Authors:
Susan Page, Aljosja Hooijer, Jyrki Jauhiainen, Jukka Miettinen, Ross Morrison, Outi Lähteenoja and Chris Malins
Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Stockholm
Keywords:
anthropogenic-disturbance, carbon-store, peatland-area, tropical-peatland
Documentfile:
Page et al 2012: The Carbon Balance of Tropical Peatlands: A Global Perspective
Summary:
Theme IX. Tropical peatlands
SUMMARY
Tropical peatlands are some of the planet’s most carbon-dense ecosystems, with a substantial carbon store of ~89 Gt, equivalent to ~20% of that stored in tropical/sub-tropical vegetation. Until recent times, climatic and associated hydrological changes were the main influences on carbon storage rates, but the last two decades have seen an acceleration of anthropogenic impacts. This paper reviews the location, extent and magnitude of the carbon storage role of tropical peatlands and assesses, on a continental scale, what proportion of the tropical peatland carbon pool is vulnerable to short-term loss as a result of anthropogenic activities.