Carbon credits from peatland rewetting

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Drained peatlands, covering just 0.3% of the global land area, contribute disproportionately to 6% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions, highlighting a critical issue. Key regions affected include Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, parts of the United States, and Northeast China. The primary solution is to restore high water levels in peatlands, yet several questions remain: How does rewetting impact greenhouse gas fluxes and methane emissions? Can these reductions be measured, reported, and verified? Are they creditable towards Kyoto Protocol commitments and tradable in the voluntary carbon market? Additionally, what effects does rewetting have on biodiversity, and can rewetted peatlands still be utilized productively? Belarus is a significant contributor to peatland CO2 emissions, ranking 8th globally and 3rd in emissions per land area. In recent years, extensive rewetting efforts have been undertaken in the country. This volume synthesizes the challenges and solutions from a pilot project in Belarus conducted between 2008 and 2011, presenting data and conclusions while integrating scientific and political perspectives. The insights and recommendations for peatland restoration offered here aim to inspire practitioners, land-use planners, scientists, and policymakers. A Russian language edition is also available.