Peatland Conservation:
A recent study has highlighted the alarming state of under-protection of peatlands, which are crucial for carbon storage and climate regulation. Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems characterized by waterlogged conditions that prevent complete decomposition of plant material, leading to the accumulation of peat (type of soil).
Highlights of the Study About Peatland:
- Only 17% of global peatlands are under legal protection, far less than other critical ecosystems such as mangroves (42%) and saltmarshes (50%) and tropical forests (38%).
- Around 22% of global peatlands face high human pressure (mainly in Europe and US).
- Peatlands contain 10% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater and support diverse ecosystems.
- 27% of global peatlands are on indigenous people’s land, where traditional conservation practices have led to better ecosystem preservation, yet 85% remain outside formal conservation frameworks.
- Peatlands store 600 gigatonnes of carbon, more than all the world’s forests combined, but, when degraded they release CO₂, 2-5% of annual human-driven greenhouse gas emissions.
