Peatlands cover a small fraction of Earth's land but store nearly a third of all soil carbon. When these ecosystems are drained for agriculture or development, they release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing up to 10% of annual human caused emissions. Recent research highlights a critical gap in global mapping, particularly in tropical regions like the Congo Basin. Without accurate data on where peatlands exist and how much carbon they hold, countries cannot create reliable climate plans or effective restoration strategies.
