Exploring the Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas: Spatial Distribution and Typology of Our Natural Capital

Manuel Olmos
Jul 30
3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Peatlands are fascinating and complex ecosystems that play a fundamental and dual role in the resilience of our planet: they are irreplaceable pillars for both carbon dynamics and global water security. Despite covering merely 3.8% of the global land surface (approximately 488 million hectares), these ecosystems store around 600,000 megatons of carbon, exceeding all the world's forests combined.

Based on the maps and spatial data generated in the Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas, we will explore where these strategic reserves are located, which countries lead in their extent, and the incredible typological diversity they exhibit according to their latitude and altitude.

Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas

Far from being an isolated ecosystem, peatlands have a truly global presence. They are found in at least 177 of the 193 United Nations member states.

Their global distribution is strongly shaped by atmospheric circulation patterns. Specifically, they are concentrated in zones where ascending air masses and high precipitation converge:

Northern Zone (60° Latitudes): Harbors the greatest abundance of peatlands due to colder temperatures, reduced evapotranspiration, and the flat topography of the boreal and arctic regions.
Equatorial Zone: Sustains tropical peatland systems thanks to constant high rainfall.
High Mountain Zones: Develop on the windward side of mountain ranges where ascending air cools and condenses, generating orographic rains that sustain high-altitude wetlands.

*Permafrost peatlands with lake depressions, Cape Bolvansky, Russia Photo credit: Hans Joosten. UNEP, 2019.*

Countries with the Largest Peatland Extent

The vast majority of the world's peatlands are concentrated in a select group of nations that house immense plains and basins. Below are the five countries with the largest coverage worldwide:

Rank	Country	Peatland Extent (Hectares)	Region
1	Canada	119,377,000 ha	North America
2	Asian Rusia	118,500,000 ha	Asia
3	United States	38,813,000 ha	North America
4	Brazil	26,019,489 ha	Latin America and the Caribbean
5	Indonesia	21,000,000 ha	Asia

Note: The Russian Federation as a whole dominates the global statistics, as the 20,800,000 ha of European Russia are added to Asian Russia. In Latin America, Peru (7.6 million ha) and Colombia (5.4 million ha) also stand out.

Global Peatlands Map 2.0 created by the UNEP (2024).

Peatland Types by Region and Climate

Regional climatic conditions determine the water supply and dominant vegetation, resulting in a rich variety of peatland ecosystems.

1. Arctic and Boreal Zones (North America, Russia, Northern Europe)

Permafrost and low temperatures control water dynamics in these latitudes.

Polygon mires and seepage mires: Present in the arctic tundra, characterized by brown mosses and sedges.
Palsas and Aapa mires: Maintain complex patterns of dry mounds (with lichens and dwarf shrubs) and wet hollows dominated by Sphagnum.
Wooded swamps: Further south, in the temperate zone, woody species such as Acer rubrum and Abies balsamea appear.

2. Tropical Zones (Southeast Asia and the Congo Basin)

In equatorial climates, peat accumulation is driven by massive inputs of litter and roots, mainly from evergreen trees.

Peat Swamp Forests: Particularly in Southeast Asia, they possess the highest floristic diversity of peatlands globally, harboring over 1,524 vascular plant species.
Hardwood and palm swamps: The central Congo Basin houses the second-largest tropical peatland complex in the world, dominated by these tree species.
Mangroves: Common along tropical coastal fringes.

Mangrove peatland, Cispatá Bay, Colombia. TECC.

3. Latin America (Neotropics and High Mountain Ecosystems)

From the Amazon basin to Patagonia, the neotropical region presents a unique heterogeneity.

Palm swamps: The Amazonian plains are dominated by forests of the Mauritia flexuosa palm.
High mountain peatlands (Paramos and Puna): In the Andes, at high altitudes where temperatures drop and organic decomposition slows, we find cushion plant, grass, and Sphagnum moss peatlands. These peatlands act as islands of wet habitat and are crucial for water supply in the headwaters of rivers.
Magellanic moorland: In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, ombrotrophic Sphagnum magellanicum bogs dominate.

4. Arid and Semi-Arid Zones (Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa)

Surprisingly, peatlands also exist in dry regions, sustained by groundwater or distant watersheds.

Arid swamps: Vary from fresh to saline waters as they dry out, and support herbaceous, grass, and shrub vegetation.
Floodplains: Present in the Okavango delta and the Lake Chad basin, where mineral and organic soils intertwine.

High Andean peatland dominated by Sphagnum, Sumapaz Páramo, Colombia. TECC.

Understanding the spatial distribution and typology of these ecosystems through geospatial tools and global databases is the first step to ensuring their conservation. Accurately monitoring water tables and conserving peat integrity ensures that these systems continue to provide their invaluable services for greenhouse gas capture and the protection of our water resources.

Bibliography

United Nations Environment Programme (2024). Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas: The State of the World’s Peatlands in Maps. Visualizing global threats and opportunities for peatland conservation, restoration, and sustainable management. Nairobi.