Effects of Converting Tropical Peat Swamp Forest into Oil Palm Plantation on Water Quality | Science Publications

American Journal of Applied Sciences

Osumanu Haruna Ahmed¹  Noraini Rosli¹  Ahmad Mustapha Mohamad Pazi¹  Mohd Hanafi Idris¹  Seca Gandaseca¹ 

关键词: Water Quality Index;    Water Quality Parameters;    Natural Peat Swamp Forest;    Converted Peat Swamp Forest;    Oil Palm Plantation;   

DOI  :  10.3844/ajassp.2015.525.532

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Science Publications

【 摘 要 】

Peat swamp forest is a unique forest and wetlands ecosystemthat recognized as one of the most important reservoir of biodiversity andwater resources protection. Rapid development particularly for development,agriculture and plantation in peat swamp forest (PSF) area had given negativeimpacts to its ecosystem included degradation of its water quality. This studywas conducted to determine water quality condition at undisturbed (natural peatswamp forest) and disturbed (converted peat swamp forest) and to determine itseffects of forest conversion on water quality. A total of 324 water sampleswere collected at Sibu, Tatau, Pandan and Sepadok within two years sampling.Based on Water Quality Index (WQI) by Department of Environment Malaysia; riverwater at PSF of Sibu and Tatau were found categorized under Class IV (slightlypolluted) while river water at Pandan and Sepadok categorized under Class III(moderate) water quality status. The most influence parameter that causes thedeteriorating of water quality at Sibu and Tatau is low dissolved oxygen (DO),high concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and chemical oxygen demand(COD) and acidic water pH. Based on this study; river water at PSF of Sibu andTatau (converted peat swamp forest) could affected and polluted due to agricultural and oil palm plantation activities that tookplace at the area while compared to river water at PSF of Pandan and Sepadok(natural peat swamp forest) that found categorized under Class III (moderate)water quality status. If proper alternative procedures such as sustainablemanagement of water resources, protection of logging and awareness education oflocal folk are not undertaken, it could lead to the deterioration of the PSF ecosystem.Strategic management practices and applications of technologies to minimize theimpacts to PSF should be done on the surrounding environment in order topreserve this natural heritage and for the sustainable management of theecosystem and conservation of the PSF and its water resources.

【 授权许可】

Unknown