Forest Loss Inside and Outside Peatland, Papua

Forest loss in peatlands has been lower than in non-peatlands, but more carbon is released when peatland forest is lost. As a result, emissions from forest loss in peatlands could surpass emissions from non-peatland forest—unless development policies are revised for this danger.

For example, in West Papua Province, 2015 and 2016 emissions from degraded peatlands contributed about 50-55 percent more than emissions from forest clearing. Meanwhile, in Papua Province, emissions from peatlands have never exceeded emissions from tree cover losses for 17 years.