FLUVIAL ORGANIC CARBON LOSSES FROM OIL PALM PLANTATIONS ON TROPICAL PEAT, SARAWAK, SOUTHEAST ASIA

摘要

The conversion of tropical peatlands into oil palm plantations can result in significant perturbations to the terrestrial carbon cycle. However, dependable estimates of gaseous and fluvial carbon losses from oil palm plantations are few (Evans et ah, 2014). Here, we present preliminary data that quantify the effect of establishing oil palm plantations on tropical peat fluvial organic carbon losses. The study focuses on two oil palm estates in Sarawak, Malaysia and nearby stands of peat swamp forest. Concentrations of dissolved and particulate organic carbon in the water draining these areas is being monitored at weekly to bi-monthly intervals, allowing a comparison between these two land covers.