NEW EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF PEATLANDS IN THE HUMID TROPICS: THE PEATWISE PROJECT

摘要

About one quarter of the world's tropical peatlands (11 million hectares) occur in Borneo. These peatlands have global ecological significance, being some of the largest remaining areas of lowland rainforest in SE Asia that provide the habitat of many endangered species. In addition, they are large stores of carbon and water and also have an important regional economic role, providing forest products and land for settlement and agricultural development. Owing to a lack of awareness and understanding about sustainable land management practices, however, many peatland development projects fail, resulting in serious environmental degradation and impoverishment of local communities. The PEATWISE project addresses issues of sustainable land management, with particular reference to tropical peatlands, through the development of new university curricula by a multilateral network of South East Asian and European universities. Using innovative educational tools, it will produce and make available course materials and training modules that incorporate up-to-date research results and advice on the wise use of natural resources, thus improving academic provision, enhancing skills and expertise, contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources and improving socio-economic conditions across the peat-covered lowlands of Borneo. In this presentation a description is given how the PeatWise partners cooperate to develop and introduce training modules that fit within their own curricula within the three-year PeatWise project.