Estimating Distribution of Carbon Stock in Tropical Peatland Using a Combination of an Empirical Peat Depth Model and GIS

Distribution of carbon stock below the ground of peatland of Industrial Forest Plantation in South Sumatera, Indonesia was estimated by combining an empirical peat depth model with GIS tools. The proposed peat depth model was fitted to 124 observed peat depths and showed good agreement. After that the peat depths spatial data were derived using combination of the optimized peat depth model and data elevation method (DEM) which is generated from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Based on measurements of carbon content and bulk density and the estimation of peat depth distribution in study area, in total, the carbon stock was about 310 Mt.