Mapping, Management, and Mitigation: How Peatlands Can Advance Climate Action in Southeast Asia
by , , and -Southeast Asia is home to over 54% of the world’s peatlands — tropical wetlands that have a major role to play in climate action. However, around 25 million hectares of tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia have been deforested and drained over the last three decades alone, and only 6% of peatlands remain untouched. One of the main strategies to monitor and maintain peatlands is mapping. This helps ensure experts know where peatlands are and can accurately monitor changes in peatland conditions to help avoid degradation and effectively plan any necessary restoration. In Southeast Asia, not all countries have developed peat maps to support peatland management. New and advanced satellite-based peat mapping methods can help.