Ecosystems and climate
Peatland
Wetland ecosystems with thick peat soils that store vast amounts of carbon; drained peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Definition
Peatlands are wetland ecosystems — bogs, fens, mires and swamp forests — in which waterlogged conditions slow decomposition and organic matter accumulates as peat over millennia. Covering around 3% of global land area, peatlands store more carbon than all the world's forests combined; when drained for agriculture, forestry or peat extraction they become large, persistent emission sources and fire risks.
References
Overview
What it means
Peatland drainage in Southeast Asia (for palm oil and pulpwood) and Europe has turned some regions into chronic emitters; drained peatland fires in Indonesia have produced some of the largest single pollution events on record. Rewetting and restoration can halt most emissions and recover biodiversity and water regulation.
How it is used
Peatlands feature in national greenhouse gas inventories (a distinct IPCC reporting category), in restoration policy such as the Global Peatlands Initiative, and in commodity certification standards restricting new planting on peat.
Why it matters
Peatlands are among the highest-stakes carbon stores on Earth: protecting and rewetting them is one of the most cost-effective land-based climate measures, while continued drainage undermines net zero goals.
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