Peatlands' global role in climate regulation remains under-mapped, revealing gaps in scientific and policy frameworks
Original framing: “Peatlands are vital for tackling climate change, yet scientists still haven’t found them all” — The Conversation - Global
Indigenous communities have long understood peatlands as complex, living systems. Their knowledge, often passed down orally, includes sustainable land use practices that maintain peatland health. Integrating this knowledge into scientific mapping efforts could bridge critical gaps in current research.
Peatlands are not just carbon sinks but complex ecosystems shaped by both natural processes and human history.
The failure to fully map them reflects deeper systemic issues in environmental science, including the exclusion of Indigenous knowledge and the fragmentation of global environmental governance. By integrating diverse knowledge systems and addressing the historical and structural roots of peatland degradation, we can develop more effective and equitable conservation strategies. This requires not only scientific innovation but also a reimagining of how knowledge is produced and who is empowered to shape environmental policy.