in the Central Congo Basin Peatlands 3

According to the UK-Congolese team working on the CuvetteCentraleregion,thisisthemostextensivetropicalpeatlandcomplexworldwide, five times larger than previously estimated [1]. Initialestimatesindicateanareaofabout145,500km2,correspondingto4%oftheentireCongoBasin(Map1)[1].Theseestimates,however,require further ground-truthing as they rely on peat-vegetationassociationsand remotesensingproducts [1]. If validated, thesefindingscouldmaketheDemocraticRepublicofCongothecountrywiththesecondlargestpeatlandextent(90,800km2)inthetropics(afterIndonesia),followedbytheRepublicofCongo(54,700km2)[1]. Themedian peat depth is 2metres (with amaximum of 5.9metres),shallowerthanmanyothertropicalpeatlands,butwithahighercarbondensityineachhandfulofpeat[1].TheCongopeatswamp forests store almost 30% of all the soil organic carbonfoundwithintropicalpeatlands(about30billiontonnesofcarbon),andabout5%ofthatestimatedtobestoredinpeatlandsacrosstheworld(Figure2)[1].Theircarbonstocksarealsoestimatedtobeashighasthoseintheentireabove-andbelow-groundforestbiomassofthetwocountries[1](Figure3).

The two countries agreed in June 2017 to cooperate in thesustainable management of three Ramsar sites that togetheroccupy 45% of the peatland area, by formally declaring themasa single transboundary site, Complexe Transfrontalier lac Télé -GrandsAffluents-LacTumba. Only7%ofthepeatlandregioniscoveredbydesignatedprotectedareasatthenationallevel,sothistransboundary site provides a good framework for conservationandwiseuseof theareaconsistentwith theRamsarConventiononwetlands.

Map 1. Peatland extent, carbon content and protection status

Figure 3. Carbonstockestimatesforpeatandabove-andbelow-groundwoodybiomass acrosstheRepublicofCongoandtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo[1],[30].

Map 1 data sources:Peat swamp forest vegetation:DargieGC,LewisSL,LawsonIT,MitchardETA,PageSE,BockoYE,IfoSA.2017.Age,extentandcarbonstorageofthecentralCongoBasinpeatlandcomplex.Nature542:86–90.Mapdataavailablefromwww.afritron.org/en/peatland.Protected areas: IUCN and UNEP-WCMC. 2017. TheWorld Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). Public release July 2017. Cambridge, UK.Availableat:www.protectedplanet.net.Pleasenote:someRamsarsiteboundarieshavebeendigitizedbyUNEP-WCMC.

Carbon, biodiversity and land-use4 4

The Central Congo Basin Peatlands are home to 14 speciesthreatenedatthegloballevel,aswellasto10prioritisednationallyand/orregionally[20],[21].Forexample,theseincludethreeofthefourAfricanapespecies.TotheeastoftheCongoriver,bonobos(Pan paniscus) live in thepeatswamp forests,while to thewest,western lowlandgorillas(Gorilla gorilla gorilla)canbefound[22].Chimpanzees(Pan troglodytes)arefoundinthenorthoftheCentralCongo Basin peatlands [22]. Swamp forest provides them withuseful food resources, with both gorillas and bonobos enjoyingaquatic herbs. Map 2 shows the known richness of threatenedvertebratesacross theCongopeatlands.A total of 5 areashavebeen identified as key for biodiversity conservation within thisregion(Map2).

AlltheAfricanapesareprotectedbytheKinshasaDeclarationonGreatApesaswellasundernationallaw[23].Ataregionalscale,

Map 2. Richness of threatened vertebrates within the Central Congo Basin Peatlands

the COMIFAC Convergence Plan, in its “Axis of intervention forthe conservation and enhancement of biodiversity” emphasizesthe importanceof theconservationof largemammalsandotherthreatenedspeciesoffaunaandflora[24].

©OllivierGirardCIFOR©JohannesRefisch

Map 2 data sources:Peat swamp forest vegetation: DargieGC,LewisSL,LawsonIT,MitchardETA,PageSE,BockoYE,IfoSA.2017.Age,extentandcarbonstorageofthecentralCongoBasinpeatlandcomplex.Nature542:86–90.Mapdataavailablefromwww.afritron.org/en/peatland.Threatened vertebrate species richness: IUCN2015.TheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies.Version2015.1.http://www.iucnredlist.org.Downloadedon23/2/17.

in the Central Congo Basin Peatlands 5

Most of the Central Congo Basin Peatlands are relativelyundisturbed,butoverthepasttenyears,treecoverhasbeenlostat the edge of the peatlands and along logging roads (Map 3).This has beenmainly within the Democratic Republic of Congo,where reports indicate that slash-and-burn agriculture has beenthemaindriverofthischange[16]–[18].Aconsiderablenumberofroadshavealsobeenopenedwithinthisperiod(Map3).Thismayfacilitateaccesstopreviouslyremotepeatswampforests.About28,956km2(20%)ofpeatlandsarewithinforestconcessions,andapproximately53%ofthesearethoughttobealreadyallocatedtooperators[25].

Map 3. Forest concessions across the Central Congo Basin peatlands, showing tree cover loss along logging roads and elsewhere

©SimonLewis

Map 3 data sources:Peat swamp forest and other vegetation:DargieGC,LewisSL, Lawson IT,MitchardETA,PageSE,BockoYE, IfoSA.2017.Age, extentandcarbonstorage of the central CongoBasin peatland complex.Nature 542:86–90.Mapdata available fromwww.afritron.org/en/peatland.Tree cover loss:Hansen,MC.,Potapov,PV.,Moore,R.,Hancher,M.,Turubanova,SA.,Tyukavina,A.,Thau,D.,Stehman,SV.,Goetz,SJ.,Loveland,TR.,Kommareddy,A.,Egorov, A., Chini, L., Justice, CO, and Townshend, JRG. 2013.High-ResolutionGlobalMaps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change. Science 342 (15November):850–53.Dataavailableon-line from:http://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.Roads:WRI.2009. InteractiveForestAtlasVersion1.0forCongo;DIAF,DGFandWRI.2013.InteractiveForestAtlasVersion1.0forDemocraticRepublicofCongo.Logging Roads:OpenStreetMapwithcontributionsfromtheLoggingRoadInitiative.n.d.CongoBasinloggingroads.AccessedthroughGlobalForestWatchon24/02/17.www.globalforestwatch.org.Forest concessions: WorldResourcesInstitute.n.d.Logging.AccessedthroughGlobalForestWatchon16/11/17.www.globalforestwatch.org.Agricultural concessions:DIAF/WRI.2017.Agriculturalconcessions.CreatedbasedontheFACETdata,‘cartesterritoriales’andarepertoryofplantations.Layerintheprocessofbeingvalidated.AccessedthroughMoabiDRConhttps://mapforenvironment.org/layer/info/80/DRC-Agriculture-Concessions#5.67/-1.263/19.467on03/03/17.

©JohannesRefisch

Carbon, biodiversity and land-use6

OilandgasconcessionscovertheCentralCongoBasinPeatlandsalmostinitsentirety(Map4).Licenseshavealreadybeengrantedacross30%ofthearea(RepublicofCongo31,288km2,DemocraticRepublic of Congo 12,990 km2), while 13% appears to be stillopen for bidding [26], [27]. The status of 44%of the oil and gasconcessions in theDemocraticRepublicofCongowasunknownatthetimeofwritingthisbriefing.OnlythosepeatswampforestsatthenorthoftheEquateurprovinceintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,andsomeareaswithintheSanghaprovinceintheRepublicofCongoarenotsubjecttooilandgasconcessions(Map4).Mining concessions only cover a small area within the CentralCongoBasinpeatlands.Whilstpeatisoccasionallyusedinsomecountriesforfueloreveninpowerplants[13],[14],thisisnotusuallyseen in the lowland tropics. This practice is not recommended

as peat has a high greenhouse gas emission intensity and slowrenewalrates[31].

Map 4. Mining permits and oil and gas concessions in peat swamp forest

Map 4 data sources:Peat swamp forest and other vegetation:DargieGC,LewisSL,LawsonIT,MitchardETA,PageSE,BockoYE,IfoSA.2017.Age,extentandcarbonstorageofthecentralCongoBasinpeatlandcomplex.Nature542:86–90.Mapdataavailablefromwww.afritron.org/en/peatland.Tree cover loss: Hansen,MC.,Potapov,PV.,Moore,R.,Hancher,M.,Turubanova,SA.,Tyukavina,A.,Thau,D.,Stehman,SV.,Goetz,SJ.,Loveland,TR.,Kommareddy,A.,Egorov,A.,Chini,L.,Justice,CO,andTownshend,JRG.2013.High-ResolutionGlobalMapsof21st-CenturyForestCoverChange.Science342(15November):850–53.Data available on-line from: http://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest.Oil and gas concessions: Democratic Republic oftheCongo: OpenOilRepositorycontributors.2014, “MainPage,”OpenOilRepository, http://repository.openoil.net/w/index.php?title=Main_Pageoldid=5258,accessed27/2/17);Congo:LeMinistèredesHydrocarburesandSociétéNationaledesPétrolesduCongo.2016.CongoLicenseRound2016,CuvetteBasin.http://media.wix.com/ugd/f80303_f4533124bd6d41d09f368f3c67a8c661.pdf.Accessed01/8/17.Mining concessions: WorldResourcesInstitute.n.d.AccessedthroughGlobalForestWatchon24/02/17.www.globalforestwatch.org(sourcedateunknown).

©SimonLewis

in the Central Congo Basin Peatlands 7

©SimonLewis

REFERENCES[1]DargieGC,LewisSL,Lawson IT,MitchardETA,PageSE,BockoYE, IfoSA.2017.Age,extentandcarbonstorageof thecentralCongoBasinpeatlandcomplex.Nature542:86–90.[2]PageSE,RieleyJO,BanksCJ.2010.Globalandregionalimportanceofthetropicalpeatlandcarbonpool.GlobalChangeBiology17:798-818[3]JoostenH.2010.TheGlobalPeatlandCO2picture.Peatlandstatusanddrainagerelatedemissionsinallcountriesoftheworld.WetlandsInternational.https://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/application/pdf/draftpeatlandco2report.pdf.[4]ParishF,SirinA,CharmanD,JoostenH,MinayevaT,SilviusM.2006.Assessmentonpeatlands,biodiversityandclimatechange:Keyinterimfindingsrelatedtoclimatechange.UNEP,GEF,WetlandsInternationalandGlobalEnvironmentalCentre.http://www.wetlands.or.id/PDF/Flyers/assessment.pdf.[5]EppleC,García-RangelS,JenkinsM,GuthM.2016.Managingecosystemsinthecontextofclimatechangemitigation:Areviewofcurrentknowledgeandrecommendationstosupportecosystem-basedmitigationactionsthatlookbeyondterrestrialforests.TechnicalSeriesNo.86.SecretariatoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversity,Montreal.https://www.cbd.int/sbstta/sbstta-20/sbstta-20-inf-cc-mitigation-en.pdf[6]HooijerA,PageS,JauhiainenJ,LeeWA,LuXX, IdrisA,AnshariG.2012.Subsidenceandcarbon loss indrained tropicalpeatlands.Biogeosciences9:1053–1071.[7]ParishF,SirinA,CharmanD,JoostenH,MinayevaT,SilviusM,StringerL,LewandowskiCM.2008.AssessmentonPeatlands,BiodiversityandClimateChange.GlobalEnvironmentCentre,KualaLumpur&WetlandsInternational,Wageningen.http://www.wetlands.or.id/PDF/Flyers/assessment.pdf.[8]WilsonR,HoppleA.TfailyM,SebestyenS,Schadt,C,Pfeifer-MeisterL,MedvedeffC,McFarlaneK,KostkaJ,KoltonM,KolkaR,KluberL,KellerJ,GuildersonT,GriffithsN,ChantonJ,BridghamS,HansonP.2016.Stabilityofpeatlandcarbontorisingtemperatures.NatureCommunications7:13723.[9]FAOandWetlandsInternational2012.Peatlands-Guidanceforclimatechangemitgationthroughconservation,rehabilitationandsustainableuse.(eds.JoostenH,Tapio-BiströmM-L,TolS.)FAO,Rome,Italy.htp://www.fao.org/docrep/015/an762e/an762e.pdf.[10]PageS,HooijerA.2016.Inthelineoffire:thepeatlandsofSoutheastAsia.PhilosophicalTransactionsoftheRoyalSocietyB371:20150176.[11] PageS,HosciloA,WostenH, Jauhiainen J, SilviusM, Rieley J. 2008. Restoration ecology of lowland tropical peatlands in SoutheastAsia: Currentknowledgeandfutureresearchdirections.Ecosystems12:888–905.[12]BiancalaniR,AvagyanA.2014.Towardsclimate-responsiblepeatlandsmanagement.MitigationofClimateChangeinAgricultureSeries(MICCA):117.http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4029e.pdf.[13]HakizimanaJ,KimH-T.2016.Peatbriquetteasanalternativetocookingfuel:Atechno-economicviabilityassessmentinRwanda.Energy102:453–464.[14] Thomson Reuters. 2016. Rwanda to get second peat-fired power plant. Available from http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/east-africa/2016/11/23/rwanda-second-peat-plant/.[15]RépubliqueDuCongo.2016.NiveaudesEmissionsdeRéférencepourlesForêts(NERF)delaRépubliqueDuCongo.Ministèredel’EconomieForestière,duDéveloppementDurableetdel’Environnement.Brazzaville.http://redd.unfccc.int/files/2016_submission_frel_republicofcongo.pdf[16]MahongolD.2012.AnalysequalitativedescausesetagentsdeladéforestationetdeladégradationdesterresforestièresdansuneRDCpost-conflit.DivisionPost-ConflitetGestiondesDésastres,ProgrammePaysdelaRDC.UNEP.http://cd.chm-cbd.net/implementation/redd-en-republique-democratique-du-congo/etude-causes-dd_synthese_pnue-post-conflit_final.pdf

Proposed next steps for analysis

Theemphasisofnextstepsinthisbriefingnoteisonlyonfurtherresearchandanalysis.AdialoguewiththeGovernmentsandrelevantstakeholderswillbeinitiatedbyUNEnvironmentandthepartnerstotheGlobalPeatlandsInitiativetodiscussanddeveloparoadmapforpolicyaction.

Ecosystem services

• Thecurrentestimateofcarbonstocksinthepeatlandhasahighdegreeofuncertaintyattachedtoit,asforalltropicalpeatlands.Furtherfieldsamples(locatedusingthepeatlandprobabilityinMap1)toconfirmthepresenceofpeatsoils,andassesstheirdepthandcarbondensity,wouldhelptonarrowtherange.

• Tobetterunderstandthe impactofpotentialpeatlanddrainageonecosystemservices in theregion, itwouldbeuseful todevelopscenariosoftheeffectsonhydrology,erosionrisk,waterquality,firerisksandregionalclimateforthispartoftheworld.AmongstothersthismightbuildontheWaterworldmodel,whichestimatestheeffectsofchangesintreecover(ratherthaninsoilmoistureholdingcapacity).

Biodiversity protection

• TheprotectedareamapsfortheDemocraticRepublicofCongoarenotasup-to-dateasthosefromRepublicofCongo,andcapacitybuildinginthisareamaybedesirable.

• Ifnewprotectedareasareconsideredasamanagementresponse,itmaybeusefultodrawonandupdateexistinggapanalyses,suchasthosedevelopedbythePARAPprojectforDemocraticRepublicofCongo.

Drivers of change

• To better understand the scale of the risk of peatland drainage in this region, a range of research could be carried out. Surveysinterviewing concessionholders in the regionwould improve informationonmarket access for palmoil producers and likelihoodthatthey invest in landdrainage. Improvedmapsofsuitabilityforoilpalmdevelopment, takingthenewunderstandingofpeatlanddistributionintoaccountwouldhelptoidentifythescaleofthetheoreticalrisk.Thisinformationcouldfeedintointegratedassessmentmodelsoflandusechangethatalsoconsideranticipatedglobaldemandforproducts

Responses

• AnassessmentofoptionsforprotectionandsustainableuseoftheCentralCongoBasinpeatlandregion,couldinformfuturepolicydecisionsforgovernmentandotherstakeholders.Thiscouldbeunderpinnedbycommunitysurveystounderstandthewaysinwhichlocalpeoplemanagepeatlandsatpresent,andidentifylocaldevelopmentprioritiesandanybarrierstoconservation.

• Adecisionsupportsystemprovidinginteractiveaccesstothemapspresentedinthisreport(andmore)couldfurtherinformdecisionsonwheretolocatenewmanagementinterventions.