Using biodiversity to support climate resilient livelihoods in intact tropical peatlands

Countries: Peru, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Lead Partner: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK

Summary: Tropical peatlands are threatened by climate change and human pressure. Recent increases in severe flooding and drought events threaten peatland species and the livelihoods of people who depend on them.

In Southeast Asia, intensive commercial agriculture has heavily degraded peatlands through large-scale drainage and conversion into plantations. Meanwhile, the Amazon and Congo basin peatlands remain largely intact but are at risk from agriculture expansion and new infrastructure. Protecting the carbon-rich peatlands of the Amazon and Congo basins is vital for preserving biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and mitigating climate change.

This project will deliver a step change in the understanding of (i) peatland biodiversity, (ii) the resilience of useful peatland species to more frequent droughts or flooding events, and (iii) the opportunities to use biodiversity to support livelihoods. Outputs will inform policy by identifying the species that should be the focus of peatland management.