Projects per year
Abstract
Indonesian peatlands and their large carbon stores are under threat from recurrent large-scale fires driven by anthropogenic ecosystem degradation. Although the key drivers of peatland fires are known, a holistic methodology for assessing the potential of fire mitigation strategies is lacking. Here, we use machine learning (convolutional neural network) to develop a model capable of recreating historic fire observations based on pre-fire season parameters. Using this model, we test multiple land management and peatland restoration scenarios and quantify the associated potential for fire reduction. We estimate that converting heavily degraded swamp shrubland areas to swamp forest or plantations can reduce fires occurrence by approximately 40% or 55%, respectively. Blocking all but major canals to restore these degraded areas to swamp forest may reduce fire occurrence by 70%. Our findings suggest that effective land management strategies can influence fire regimes and substantially reduce carbon emissions associated with peatland fires, in addition to enabling sustainable management of these important ecosystems.
Land management scenarios that restore degraded swamp shrubland areas to swamp forest through blocking minor canal systems could substantially reduce peatland fire occurrence and associated greenhouse gas emissions, according to a machine learning and numerical modelling study.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 204 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Communications Earth & Environment |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2022 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- RICE PROJECT AREA
- TROPICAL PEATLANDS
- CARBON BUDGET
- ALGORITHM
- MODEL
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Targeted land management strategies could halve peatland fire occurrences in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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SOS.aquaterra: Respecting safe operating spaces: opportunities to meet future food demand with sustainable use of water and land resources
Kummu, M. (Principal investigator), Porkka, M. (Project Member), Hounkpatin, K. (Project Member), Sandström, V. (Project Member), Chrisendo, D. (Project Member), Piipponen, J. (Project Member), Virkki, V. (Project Member), Niva, V. (Project Member), Chrysafi, A. (Project Member), Heikonen, S. (Project Member), Jalava, M. (Project Member), Kallio, M. (Project Member) & Niu, Q. (Project Member)
01/04/2019 → 28/02/2025
Project: EU: ERC grants
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Water and vulnerability in fragile societies
Kummu, M. (Principal investigator)
01/03/2018 → 28/02/2022
Project: Academy of Finland: Other research funding
Press/Media
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Machine learning model can evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies for wildfire prevention
09/09/2022 → 15/09/2022
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
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New AI system predicts how to prevent wildfires
09/09/2022 → 12/09/2022
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance