Role of Peatlands in Climate Mitigation, Community Development
In Jakarta, Indonesia, the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) held a thematic session on the management and protection of peatlands, less than two-years after fires in Indonesia drew international attention to the importance and fragility of these ecosystems.
The session drew attention to the role of peatlands in climate change mitigation, in sustaining livelihoods and communities, and in the protection of biodiversity. Prior to this meeting, UN Environment (UNEP) held the second partner meeting of the Global Peatlands Initiative. Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Indonesia and Peru may contain some of the worlds large tracks of peatlands, with research suggesting that in the DRC alone, peatlands may hold 30 billion tons of carbon or three years worth of global carbon emissions.
The GLF session on ‘Peatlands Matter’ sought to prove that local experiences are a crucial component of peatland management. The event brought peatland communities to the forefront of the conversation, aiming to learn from on-the-ground experiences and share community knowledge with policy-makers, scientists and stakeholders.
CIFOR