changes in function of the area in Kampar Peninsula peat into industrial forest plantations, trillions of liters of water supplies in the region of Riau peatlands are threatened.
Agency staff of natural resource conservation Tale, also a lecturer in the Faculty of Forestry Unilak, Jonotoro to Riauterkini Saturday (28/11/09) states that the trillions of liters of water supplies threatened Riau. This was related to the opening of peat in Kampar Peninsula area due to the change from forest to industrial forest plantations.

Jonotoro said, especially peat peat nature of young, able to store enough water. That is as many as 88.6 million liters per hectare with a thickness of 1 meter. If converted to an area of 1000 hectares of course, has more than 88 billion liters contained in peatlands.

"If it does not leak, that peat can store water during rainy season. Conversely, if the wet season, peat will be able to mensulply water in the surrounding area. Ability would be ruined if the peat is leaking or function changes. In such channels," Jonotoro light.

Not only that, added Jonotoro, if peat converted into plantation areas, certain to be canalization of 'waste' water from peatlands. Disposal poured into the river or tributary. Detrimental impact fisherman fish finder.

"Impact of peat drainage water to the river is the river water pH will increase. This condition will make the fish can not survive and had to migrate. Only certain fish could survive. Fish migration that will affect the lives of fishermen who depend their lives on the river. The latter is of sedimentation (pendangkalan river). Because waste water will carry particles peat peat and sediment into the river, causing pendangkalan, "he explained.

If peat is damaged, then the peat was not able to perform its function. If the rains are no longer able to retain and absorb water. The impact of flooding. If the rainy season, because it does not store water, the peat fires that affect vulnerable to smog.

With the occurrence of peat fires in the region, considerable losses. Since the occurrence of fire, the peat will release carbon large enough. Which is about 400 mg permeter hour. "Carbon is already out, it took 350 years for neutralizing," he said