Productivity of sago palms on smallholder plantations after rewetting in previously drained peatland: a case study on Tebing Tinggi Island, Riau Province, Indonesia

Sustainable land use through rewetting is becoming increasingly important in drained peatlands. We assessed the recovery of productivity smallholder paludiculture using sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) a rewetted peatland on Tebing Tinggi Island, Riau Province, Indonesia, which had been and burned 2014. Stand structure palms plantations were measured December 2016, November 2017, March 2020. The stands divided into three groups (pre-harvest stands, mid- to post-harvest growing period stands) according gaps harvesting cycle, distributed mosaic pattern. Only those that reached their maximum size harvested, as result pattern varied over time (spatial variation). estimated harvest trunk height after was 8.9±1.5 m (mean±SD), not significantly different from before drainage (9.7±0.4 m). average annual yield 26.8 trunks ha－1, there large variation. Annual conducted recovered same (26.0 ha－1). Such distribution patterns fluctuations are characteristic semi-traditional cultivation. Despite yield, only suitable individuals allows be supplied every year. findings obtained this study will contribute national regional efforts initiate palms.