Agriculture is the main cause of peatland loss in Indonesia, Peru, and the DRC, threatening climate efforts by releasing massive carbon stores.
Peatlands critical for climate
Tropical peatlands, covering less than 3 percent of Earth's land, store more carbon than any other land-based ecosystem. Their preservation is vital in the fight against climate change.
Study identifies main threat
A recent study found agriculture to be the primary cause of peatland loss in Indonesia, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which holds the world's largest tropical peat complex.
Research uses satellite data
Scientists analyzed satellite images from 2020 and 2021 to determine the causes of peatland conversion and quantify the associated greenhouse gas emissions in these three countries.
Agriculture as main driver
In Indonesia, large-scale agriculture was responsible for 67 percent of emissions linked to peatland loss. Agriculture remains the leading threat to these ecosystems across all three countries.
Other factors also involved
In addition to agriculture, mining and road infrastructure development contributed to peatland degradation in Indonesia and Peru, highlighting the complex nature of the issue.
