North Selangor Peat Swamp Hydrology Rewetting & Carbon Sink Defense
Blocking illegal drainage canals to restore moisture levels across 12,000 hectares of critical carbon-dense peat swamp forest.
Consortium Partners
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Selangor Forestry Dept
- Peatland Climate Alliance
Executive Field Narrative
Tropical peat swamps store up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial mineral soil forests. When drained, peat oxidises rapidly, creating immense wildfire hazards and massive greenhouse gas emissions. Aaranya led an intensive 5-year hydrological restoration campaign.
The Landscape Threat
Over 85 kilometers of abandoned drainage canals were actively drying the peat dome, leading to recurrent seasonal peat fires that choked regional air quality and released millions of tonnes of carbon.
Community Action Plan
We engineered 140 modular canal blocks, constructed community-managed nursery beds for water-tolerant pioneer species (Macaranga and Shorea platycarpa), and trained 40 local youths as the 'Sahabat Gambut' community fire brigade.
Verified Outcomes
Peatland Rewetted
Water table raised by an average of 42 cm across the reserve core.
Catastrophic Peat Fires
Zero uncontrollable wildfires recorded in the restored area throughout 2023–2024 dry seasons.
CO₂ Emissions Averted
Independently verified emission reduction calculations over the 5-year intervention.
Key Timeline Milestones
Field Deployments & Telemetry Stations
Canal blocking weir constructed using compacted clay and sustainably sourced timber.
Water table depth piezometer measurements taken weekly by community rangers.