Assessing the Empirical Basis of Peat CO2 Emissions Estimates from Oil Palm Plantations on Tropical Peatland

Authors:
Ross Morrison, Susan E. Page, Chris Malins, Jack Rieley, Aljosja Hooijer & Jyrki Jauhiainen

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
carbon, greenhouse-gas, literature-review, palm-oil, southeast-asia

Documentfile:
Morrison et al 2012: Assessing the Empirical Basis of Peat CO2 Emissions Estimates from Oil Palm Plantations on Tropical Peatlan

Summary:

Theme IX. Tropical peatlands

SUMMARY

This presentation reports the results of a desk-based study aiming to assess the empirical basis of peat surface CO₂ emissions from oil palm plantations on tropical peatland in Southeast Asia. We reviewed the literature to determine a best estimate of CO₂ losses from drained peat under oil palm cultivation. Our review indicates that previous assessment of CO₂ emissions from oil palm plantations lack a robust empirical basis and have systematically underestimated CO₂ losses resulting from drainage and peat degradation. On the basis of the review, we present a revised estimate and uncertainty range for peat CO₂ emissions from oil palm plantations.