New Study Reveals Importance of Peatlands and Mangroves

More than half of Southeast Asia's land-use carbon emissions may be cut by protecting and rehabilitating the region's mangroves and peatlands, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications. Despite making up only 5% of the region's geographical area, these ecosystems are vital for storing carbon and reducing emissions, which makes them crucial for ASEAN nations to meet their climate goals.

The study, which was carried out by a multinational group of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with assistance from James Cook University in Australia and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), emphasises the significance of mangroves and peatlands as organic carbon sinks. These ecosystems are very effective at reducing emissions because they store more than 90% of their carbon in soils rather than vegetation. However, they release huge amounts of carbon when disturbed by changes in land use, which has a big influence on climate goals.

Degradation of peatlands is particularly problematic during dry spells linked to El Niño events because it causes significant carbon emissions and regional haze, which impacts the quality of the air in places like Singapore. According to the study, protecting these carbon-rich habitats might reduce Malaysia's greenhouse gas emissions by about twofold in 2023, or around 770 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) yearly.

The study also urges ASEAN nations to incorporate the preservation of mangroves and peatlands into their climate plans. These countries can lower emissions and strengthen their climate change resistance by doing this. The report highlights how adding these habitats to the Paris Agreement's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) could aid in establishing more ambitious emission reduction goals. Nevertheless, substantial funding for conservation and restoration initiatives would be necessary for such initiatives.

Because of their water-saturated, oxygen-limited soils, Southeast Asia is home to some of the largest tropical peatlands and mangroves in the world, which naturally absorb carbon. However, carbon that has been stored in these ecosystems is irreplaceable once it is gone as a result of human activities like urbanisation or agriculture. Because of this, protecting them is of utmost importance for climate action.

The report also highlights the financial benefits associated with wetland preservation. Funding for restoration efforts and a steady source of revenue for nearby communities may be made possible if carbon were recognised as a marketable commodity in carbon credit markets. Communities might take the lead in carbon control activities through such programs, striking a balance between economic development and conservation.

Updated emission estimates from disturbed peatlands and mangroves between 2001 and 2022 were provided by researchers, who also identified the nations and land-use categories most impacted. Policymakers need this data in order to prioritise conservation and intervention initiatives. These ecosystems offer a low-cost, efficient means of reaching net-zero emissions because of their tremendous potential to store carbon.

Southeast Asian nations can greatly reduce global warming, improve biodiversity, and help local communities by making investments in the preservation of peatlands and mangroves. These ecosystems provide scalable and significant natural solutions to cut emissions and increase climate resilience as climate problems worsen.

Source: Nature Communications
Credits: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), and James Cook University