Peatlands cover a small fraction of Earth's surface but hold nearly one third of all soil carbon. When drained for agriculture or forestry, these ecosystems shift from carbon sinks to sources, contributing up to 10 percent of annual human CO2 emissions. Research highlights a critical need to restore 500,000 square kilometers of drained peatlands by 2050. While rewetting can reduce emissions and subsidence, significant gaps remain in understanding long term biodiversity recovery and the impact of rapid warming on tropical peat soils.
