By: Tira Maya

Palangkaraya (01/10)-Canal blocking has become one of restoration efforts in Sebangau National Park area. Until September 2009, WWF-Indonesia working with the local community and Sebangau National Park Office still continued to conduct canal blocking for community-owned canals in Bangah and Bakung river basin, located in the heart of Sebangau river.
Covering an area of 568,700 hectares, Sebangau National Park is located in three regencies of Katingan, Pulang Pisau, and Palangkaraya. The forest area is a peatland ecosystem with land density range from 3 meters to 10 meters. When it dries, the peatland burns out easily.

Hence, since 2005, WWF has conducted canal/ditch blocking program to improve hidrological function of peatland forest in Sebangau National Park. Until 2009, there have been 176 canals been blocked to decrease the waterflow rate and help maintain the water table above the surface so it will safe the forest area from fires threat. Whereas monitoring pipes have been put in both left and right side of 66 canal blockings to measure the impact of canal blockings for its environs.

Groundwater monitoring been conducted in the last 4 years has successfully stabilized groundwater fluctuation. Many pioneer plants have seen to cover the area which was previously dry. Based on monitoring report, the width of canals/canal blockings have influenced the groundwater. The groundwater characteristic showed good reaction to the canal blockings been constructed. It is proven by the high groundwater moistening its environs. This doesn’t happen to the locations where canal blockings haven’t been constructed yet. Groundwater characteristic in canal blocking area is still being studied to get an accurate and scientifically-proven result.
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