Aboveground biomass and carbon dynamics over 13 years at an Indonesian tropical peat dome: findings from field data

Amanda L Sinclair; Laura LB Graham; Mark A Cochrane; Bambang H Saharjo; Andri Thomas; Grahame Applegate; Daniel S Mendham; Samantha PP Grover

doi:10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101379

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Aboveground biomass and carbon dynamics over 13 years at an Indonesian tropical peat dome: findings from field data

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Aboveground biomass and carbon dynamics over 13 years at an Indonesian tropical peat dome: findings from field data

Amanda L Sinclair, Laura LB Graham, Mark A Cochrane, Bambang H Saharjo, Andri Thomas, Grahame Applegate, Daniel S Mendham and Samantha PP Grover

Trees, Forests and People, Vol.26, pp.1-19

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101379

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Abstract

allometric models

canal

fire

forest loss

logging

river

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian tropical peat swamp forests are globally significant, carbon-rich ecosystems, yet have experienced widespread degradation through drainage, fire and logging. Research monitoring how forest aboveground biomass (AGB) and aboveground carbon (AGC) respond to these factors is limited. Here, we present field-based AGB and AGC estimates from an Indonesian tropical peat dome over thirteen years. We compare AGB estimates generated through popular Indonesian mixed species and pantropical allometric models, and investigate drivers of AGB and AGC across different disturbance histories. AGB estimates from the allometric models were broadly similar, supporting comparability of estimates from studies using different models. In degraded areas, AGB/AGC declined over the thirteen years through persistent fire; forests showed some resilience against one fire, but ≥2 frequently resulted in almost total elimination of AGB/AGC from up to ∼300 Mg ha−1/141 Mg C ha−1 to almost zero. Fire, logging and distance to rivers and canals were all significant predictors of AGB/AGC dynamics, with strongest effects for distance from waterways; AGB/AGC increased further from rivers and canals, likely because human access and canal-induced drainage increase peat flammability and fire ignition. We also unexpectedly detected persistently high biomass/carbon accumulation in the most intact forests of 10.3 - 13.9 Mg ha−1 yr−1 / 4.8 - 6.5 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Our findings indicate conservation and restoration of tropical peat swamp forests may be optimised by prioritising areas that have experienced a single fire, and the intersection of commonly-used waterways where drainage and human access compound fire risk.

Details

Title: Aboveground biomass and carbon dynamics over 13 years at an Indonesian tropical peat dome: findings from field data
Authors: Amanda L Sinclair (Corresponding Author) - RMIT University
Laura LB Graham - University of Palangka Raya
Mark A Cochrane - University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Bambang H Saharjo - IPB University
Andri Thomas - University of Palangka Raya
Grahame Applegate - University of the Sunshine Coast
Daniel S Mendham - CSIRO Environment
Samantha PP Grover - RMIT University
Publication details: Trees, Forests and People, Vol.26, pp.1-19
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101379
ISSN: 2666-7193
Data Availability: The authors do not have permission to share data.
Grants: Fire and Peatland Restoration, FST/2016/144, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Australia, Canberra) - ACIAR
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, RTP, Department of Education (Australia, Canberra)
Grant note: This research was supported in part by NASA grants 80NSSC18K0235 and 80NSSC20K0408 to UMCES.
Organisation Unit: K'gari Research Cluster; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246298102621
Output Type: Journal article

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