Taking New Tropical Peat Fire Evaluation Methods Nation-wide In Indonesia

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1 Taking New Tropical Peat Fire Evaluation Methods Nation-wide In Indonesia Laura Graham, Grahame Applegate, Andri Thomas, Erianto Indra Putra, Kevin Ryan and Mark Cochrane part of the NASA-funded SDSU-IPB Peat Fire Research Project

GHG emissions from peat fires and limitations in monitoring methodologies Each year thousands of hectares of peatland burn in Indonesia emitting tonnes of greenhouse

Emission calculations for tropical peat in relation to fire are based upon limited field peat fire behaviour and related carbon loss data, as noted in IPCC.

2 GHG emissions from peat fires and limitations in monitoring methodologies Each year thousands of hectares of peatland burn in Indonesia emitting tonnes of greenhouse gasses, particulates, and aerosols. Current estimates calculate up to 114 t C ha -1 released. Emission calculations for tropical peat in relation to fire are based upon limited field peat fire behaviour and related carbon loss data, as noted in IPCC. Methodology and data on tropical peat fires behaviour and emissions must be improved for Indonesia to participate fully in carbon accountancy, to manage their peatlands, and to prevent and control peat fires. Photo: Photo: outrop.co.uk

SDSU-IPB Peat Fire Research Project A joint Indonesian-US project, the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) Peat Fire Research Project was established, funded by

An integral component to this project is the field-based collection of biophysical data relating to peat fires Phase I (2014-2016): To develop appropriate and transferable methods for

3 SDSU-IPB Peat Fire Research Project A joint Indonesian-US project, the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) Peat Fire Research Project was established, funded by NASA. How and why peatland surface fires transition to smouldering peat fires, and how these events might be recognised and characterised by satellite. An integral component to this project is the field-based collection of biophysical data relating to peat fires Phase I ( ): To develop appropriate and transferable methods for collecting peat fire data and to facilitate improved emissions calculations that could be used at this focal site and elsewhere. Phase II ( ): Trial these methods at a national scale across four provinces, and collect nation-wide data

4 The Phase I core study site Melanjut

Methodology development The project began activities in the BOS- Mawas area in June 2014.

season develop methods for and conduct fire scene evaluations including peat fire behaviour components This paper presents methods developed,

5 Methodology development The project began activities in the BOS- Mawas area in June Field activities include fuel, hydrology and vegetation monitoring and investigating fire-related human actions (not presented) During the dry season develop methods for and conduct fire scene evaluations including peat fire behaviour components This paper presents methods developed, initial data from the fire seasons (August-November), and introduces the new, additional studysites in which data will be collected, and the amalgamated at a national-scale during Phase II

Fire reporting and selection Two fire reporting techniques: Daily email updates from NASA s Aqua and Terra satellites, and NOAA, reporting hotspots in the Mawas area.

6 Fire reporting and selection Two fire reporting techniques: Daily updates from NASA s Aqua and Terra satellites, and NOAA, reporting hotspots in the Mawas area. BOS-Mawas Patrol team and the local communities sms and telephone to report fires. If multiple fire locations are reported, the team prioritises Fires where peat is burning deep peat locations, locations that have recorded three or fewer previous burns, locations that represent different environmental conditions as compared to those previously evaluated

Fire Scene Evaluation A 65-question fire scene evaluation (FSE) form has been developed.

descriptions and explanations for each question to ensure answers are comparable between sites

The form requires each question given a confidence rating and photo documentation for future

7 Fire Scene Evaluation A 65-question fire scene evaluation (FSE) form has been developed. A (soon) published FSE field manual has been developed which provides field worksheets and descriptions and explanations for each question to ensure answers are comparable between sites and fires. The form requires each question given a confidence rating and photo documentation for future crosschecking by experts The FSE form consists of two parts. - Part I general environmental and fire datacollection. - Part II which is more-detailed and includes peat and peat-fire questions.

8 Fire Scene Evaluation Part Section Type of data collected I Fire identification Dates and unique fire code Fire control Authorities involved Fire information & location Maps, access routes, fire reporting, ignition point GPS, source and cause, start/end dates, land tenure, land use Weather Wind speed, direction, relative humidity, temperature conditions Surface fire - Height of burn, scorch height, depth of surface fuel burnt, vegetation type intensity Peat fire Peat burn depth, estimate of area burnt, water table depth, fuel load Fire damage info Area burned, infrastructure, vehicles, houses, animals, crops lost or damaged Fire sketch Detailed sketch of area, fire, land tenure, recoded data points etc. II Fire identification Dates and unique fire code Peat fire Peat ignition point, source, description, weather, moisture content, depth. Fuel size, availability, ignition potential Fuel Fine, medium, heavy fuel load triangles, fuel descriptions Assessing the burned area Vegetation type and loss, fuel type and loss, evidence of fuel blackening, charring, scoring, peat decomposition stage, signs of previous burns Human action observations Human nearby land-use, human use of weather or other biophysical features to start, spread or modify the fire

Fuel loads and water table depth At an unburned area

the direction of fire, the surface fuel is assessed

diameter of each fuel item (dead trunks, roots,

) that intersects the line is measured at the point

Fuel Type Diameter Triangle transect length Fine >7.

9 Fuel loads and water table depth At an unburned area adjacent to where the peat has burned, and ahead of the direction of fire, the surface fuel is assessed The Line Intersect Method (triangular transect): The diameter of each fuel item (dead trunks, roots, branches, etc.) that intersects the line is measured at the point where it bisects the line. Fuel Type Diameter Triangle transect length Fine >7.5 cm 1 x 1 m (dry weight) x 3 replicates Medium cm 30 m Heavy < 2.5 cm 90 m Two dipwells inserted 10 m behind and 10 m in-front of the peat-fire interface. The water table depth is measured the next day using the blow-straw method.

The peat moisture content at the peatfire interface At the peat fire interface a section of peat is dug away, perpendicular to the interface, approx.

Half way down, and parallel to the fire interface, peat samples are cored into the excavated wall, at 5, 10, 15, 25 cm horizontally, and every 10 cm

10 The peat moisture content at the peatfire interface At the peat fire interface a section of peat is dug away, perpendicular to the interface, approx. 50 x 50 cm in area. Half way down, and parallel to the fire interface, peat samples are cored into the excavated wall, at 5, 10, 15, 25 cm horizontally, and every 10 cm additionally, away from the interface, until the peat is cool to touch. Samples are then taken at 5, 10, 15, 25 cm vertically down, until the peat is again cool. These peat samples are weighed, dried to a constant weight, then weighed again in a lab. The percentage moisture content is then calculated.

40 cm between each rod. This layout is repeated at three positions around the edge of the peat fire.

11 The rate of peat fire spread At the point of smouldering peat, five uniquely numbered metal rods are inserted into the burning face of the peat. Each rod has a line etched into it, and each rod is inserted into the peat until the etch point is at the height of the peat surface, with approx. 40 cm between each rod. This layout is repeated at three positions around the edge of the peat fire. After 24 hours, the rods are re-measured with the depth of burn and the horizontal distance and direction to the closest point on the peat-burn face recorded. Data can be collected over several days.

At every intersection the distance to the unburnt peat surface is measured, creating an x, y, z measurement.

12 Volume of peat lost from the burn A 160 cm square is strung with cords to form a 20 cm x 20 cm grid creating a square matrix with 81 intercept points. Set-up in the field horizontally, at 1 m above surface, in the direction of movement of the fire and ahead of the peat-fire interface. At every intersection the distance to the unburnt peat surface is measured, creating an x, y, z measurement. Four metal rods are inserted into the peat to mark the location, with etches on the rods to mark the position of the peat surface. This is repeated at three positions. After the fire has passed through the peat (several days), squares are re-established and x, y, z re-measured, taking into account the new peat surface, allowing change in peat surface volume to be calculated.

13 To support field activities and facilitate field decision making, a field activity flow diagram has been developed which is part of the FSE manual FSE Field activities

14 FSE Field activitie

15 FSE Field activities

FSEs conducted Phase I of study (2014-2016) 35 FSE were measured across 8 different village districts.

Range of forest and degradation types - land being prepared for palm oil development - rubber forest land - reforested

16 FSEs conducted Phase I of study ( ) 35 FSE were measured across 8 different village districts. Eighteen peat fires, all fuel volume measured. Range of forest and degradation types - land being prepared for palm oil development - rubber forest land - reforested land - land used for hunting and fishing - Land being prepared for agriculture - fires that spread into primary forest for the first time. Fires ranged from 0.5 to 200 ha in size on peat depths ranging from 0.5 to 8 m.

IPB (National Coordinator) - BOSF - University of Palangka Raya (UPR), University of Riau (UR), WARSI,

17 Phase II: National scale - Four provinces, four field research sites - Riau, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, West Papua - Research partners: - SDSU and University of Montana (UMT), Applied GeoSolutions (AGS), US - IPB (National Coordinator) - BOSF - University of Palangka Raya (UPR), University of Riau (UR), WARSI, Papua University (UNIPA) - BRG, LAPAN, Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control - MOEF (DFLFC) UPR DFLFC

18 Data management A custom-designed Access database with user-interface and analysis capabilities has been developed for the project. All peat-fire and FSE data (and vegetation and hydrology data) is housed within the database Facilitates export queries based on all combinations of the environmental data, for both time and space.

Application of results Methods and data improve understanding and calculation of tropical peatland fire behaviour.

the generation of emission factors and emissions models for burning peatland landscapes, and to other projects and

These methods can now be applied elsewhere, providing a SOP for monitoring tropical peat fire on the ground.

19 Application of results Methods and data improve understanding and calculation of tropical peatland fire behaviour. These data can then be coupled to other components of this project, such as, the smoke analysis of burning peat, the generation of emission factors and emissions models for burning peatland landscapes, and to other projects and data-sets, such as providing calibration and verification tools for remotely-sensed peat volume loss techniques. These methods can now be applied elsewhere, providing a SOP for monitoring tropical peat fire on the ground. The new ACIAR-GoI tropical peatlands research project will adopt and apply these methods across two additional districts.

20 Terima kasih! We thank the Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia, in close cooperation with the Kapuas District Government and the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government We thank the BOSF field team from who have undertaken most of the data collection Pavla Graham who developed the Access database, and graphic designs for the project The research was funded by NASA

PEATLAND RESTORATION in Indonesia

PEATLAND RESTORATION in Indonesia Dr. Myrna A. Safitri Deputy of Education, Socialization, Participation and Partnership Presentation at Japan Pavilion of COP 22, Marrakech November 11, 2016 Indonesian