Category FAQs Search : Ecosystem
Question: Why are peatland fires so problematic?
Answer: Peatland fires are problematic because of the huge amount of CO2 they release (42 per cent of Indonesia’s total emissions in 2015) and the significant impact on health. This summer, hundreds of people have been evacuated, schools have been closed and poor air quality is affecting people’s health, especially the most vulnerable. Air pollution reached hazardous levels in some parts of the country—microscopic particles are particularly dangerous. Not only do peatland fires impact people, but these ecosystems are also home to unique biodiversity which relies on this habitat for survival. We need to keep peatlands wet.
(Source: UN Environment Programme , 18 Feb 2021)
Source Link: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/why-peatlands-matter