Severe wildfire legacies turn peatland rewetting into a low-emission, low-conflict restoration opportunity. (IMAGE)
Caption
Severe wildfire legacies turn peatland rewetting into a low-emission, low-conflict restoration opportunity. This graphical abstract illustrates the core findings of the study. Decades of drainage have turned peatlands into carbon sources and increased wildfire risks. Severe fires, unlike mild or no fires, fundamentally alter peat chemistry and suppress methane production after rewetting—reducing post‑rewetting CH₄ emissions by 91% compared with unburned sites. These fire‑affected areas also carry lower agricultural value, easing land‑use conflicts and making them pragmatic targets for restoration. Globally, prioritizing such sites could avoid 0.1–0.8 million tonnes CO₂‑equivalent annually, with more than 70% of the potential concentrated in Asia.
Credit
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
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CC BY-NC-ND