In a recent study published in Environmental Research Letters, researchers have suggested that peat bogs, which are wetlands containing high levels of carbon from decaying vegetation accumulated over centuries, could play a crucial role in helping the world achieve climate goals outlined in the 2015 Paris agreement, such as limiting postindustrial warming to 2 degrees Celsius. Alexander Popp, a senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, emphasized the importance of protecting and restoring peatlands, as failing to do so could make it very challenging or nearly impossible to reach greenhouse gas emission targets. Despite making up only 3% of global land area, peatlands are significant carbon reservoirs, holding approximately double the amount of carbon compared to the world's forests. Peatlands are found in various regions around the world, from tropical to colder climates. In undisturbed wetlands, the carbon remains wet and undisturbed. However, when a wetland is drained for farming or other purposes, the carbon begins to break down and is released into the air as carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming. This process can last for hundreds of years. It is currently believed that drained peatlands around the world release as much carbon dioxide each year as the entire aviation industry. In addition, dry peatlands are at risk of catching on fire, which can rapidly release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. In September and October 2015, peat fires in Indonesia, where bogs have been drained for palm oil plantations and other purposes, emitted more carbon dioxide daily than all the fossil fuels burned in the European Union. The restoration of dried peatlands by allowing them to become wet again is crucial in preventing further carbon dioxide release and eliminating the fire hazard. Rewetting the peatlands is essential for achieving mitigation targets. Many strategies for addressing climate change predict that by the end of this century, land use, including forests and agriculture, will be a net carbon sink, meaning it will store more carbon than it releases into the atmosphere, thereby slowing global warming. The researchers pointed out that most existing pathways do not consider emissions from degraded peatland. When they incorporated peatland data into their own land-use model, they discovered that land use would result in a net release of carbon dioxide. However, by protecting pristine wetlands and restoring around 60% of degraded ones, land use could once again become a net carbon sink. Mike Waddington, a peat researcher at McMaster University, commented that the study provides strong evidence in support of peatland restoration due to their significant role in carbon storage despite their small size. He mentioned that the study emphasized the significance of peatlands in global climate regulation. Currently, land use changes aimed at helping the climate often overlook peatlands, prioritizing tree planting instead. Waddington explained that there is a common misconception that planting trees in drained peatlands is the best way to store carbon, but preserving the intact bog is actually more effective. Peat bogs are typically dried out by digging drainage ditches, allowing the water to escape. Some peatlands are also drained for peat extraction for horticulture or fuel, in addition to being converted into croplands or forests. Waddington stated that draining only 10 to 15% of a peatland and extracting peat could make the entire system a source. Restoring them could involve blocking ditches or building berms to keep the peat saturated. The study found uncertainty in cost estimates for protecting and restoring peatlands, but the fundamental conclusion remained the same, even if costs were high. Waddington described it as an easily achievable goal. Copyright 2020 The New York Times Company.