Database total ecosystem carbon stocks of tropical peat forest and greenhouse gas emissions from their disturbance

Tropical peat forests are key ecosystems for conservation and restoration with respect to natural solutions to the climate crisis yet they remain under threat of becoming significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions due to widespread deforestation and land cover change. There is a strong need for accurate quantification of carbon stocks and emissions at scales relevant for participation in carbon markets and nationally determined contributions. Based upon analyses of 125 forests in 4 continents, there was a a broad range in peat depths (20 to 1414 cm) with a mean total ecosystem carbon stock (TECS ) of 2137 Mg C/ha (range of 172 to 9379 Mg C/ha). Among the 47 sampled sites known to be tidally-influenced (i.e., blue carbon ecosystems), TECS ranged widely, from 206 to 5591 Mg C/ha with a mean of 1979 Mg C/ha. Those sites with deep peats (> 7 m depth) have a mean TECS of 4620 ± 395 Mg C/ha and we know of no ecosystems with an equivalent ecosystem carbon stock. Peat soils composed a mean of 86% of TECS, and peat depths were strongly correlated with soil C stocks at continental and global scales (R² >0.80) suggesting inventories that include measurement of peat depth can accurately estimate C stocks. Degradation of peat landscapes comes with a high ecological and social costs. The social carbon costs to future generations associated with the conversion of tropical peat forests to oil palm plantations is conservatively estimated to 9 times the value of the palm oil generated from the conversion. Such costs and values of the tropical peat forests of the world underscore the importance of the conservation and restoration of these wetlands for future generations -an important element of sustainability.