Beje, Aquaculture and Inland Fishery in Tropical Peatland

Beje, aquaculture and inland fishery in tropical peatland

Indonesia

Bambang Setiadi1 and Suwido Limin2

1BPPT and (UNPAR); 2BPPT Summary ©FAO/Bambang Setiadi ©FAO/Bambang Schematic representation of Beje cultivation

Beje is a traditional fishing method in tropical peat and peat forests, to provide a source of food from traditional fisheries, relying on fluctuations in the movement of water or overflow of river water during the rainy season (November to March) by using a trap in the form of an artificial pond or special tools, allowing fish to breed in the pond and later harvested during the dry season when the water recedes (April to October). The beje system also indirectly play a role in reducing carbon emissions by functioning as a buffer and inhibit the spread of fires in peatlands, keeping peat wet, thus preventing fires in peat. Furthermore, beje also accelerate the development of vegetation. Overall, beje has a role to reduce carbon emissions in peat An overview of the composition of fish species caught in beje, ranging between 5–12 types and dominated by marsh fish (black fish) from the fanily Anabantidae and Nandidae. Other types of fish caught in beje are: Sepat siam (Trichogaster pectoralis), Sepat rawa (Trichogaster trichopterus), Gabus (Channa striata), Betok (Anabas testudineus), Tambakan (Helostoma temminckii), Baung (Mystus nemurus), Singgaringan (Mystus nigriceps), Lundu (Mystus Gulio), Lais lampok (Cryptopterus limpok), Lele (Clarias spp.), Singgaringan (Mystus nigriceps), Lundu (Mystus Gulio) Kakapar (Peristolepis fasciatus). 1. Practice description Area of the site 15 000 ha Current land cover/use Natural tropical peat swamp forest Previous land cover/use Natural tropical peat swamp forest Origin of intervention -  Rewetting  Drainage  Cultivation of crops Types of intervention used in the area  Grazing  Forestry  Aquaculture  Fishery  Other Duration of implementation 2 years To increase to the income to communities Main purpose of the practice arround peatland  Low Level of technical knowledge  Medium  High Water table depth from surface - Width of channels 0.1 m Present active drainage system Distance between 30–50 m channels Before practice 150 cm/year Subsidence During practice 0 2. Implementation of activities, inputs and cost N Establishment of activities Input/materials Duration Cost Site clearance, excavation, Installation of fence, wood and 1 wire ; planting plant for fence; Wages/salaries 10 days US $ 3.300 survey beje location

Wood for fence;equipment; seedling; 2 Construction stationeries; pump machine; wire – US $ 2.000 netting

3 Transportation and maintenance Rent a car, rent a motor boat – US $ 2500 Remarks: The investment cost of developing beje , size : 812 m2, is US $ 7800 . One beje, it can be used more than 10 years (Note : US $ 1,= Rp. 10 000). 3. Environmental characteristics  Tropical Climate  Temperate  Boreal Average annual rainfall The lowest 42 mm ( May), the highest 308 mm (March)

Altitude 12 m a.s.l.

Slope –  ≤ 30  30–50 Peat depth (cm)  50–100  100–300  >300 Peatland type  Fen  Bog based on the water source  Undefined Hydrologic network – Calophyllum hosei, Palaquim Before practice cochlearifolium, Parastemon spicatus, Main vegetation species and Combretocarpus rotundatus Calophyllum hosei, Palaquim During practice cochlearifolium, Parastemon spicatus, and Combretocarpus rotundatus Water pH 3.7–4.42 Water quality Water turbidity – Dissolved organic carbon content – 4. Socio–economic dimension Local stakeholders Farmer, fishery The Centre for International Cooperation in Land tenure Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatlands (CIMTROP) at the University of Palangka Raya Land, water, and other natural Research facilities for local and international resource access and use rights researcher Conflicts No conflict Conflict resolution mechanism No conflict The Centre for International Cooperation in Legal framework Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatlands (CIMTROP) at the University of Palangka Raya Ecotourisme, Non Timber Forest Product (Resin, Products derived from the peatland Rattan, fruit, Honey Bee) Market orientation Local market 5. Assessment of impacts on ecosystem services 1 highly decreasing/ 2 moderately decreasing/ 3 slightly decreasing/ 4 neutral/ 5 slightly increasing/ 6 moderately increasing/ 7 highly increasing Agricultural production – Food security and nutrition 6 Employment 5 Provisioning services Income 6 Non–timber forest products yield 6 Livelihoods opportunities 6 Resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change 7 Level of conflicts 4 Socio–cultural services Gender equality 4 Learning and innovation 5 Waterborne carbon (DOC) loss 2 Fire frequency 2 Regulating services Biodiversity 4 Subsidence rate 3 Water quality 4 Off–site benefits Frequency of flooding 4 6. Climate change mitigation potential 1 highly decreasing/ 2 moderately decreasing/ 3 slightly decreasing/ 4 neutral/ 5 slightly increasing/ 6 moderately increasing/ 7 highly increasing Estimate Impact Rate –1 –1 Remarks (t ha year , CO2–eq) Net GHG Data of net GHG emission depend Data net GHG emission in the site area presented – emission on the type of peat forest. as additional information in section 7. 7. Additional information Carbon flux in Tropical Peatland Note :NEE : Net Ecosystem CO2 Exchange ; UF : Undisturb Forest ; DF : Drained Forest ; DB : Drained Regenerating Forest Conclussion: Tropical peatland has good potential for aquaculture in rivers, lakes, using beje or normal pool schemes. Fisheries development in peatland will provide another important contribution in reducing carbon emissions due to its process that involve keeping the area wet (rewetting) and as buffers limiting the spread of fire in peat. In addition, naturally contributes to the livelihood and income to communities around peatland areas. Based on identification by Ministry of Marine and Fishery, there are 300 potential area to develop beje in Kalimantan.

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