KUCHING, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- With the advent of scientific, technological innovations and good management practices, it is possible to develop problematic peatlands to bring about major economic crops such as oil palm, sago and other cash crops.

Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) controller of environment quality, Peter Sawal said in recognising the significant roles of peatlands for biodiversity conservation, storage of organic carbon and balancing emission of greenhouse gas, Sarawak undertook proactive and integrated approach in peatland ecosystems to prevent their irreversible degradation.

He said environmental elements incorporated in the state's development policies, enhanced institutional capacity to enforce environmental regulations and collaboration in scientific peat research, helping to ensure that peat resources were sustainably managed.

Sawal said this when presenting a paper written by him and Tsai Koh Fen of the NREB entitled, 'Managing Peatland-Regulation Controlled Open Burning in Sarawak' at the 15th International Peat Congress 2016 here today.

He said Sarawak adopted the Canadian Fire Danger Rating System to manage biomass disposal in plantation development, including peatland development, through a controlled open burning permit system.

"This system has been effective in controlling haze pollution from local sources, as the open burning permit will only be issued during favourable weather conditions."

Sawal said the state government had earmarked oil palm as one of the main agricultural crops for socio-economic transformation of its rural population and to achieve the state's vision of a developed state and high income economy by 2030.

He said the state was targeting to develop two million hectares of oil palm plantation by 2020 and to date, more than 1.3 million hectares had been planted, including about 400,000 hectares of peatlands.

"The development of peatlands as the new growth frontier provides the impetus for much needed infrastructure and amenity development such as roads, telecommunications and water supply for rural communities.

"Many native customary right land (NCR) owners are taking the opportunity of market access in developing their once-idle and marginal NCR lands, including peatlands, with oil palm to enhance their socio-economic status," he said.

To date, Sawal said, the state had set aside about 105,563ha of peat swamp forests as Totally Protected Areas (TPA) under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance (1997), and other peatlands having high biodiversity conservation values would also be gazetted as TPA in the near future.

The remaining peatlands, especially state land and NCR have been identified for economic development to enhance the living standard of present and future generations.

He pointed out that although peatlands were once considered marginal and problematic soil, good management practices had not only increased crop productivity but also reduced potential environmental problem associated with peat development.

"The recently established Tropical Peat Research Laboratory Unit of the Sarawak Government is testimony of the state's endeavour to protect and manage its peat resources through holistic research on peat dynamics and potential for lasting benefit to Sarawak, as well as global communities," he added.

-- BERNAMA