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New maps and recent discoveries are changing our understanding of the immense carbon storage potential of tropical wetlands and peatlands. And, this knowledge remains largely unappreciated. Contrary to previous belief, we now know of the existence of enormous peatland carbon stocks in the Congo basin and South America. Indonesia continues to house the most peat in Asia, and has the deepest peatlands in the tropics, with peatland mapping now a priority for the Indonesian government and its restoration aims. Improved and widespread understanding of the location, extent and carbon stores of peatlands is necessary in order to combat deforestation, drainage, degradation and to restore these fragile ecosystems.

This forum, hosted by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and partners, will discuss the latest tools for identifying and locating wetlands and peatlands, and reveal how scientists are reassessing carbon stocks. The individuals harnessing such cutting-edge data will be in conversation with the policy makers and private sector actors who play a different but essential role in protecting wetlands and peatlands, making for new insights that are essential for climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions, with global climate impacts.