Long-term impacts of peatland restoration in Indonesia

Around $7Bn is being invested in peatland restoration and conservation in Indonesia. However, we know little about how the techniques being adopted on these important ecosystems impact peatland hydrological functioning, peatland carbon fluxes, regional water cycling, fire haze and human health. Our initial research suggests that natural peatland systems in Indonesia do not function in the way that restoration targets seek to deliver, which indicates that some modifications to restoration strategies might be useful.

<p>We seek to build a team of PhD students working on related topics around peatland management in Indonesia. Each PhD project can therefore be designed to suit the interests of the applicant. Each project can build on one or more of: i) compiling existing field measurements; ii) collecting new field data; iii) remote sensing approaches and iv) modelling of peatland functions and management impacts.</p> <p>The project could investigate intact sites, drained sites and restoration sites, and broader forest cover change processes in peatlands. In the case of restoration, a range of techniques could be studied to assess their potential for influencing peatland functioning. Taking climate change scenarios into account, the study could seek to assess how different Indonesian management interventions might influence long-term peatland development. Depending on the interests of the applicant the project could seek to understand potential impacts of different management strategies on CO&not;2 emissions, haze and health. The PhD project could connect with the KaLi project in Indonesia providing further datasets and networking opportunities.</p> <p>We seek to attract international researchers who can obtain a scholarship from their home country to undertake the PhD.&nbsp;</p> <p>Each PhD project can start at any of time year, normally on the 1st day of the month.</p> <p>Please contact us if you would like to discuss the project further.</p> <p><br /> Reading:</p> <p>Feng, Y., Zeng, Z., Searchinger, T.D., Zheng, C., Ziegler, A.D., Wu, J., Wang, D., He, X., Elsen, P.R., Ciais, P., Xu, R., Guo, Z., Peng; L., Tao, Y., Spracklen, D.V., Holden, J., Liu, X., Zheng, Y., Xu, P., Chen, J., Lakshmi, V., Wood, E.F., Zheng, C. (2022) Doubling of annual forest carbon loss over the tropics during the early 21stcentury. Nature Sustainability, 5, 444-451<br /> Kiely, L., Spracklen, D.V., Arnold, S.R., Papargyropoulou, Conibear, L., Wiedinmyer, C., Knote, C., Adrianto, H.A. (2021) Assessing costs of Indonesian fires and the benefits of restoring peatland. Nature Communications, 12, 7044 doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27353-x</p> <p>Kiely L, Spracklen DV, Wiedinmyer C, Conibear L, Reddington CL, Arnold SR, Knote C, Khan MF, Latif MT, Syaufina L, Adrianto HA. 2020. Air quality and health impacts of vegetation and peat fires in Equatorial Asia during 2004&ndash;2015. Environmental Research Letters, 15</p> <p>Putra, S., Holden, J., Baird, A.J. (2021) The impact of ditch dams on water-level dynamics in tropical peatlands. Hydrological Processes, 35, e14174 doi: 10.1002/hyp.14174</p> <p>Putra, S., Baird, A.J., Holden, J. (2022) Modelling the performance of bunds and ditch dams in the hydrological restoration of tropical peatlands. Hydrological Processes.<br /> Putra, S.S., Baird, A.J., Holden. J. (2023) Water-table responses to storms in forested, drained and ditch-blocked peatlands, Sebangau, Kalimantan, Indonesia. Mires and Peat, 29, 03, doi: 10.19189/MaP.2022.OMB.StA.2407&nbsp;<br /> Zou, J., Ziegler, A.D., Chen, D., McNicol, G., Ciais, P., Jiang, X., Zheng, C., Wu, J., Wu, J., Ziyu L., He, X., Brown, L.E., Holden, J., Zhang, Z., Ramchunder, S.J., Chen, A., Zeng, Z. (2022) Rewetting global wetlands effectively reduces major greenhouse gas emissions. Nature Geoscience, 15, 627-632. doi: 10.1038/s41561-022-00989-0<br /> &nbsp;</p>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University&#39;s website</a>. Please state clearly in the research information section&nbsp;that the research degree you wish to be considered for is&nbsp;<strong>Long-term impacts of peatland restoration in Indonesia</strong> as well as&nbsp;<strong>Professor Dominick Spracklen, Professor Joseph Holden and Professor Andy Baird&nbsp;</strong>as your proposed supervisor.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University&#39;s minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education.&nbsp;Within the School of Geography and the School of Earth and Environment we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+; and people with disabilities.&nbsp;Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>For further information please contact the Graduate School Office<br /> e:&nbsp;<a>ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>