The Potential of Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions

Abstract

Purpose of ReviewDespite covering only 3% of the land surface, peatlands represent the largest terrestrial organic carbon stock on the planet and continue to act as a carbon sink. Managing ecosystems to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect carbon stocks provide nature-based climate solutions that can play an important role in emission reduction strategies, particularly over the next decade. This review provides an overview of peatland management pathways that can contribute to natural climate solutions and compiles regional and global estimates for the size of potential GHG emission reductions. Recent FindingsDegraded peatlands may account for 5% of current anthropogenic GHG emissions and therefore reducing emissions through rewetting and restoration offer substantial emission reductions. However, as a majority of peatland remains intact, particularly in boreal and subarctic regions, protection from future development is also an important peatland management pathway. Literature compilation indicates a global potential for peatland nature-based climate solutions of 1.1 to 2.6 Gt CO2e yr -1 in 2030.

Temporal Variability in Heterotrophic Carbon Dioxide Emissions From A Drained Tropical Peatland in Uganda

“…The relationships observed between WTD, soil temperature and R h were not unexpected, as this has previously been demonstrated in multiple studies (35). In some studies, this has been presented as a linear relationship with WTD (36)(37)(38) or soil temperature only (39).…”

“…The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emissions factor for drained cropland and fallow in the tropics is 51 t CO 2 ha -1 yr -1 (34). By comparison, peatlands under arable cropping in Europe, which involves annual ploughing of soils, have been shown to emit between 24-92 t CO 2 ha -1 yr -1 (35). The management of peat soils in Uganda under potato cultivation involves an annual refreshment of the exposed peat from digging up of new peat to create new raised beds, thus exposing previously waterlogged soils to aerobic conditions.…”

State of Climate Action 2022

“…Limiting warming to 1.5°C, then, will require the restoration of 15 Mha of peatland-approximately a third of all degraded peatlands worldwide-by 2030 (Roe et al 2021;Humpenöder et al 2020). Although data are insufficient to assess global progress toward this target (Figure 48), available evidence suggests that current efforts to restore peatlands are occurring, but likely not at the speed and scale required (Andersen et al 2017;BRGM 2021;Strack et al 2022). 49 | Historical progress toward 2030 target for mangrove loss Notes: ha/yr = hectares per year.…”

Protecting peatlands requires understanding stakeholder perceptions and relational values: A case study of peatlands in the Yorkshire Dales

“…Peatlands are increasingly recognised as landscapes of global significance, due to their influence on the long-term global carbon cycle (Loisel et al 2020 ) and ecosystem functions including hydrology and biodiversity (Martin-Ortega et al 2014 ; Law et al 2015 ; Minayeva et al 2017 ). Despite their significance, peatlands are globally under threat from land use change, drainage, degradation, or removal due to a variety of anthropogenic pressures (Rawlins and Morrs 2010 ; Turetsky et al 2015 ; Ribeiro et al 2020 ), and there is now increasing focus on reorienting peatland management in recognition of their crucial role in providing nature-based solutions (NBS) to climate change impacts (Strack et al 2022 ). Peatlands store substantial amounts of carbon (Yu et al 2010 ), but drying and damage cause carbon losses as organic material is oxidised (Liu et al 2016 ).…”