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Peatland soils store a large amount of carbon but there is a grave risk that much of this
will be lost as peatland ecosystems worldwide are being converted for agriculture, planta-
tions and bioenergy. Conservation and restoration of tropical peatlands should be consid-
ered a global priority.
PEATLANDS
While not a true biome, peatlands represent a special case
in the management of the global carbon cycle. Peatlands
are associated with a range of waterlogged environments in
which the decomposition of dead plant material and soil car-
bon is extremely slow, resulting in the fossilisation of litter
inputs and soil with an organic carbon content of over 30%.
Although some peat soils can be found in productive ecosys-
tems such as reed and papyrus swamps and mangroves, peat
soils are often seen in unproductive environments where
plant growth is very slow. Their capacity for storage is huge;
with estimates suggesting that ~550 Gt of C is stored globally
in peat soils (Sabine
et al.
2004), and a worldwide average of
1450 t C per ha (Parish
et al.
2008). These areas are globally
widespread but cover a tiny proportion of land area making
peatland among the most space effective carbon stores of all
ecosystems.