Peatland atlas
This document analyzes the critical importance of protecting and restoring global peatlands to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity. It aims to inform policy makers, environmental organizations, and the broader public about the extent of peatland destruction, their ecological and climatic functions, and strategies for sustainable management such as rewetting and paludiculture. The overall purpose is to raise awareness and advocate for urgent global and regional efforts to conserve these vital ecosystems, which are essential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding biodiversity.
Summary
Introduction and Overview
The Peatland Atlas 2023 provides facts and figures on wetlands, emphasizing their significance for biodiversity and climate regulation. It highlights peatlands as water-land ecosystems storing enormous carbon, which when drained, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the need for preservation and restoration.
Global Importance of Peatlands
Peatlands cover 3% of Earth's land surface but store about twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined, making them critical for climate regulation. They occur worldwide, especially in cold, humid, and high-rainfall regions, and support unique biodiversity.
Threats and Destruction of Peatlands
Human activities such as drainage for agriculture, forestry, peat extraction, and urban development have led to severe global peatland loss—over 50 million hectares drained, with 500,000 more destroyed annually. Tropical peat swamp forests are especially vulnerable, with ongoing deforestation and fires exacerbated by climate change.
Climate Impact of Peatland Drainage
Drainage transforms peatlands from carbon sinks into sources of greenhouse gases, accounting for 4–5% of human emissions. Fires and peat decomposition release vast quantities of CO₂, further heating the planet, emphasizing the urgency of rewetting and conservation.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Peatlands are habitats for threatened and endemic species, crucial for biodiversity. They also regulate water, mitigate floods, and sustain local communities, making their protection essential for ecological stability and human well-being.
Regional Perspectives and High-Impact Areas
Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean have significant peatlands, many degraded. Key regions include Europe (notably the Baltic and Scandinavia), Southeast Asia (Indonesia and Malaysia), and the Congo Basin—each facing specific threats but holding vast ecological and carbon storage potential.
Protection Strategies and Challenges
Rewetting drained peatlands, implementing sustainable land management such as paludiculture, and stricter policies are vital. Despite international agreements, enforcement and political will remain insufficient. The EU and countries like Indonesia are initiating restoration, but significant challenges persist due to property rights and economic incentives.
Future Directions and Policy Recommendations
Achieving climate goals requires immediate, large-scale rewetting and transitioning to sustainable uses like paludiculture. International cooperation, legal frameworks, support for local communities, and transforming agricultural policies are necessary to prevent further damage and harness peatlands' ecological benefits.
Cultural Myths and Legends
Peatlands are historically linked with myths and legends, portraying them as dangerous or supernatural places, reflecting their mysterious and sometimes ominous perceptions but also emphasizing their importance and the need for awareness and respect.
Historical and Environmental Context
Historically valued as fertile grounds and fuel sources, peatlands have been heavily drained for development. Modern recognition of their ecological and climate significance is leading to efforts for their restoration and sustainable management.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The atlas emphasizes the critical need to protect, restore, and sustainably use peatlands to mitigate climate change, preserve biodiversity, and sustain ecosystem services. Immediate, coordinated action is essential to prevent irreversible loss and to unlock their full ecological potential.
Key take aways
- Peatlands are critical carbon stores and biodiversity hotspots, but are under severe threat globally.
- Although they cover only 3% of Earth's surface, they hold twice the carbon of all terrestrial biomass and are rapidly being drained and destroyed, releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases.
- Drained peatlands significantly contribute to climate change by emitting approximately 4% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases.
- Once drained, peatlands switch from carbon sinks to sources, releasing CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide, with ongoing emissions responsible for around 5% of global emissions.
- Restoring and protecting peatlands through rewetting and sustainable management is essential for climate mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and flood control.
- Rewetting peatlands can halt greenhouse gas emissions, with experts emphasizing the urgency of restoring millions of hectares worldwide to meet climate goals like the Paris Agreement.
- Current policies and subsidies often favor drainage for agriculture and forestry, exacerbating peatland degradation and climate impacts.
- European Union support largely funds drained peatlands, with limited incentives for rewetting; similar trends occur globally, driven by economic pressures and insufficient regulation.
- Peatland conservation depends crucially on integrating local Indigenous knowledge, establishing legal protections, and securing political commitment.
- Many peatlands are not yet protected, and lack of data, ownership issues, and economic competition hinder effective governance; indigenous communities often play vital roles in sustainable management.
- The concept of paludiculture—cultivating plants suited to waterlogged conditions—offers a sustainable way to utilize rewetted peatlands for biomass, food, and building materials.
- Paludiculture preserves peat and its carbon storage while providing economic resources; policy support and public investment are needed to expand its adoption and develop regional markets.
- The destruction of peatlands, especially in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, causes massive ecological damage, releases vast amounts of carbon, and increases wildfire risks.
- Peatland fires, often caused by illegal land clearance and climate change, contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and air pollution, with devastating health and economic consequences.
