Seminar: Antje Uhde

Mapping and quantifying peatlands, particularly in regions like the Amazon where they coexist alongside non-peat wetlands, presents significant challenges. Traditional methods relying on optical soil indices often fall short due to poor data availability and limited applicability in forested ecosystems. We used a combination of multi-temporal SAR and optical data to map the locations of different peatland ecosystems in the eastern Colombian lowlands. Combining the extent with Carbon field data, we report an estimated 0.97 Pg of C below-ground, which corresponds to roughly 40 times the annual CO2 emissions of Colombia. Comparisons with existing pan-tropical studies reveal discrepancies in estimated peat extents and specific locations, emphasizing the need for high-quality field reference data to better understand the role of peatlands in the regional C cycle. In my talk, I will present our methodological improvements over previous tropical peat mapping efforts. Furthermore, I will discuss the findings in a broader context, drawing conclusions regarding the C stock and implications on ecosystem protection.