UNEP-WCMC Impact Report

Pulling together the Global Peatlands Assessment was a huge global effort and the entire team, including the extremely dedicated UNEP-WCMC staff, did an excellent job…"

Franziska Tanneberger

Greifswald Mire Centre

Director

Image: AdobeStock / 375879673

We worked with multiple partners and authors on the development of the Global the Peatlands Assessment, the most comprehensive evaluation of global peatlands to date. The study provides a robust baseline on peatland condition. It also paves the way for the development of a comprehensive global peatland inventory, providing the best possible information on the location and condition of these essential ecosystems.

Present in almost every country, peatlands are one of our greatest resources for combating climate change. The Assessment reported that, while peatlands cover only 3 per cent of the planet, they store twice as much carbon in their soils as all the world’s forests.

However, the role of peatlands is reversed when they are damaged or destroyed, with large amounts of carbon being released into the atmosphere. Protecting, restoring and sustainably managing peatlands has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 800 million metric tons per year.
The Global Peatlands Initiative is actively engaging with countries and regions to promote these findings.

The Global Peatlands Assessment will help countries to define priority actions to conserve and better manage their peatlands, including through recognizing the role of peatlands in their national climate action plans and the need to address gender equality.

Global Peatland Map 2.0, elaborated by the Greifswald Mire Centre with Global Peatland Database data.
The boundaries and names shown, and the designations used on this map, do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.