New research reveals that peatlands, vital ecosystems storing immense amounts of carbon, remain critically under-protected worldwide. Despite their environmental significance, only 17% of these habitats are safeguarded, according to a study led by Kemen Austin, director of science at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“There’s a mismatch between the global importance of these ecosystems and their level of conservation management,” Austin emphasized. The study, published in Conservation Letters, highlights how peatlands face threats from agriculture and development, with an estimated 15% already drained for farming purposes.
Peatlands, found in diverse regions like the Congo Basin and Canada’s Hudson Bay Lowlands, store up to 600 billion tonnes of carbon, offering crucial habitat for various species. Yet Canada, home to a quarter of the world’s peatlands, still lacks detailed maps to pinpoint the exact locations of these critical ecosystems.
The research also underscores the role of Indigenous stewardship in minimizing environmental damage, with more than a million square kilometers of peatlands located within Indigenous lands globally. However, due to insufficient data, Canada’s Indigenous territories were excluded from the study.
“Actually, we don’t even have an authoritative map to tell us where all the peatlands are in Canada,” said Kelly Bona, a wetland research scientist. This knowledge gap complicates conservation efforts, especially as peatlands face dual threats: water drainage and burning, practices that release stored carbon and accelerate climate change.
In Ontario, the Hudson Bay Lowlands—targeted for mining operations in the resource-rich Ring of Fire—risk destabilizing massive carbon stores, counteracting green energy initiatives. As peatlands take millennia to regenerate, experts stress the urgent need for better protection, mapping, and management of these irreplaceable ecosystems.
Source: Swifteradio.com
