Peatlands are one of the most important natural ecosystem, with key values in biodiversity conservation, livelihood of communities, water regulation. Peatland are unique and complex ecosystem of global importance for biodiversity conservation at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels.
Though peatlands account for only 3% of the global land area, peatlands are now recognized as the most efficient terrestrial ecosystem in the storage of carbon. Peatlands contain as much carbon as all terrestrial biomass, and twice as much as all forest biomass. Peatlands have been sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon for thousands of years.
However, peatlands, especially tropical peatlands are under great threat. Tropical peatswamp forest accounted for approximately 25% of deforestation in 2005. Over 50% of new plantations in Indonesia are designated to be planted on tropical peatlands, despite a Presidential decree contrary. Illegal clearing is another big problem faced in protection of peatlands. The biodiversity of species in tropical peatswamp forest in particular are unique and often are endemic to areas.
Through the work of Wetlands International and its partners, a report was launched in 2006 to highlight the contribution drainage and degradation of peatlands as a source of anthropogenic emission. A review of data estimates that emissions from tropical peatlands alone accounted for at least 15% of the 1990 carbon dioxide emission of Annex 1 Parties to the UNFCCC. On average, degraded tropical peatlands emit 1400 MT. When fires are included, the emissions are estimated at 2000 MT. This alone is more than India, Russia and three times of Germany.
Wetlands International – Malaysia is working with stakeholders and partners to encourage best practices and to develop policies that would. Through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, we hope to include greenhouse gas emissions as a criterion for sustainability. Though the United Nations Framework on Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), we are actively lobbying to ensure inclusion of peatlands in any post Kyoto agreement and develop mechanism to stimulate incentives and fund conservation and restoration work.