Peatlands, despite their critical role in storing carbon and mitigating climate change, remain “dangerously underprotected”, a new study warns.

These ecosystems, though covering just 3% of the planet’s land, hold more carbon than all the world’s forests combined. However, human activities such as farming and mining are leading to their destruction, releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). If peatlands were a nation, they would rank as the fourth-largest emitter of CO2 globally, following China, the U.S., and India.

A comprehensive global assessment revealed that only 17% of peatlands fall within designated protected areas. This level of protection pales in comparison to other vital ecosystems—38% of tropical forests and 42% of mangroves benefit from protection. The situation is even worse in the three countries with the most extensive peatlands: Canada, Russia, and Indonesia. These nations, along with the U.S. and Brazil, account for nearly 75% of global peatlands.

Although the U.S. and Brazil have a higher proportion of their peatlands within protected areas, researchers caution that official protection does not always translate to effective conservation on the ground.

Scientists emphasise that conserving and restoring peatlands is crucial to limiting global warming to internationally agreed targets and preventing further harm to ecosystems and human communities. Currently, nearly a quarter of peatlands face significant threats from human activities.

Despite the challenges, researchers highlight that peatland conservation offers a cost-effective solution to combat climate change. Encouragingly, a significant portion—about a quarter—of peatlands lies within Indigenous lands, which tend to experience less environmental degradation than other areas.

Dr. Kemen Austin of the Wildlife Conservation Society, who led the study, describes peatlands as “ultra-high-value ecosystems” with alarmingly low levels of protection – but levels of protection were “dangerously low”.

Beyond carbon storage, these wetlands play a vital role in water retention, reducing flood risks and mitigating droughts. They also serve as habitats for diverse species, including unique mosses, flowers, birds, fish, and butterflies.

“Their value for people, both locally and at the global scale, is just enormous,” she said.

“The carbon in peatlands took hundreds to thousands of years to accumulate and cannot be replaced on timescales relevant to climate change action,” Austin said. “That’s why peatlands are sometimes referred to as a carbon bomb, because once you ignite that bomb, those emissions are going to continue, and we’re not getting that carbon back.”

However, because peatlands are a very carbon-dense ecosystem, “the bang for the buck is really high when we think about protecting them”, she said.

Peatlands, also known as bogs, fens, swamps, mires, and muskeg, form in waterlogged areas where plant material decomposes slowly. However, when these wetlands are drained for agriculture, mining, or infrastructure projects, stored carbon is exposed to the atmosphere, releasing CO2. The total carbon stored in peatlands surpasses half a century’s worth of current global emissions, underscoring the urgency of their preservation.

The study, published in the journal Conservation Letters, analysed the extent of peatlands within protected areas worldwide. While 17% of peatlands are classified as protected, only about half of these areas receive strict conservation measures. The Republic of the Congo stands out, with nearly 90% of its peatlands falling under protected status, yet less than 1% enjoys strict protection.

The UK, ranking 12th in global peatland coverage, has 41% of its peatlands within protected areas. Alongside Indonesia, the UK is among the few nations with a dedicated peatland strategy aligned with national climate goals. However, despite these efforts, approximately 80% of the bogs in the UK are already degraded due to drainage, overgrazing, and burning.

Researchers stress that expanding protected areas is vital for safeguarding peatlands, but strengthening the management and financial support of existing protected zones is equally important. Many designated areas suffer from inadequate funding, undermining their effectiveness. Strengthening environmental regulations to prevent destructive exploitation and recognising Indigenous land rights could further aid conservation efforts, particularly as peatland protection becomes linked to carbon credit markets.

Looking ahead, 2025 presents a key opportunity for nations to incorporate peatland protection and restoration into their climate and biodiversity strategies submitted to the United Nations.

Professor Chris Evans of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology underscores the study’s significance.

“Peatlands are often overlooked, not helped by the fact that they are typically flat, wet, often inaccessible, not always picturesque and, unlike forests, the gigatonnes of carbon they hold are hiding below the surface.”

He notes that even actively farmed peatlands could see emissions reductions by modifying drainage practices.  Reducing the depth of drainage in these areas could reduce global CO2 emissions by roughly 2% while maintaining agricultural productivity.

Prof Heiko Balzter, at the University of Leicesterin the UK, said: “There is a risk we might lose the peatland carbon sink.” He said the heatwaves and droughts being worsened by global heating itself also threatened the viability of peatlands: “That is one more reason to protect them quickly.”

The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger conservation policies, financial investments, and strategic land management to ensure that peatlands continue playing their essential role in climate regulation and biodiversity preservation.