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Ancient Peat Emits 40% of CO2 from Congo Lakes

2/25/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

In a study published in Nature Geoscience, researchers report that up to 40% of CO2 emissions from Lac Mai Ndombe and Lac Tumba originate from ancient peat.
This finding challenges the assumption that emissions primarily derive from recent plant matter.
The study estimates that Mai Ndombe alone releases over 150 gigatons of ancient carbon annually.
The study calls for conservation, noting climate change and land-use changes could worsen emissions.

History

Historical Context

In 1996, Indonesia initiated the Mega Rice Project, draining over 1 million hectares of peat swamp forests for agriculture, leading to significant carbon emissions. By 1997, fires released up to 2.57 billion tons of carbon, making Indonesia the world's third-largest carbon emitter. Recent studies reveal that ancient peatlands, like those in Lac Mai Ndombe, emit over 150 gigatons of carbon annually, underscoring the urgent need for conservation.

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Story summary

In a study published in Nature Geoscience, researchers report that up to 40% of CO2 emissions from Lac Mai Ndombe and Lac Tumba originate from ancient peat.
This finding challenges the assumption that emissions primarily derive from recent plant matter.
The study estimates that Mai Ndombe alone releases over 150 gigatons of ancient carbon annually.
The study calls for conservation, noting climate change and land-use changes could worsen emissions.

1 / 2