Category FAQs Search : Ecosystem
Question: The importance of peat to rural communities.
Answer: Due to the sheer size of Indonesia’s peatlands, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people live in or adjacent to peat areas. Many of them depend on peat for their livelihood, working in industries such as fishing and aquaculture, agriculture (peat is famous for growing sweet pineapples), collection and utilisation of non-timber forest products such as the sap from the Jelutung tree. However, as the use of peatlands is getting more restrictive, due to increased awareness of its environmental importance, alternate sources of livelihood need to be provided and education is needed to allow peat-based communities to continue economic development. For example, it is crucial that communities around peat areas are involved in water management, so they can prevent drought during the dry season and floods during the rainy season.
(Source: Golden Agribusiness and Food, 18 Feb 2021)
Source Link: https://goldenagri.com.sg/the-importance-of-peatland-sustaining-our-environment-and-improving-livelihoods/