While tropical lowland peatswamp ecosystems are well-represented among
the major forest formations of Borneo, they are rare outside South-Ea
st Asia. They are richly endowed with biological diversity, including
the crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which is a threatened species, and
are characterized by their organic (histosol) soils that have develop
ed recently, approximately within the past 5000 years. Their unique ec
ological features, as well as logistical difficulties in accessing and
utilizing peatswamps, have not, however, deterred exploitation. Some
of the tallest, most commercially desirable timber species, such as ra
min (Gonystylus bancanus) have been harvested routinely in the peatswa
mp forests of Sarawak. Also, due to its primary location in coastal lo
wlands in close proximity to human activity, drained and reclaimed pea
tswamp land is desirable for development of highways, housing, and ind
ustrial and plantation estates. Ecological information is needed urgen
tly by decision-makers and land-owners, who may be contemplating conve
rsion of natural peatswamp ecosystems to other land uses, to undergird
conservation policy and best management practices for the wise stewar
dship and sustainable development of this ecosystem. The paper provide
s an overview of peatswamp ecology with recommendations for avoiding o
r reducing potential ecological impacts associated with peatswamp deve
lopment in Borneo, which include a moratorium on further development u
ntil a Borneo peatswamp survey and inventory as well as a holistic, mu
lti-sectoral, integrated environmental assessment and planning procedu
re are completed; gazetting of pristine peatswamp forest parcels as to
tally protected areas; implementing highly restricted multiple-use pol
icy that allows development only in degraded areas, and insuring prote
ction of the critical hydrological role of peatswamps in providing fre
sh water supply for human use as an overriding criterion in assessing
any development scheme.