Peat organic matter is the planet’s biggest terrestrial carbon store. It covers only 3% of the earth’s surface, but contains twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests.(1)
Peat is formed from partially decomposed vegetation. It generally occurs in areas where the ground is waterlogged, which results in extremely slow decomposition. Peat bogs occur all over the world– from tropical rainforests to the Arctic. (2)
Other wetlands include:
- estuaries
- rivers
- lakes
- salt marshes
- seagrass beds
- mangroves
All wetlands play critical roles in mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity, protecting against floods and cleaning the air. Watch this 2 minute video to understand the importance of wetlands.
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