Peatlands are boggy wet ecosystems found from boreal forests in the Russian Arctic to the tropics of central Africa.
Typically, when vegetation decomposes it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, when that same organic matter falls in a bog and is covered with water, carbon gets trapped and becomes sequestered there, sometimes for millennia.
This makes peatlands essential for the world’s carbon balance. Even though they cover just 3% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, they store nearly a third of the world’s carbon.
On this World Peatland Day, June 2, here’s a look at some of Mongabay’s recent peatland reporting:
‘Ancient’ carbon leaking from Congo Basin lakes
