The current dependence on tropical biomass such as palm-oil production and consumption is growing on a global scale. The production of tropical biomass has tremendous potential for establishing the foundation for a sustainable humanosphere for human beings as it could enable society to convert from being fossil energy–reliant to renewable biomass energy–reliant. The production and utilization of biomass leads to the utilization of green energy, thereby contributing to a reduction in carbon dioxide emission through the carbon fixing of biomass production. Tropical areas are the most suitable regions for biomass production.
Our third initiative has identified the meaning and the problems regarding tropical biomass production, and has made major strides forward in the study of the formation of tropical biomass production society. First, we focused on the “forest,” large-scale forest plantations in particular. Large-scale forest plantations are important for societies that are reliant on biomass energy. Second, we identified a series of problems: (1) the issue of production as it relates to soil degradation; (2) the issue of ecology as it relates to the reduction of biodiversity; (3) socioeconomic issues such as conflicts with local people in regard to land; and (4) challenges relating to use, such as the new biorefinery technology. We explored the formation of Southeast Asian society from a viewpoint of affluent biomass production and utilization by investigating the networks of maritime society, industrialization, and changes in social and labor relations related to the explosive growth of palm-oil production.
The third initiative will present the path to the formation of a society that is reliant on biomass energy, from historical, social, and technological viewpoints. One of the most important studies that the third initiative will concentrate its resources on is the study of the peatland biosphere at the Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve in Giam Siak Kecil, Riau, Indonesia. Although peatland is a global-scale carbon reserve, it has been developed for many years, and this development leads to large-scale deforestation, degradation, and carbon emission. How can we reduce this degradation while simultaneously improving the welfare of the local people?
We will implement this peatland biosphere study through an interdisciplinary joint program comprising three teams: biomass, biodiversity, and social economy. The biomass team will study the biomass production and carbon fixing at various types of peatlands and nonpeatlands. They will also examine the water control required to prevent further peatland degradation. The biodiversity team will study the ecological improvement of sustainability through the conversation of biodiversity. They will also examine the biospecies selection and biodiversity necessary to recover and conserve the peatland forest. The biodiversity team will focus on birds, animals, and plants such as timbers. The socioeconomic team will study the organizations and institutions with which people can take collective actions to promote and implement the measures recommended by the biomass team and the biodiversity team to decrease the burden on the peatland and to enhance the recovery of peatland forests. In order to clarify the organizations and institutions, we need to gain an understanding of agrarian institutions, land use and production, and agriculture, forestry, and fishery employment as well as various social organizations, including village governments and rural society.
These three teams will concentrate their research on the same region and villages to implement joint research with multiple viewpoints and methodologies. In this manner, we will clarify the different customs and practices among indigenous Malay and migrant Bataks and Javanese in regard to the utilization and coexistence of peatland forests. We will also clarify the potential measures that could be taken by the companies to promote rehabilitation and conservation of the peatland forests. Our study intends to contribute to the establishment of a methodology for the Clean Development Mechanism project’s Reduced Emissions from Avoided Deforestation and Degradation (CDM-REDD) designed for peatland forest rehabilitation and conservation.
This study will be conducted as international collaborative research. The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme stationed at the Indonesia Institute of Science for Indonesia (MBA-LIPI), Riau University, Center for Riau Bioreserve Natural Environment Conservation at Pakanbaru, and private local companies such as Sinar Mas, will join this international research program. We have signed a Letter of Intention (LOI) for the joint research program among MBA-LIPI, Riau University, and our Glocal Center of Excellence (G-COE) program of Kyoto University in December 2009. Based on this LOI, our Japanese team has received a research permit from the Ministry of Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia (Menristek) in August 2010, and has commenced field work in Riau, Sumatra, and also west and central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The findings of the study will be published in an international academic journal. Volume 3 of our G-COE program series titled, “The Value of Sustainable Humanosphere in Tropical Biomass Production,” will also include our findings. We intend to announce our products at international workshops held at Riau University and others in 2011. We will invite many parties to an international workshop, including local people, academia, NGOs, and international organizations. As preliminary steps, we have organized a seminar titled “Humanosphere Science School on Scientific Exploration and Sustainable Management of Peat Land Resources in Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Researve, Riau” at Riau University on 4-5th, August, 2009, and an international symposium titled “Scientific Exploration and Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland Ecosystems” at Riau University also on October 20th, 2010.
The biorefinery study of our third initiative that intends to examine the formation of biomass energy–reliant society includes technological study as well as an investigation into the regionalization and decentralization of energy supply. Our third initiative will clarify “The Value of Sustainable Humanosphere in Tropical Biomass Production” as reflected by the concrete characteristics and practice of the local community and people through an interdisciplinary joint study that takes into consideration historical, social, and technological aspects. We plan to publish our volumes, including volume three of the G-COE series and a monograph based on our field work in Indonesia.