One of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Congo Basin
The Congo Basin contains the world's largest tropical peatland complex, known as the Cuvette Centrale, which spans approximately 145,000 square kilometres across the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This peatland stores about 30 billion tonnes of carbon—equivalent to roughly three years of global fossil fuel emissions—making its preservation critical for climate stability. The destruction of this peatland through drainage or land-use changes would release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, significantly accelerating global climate change.
📝 Short Notes: Major Tropical Peatlands
| Peatland Region | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Cuvette Centrale (Congo Basin) | Republic of Congo & DRC | World's largest tropical peatland; stores ~30 billion tonnes of carbon (3 years of global fossil fuel emissions) |
| Amazon Basin Peatlands | Peru, Brazil | Significant carbon storage, but smaller than Congo Basin peatlands |
| Southeast Asian Peatlands | Indonesia, Malaysia | Major carbon stores; heavily degraded due to palm oil plantations and fires |
| Brazzaville Declaration (2018) | Congo, DRC, Indonesia | International agreement to protect tropical peatlands and prevent carbon release |
- Peatlands are wetland ecosystems where waterlogged conditions prevent organic matter from fully decomposing, leading to carbon accumulation over thousands of years
- Tropical peatlands store carbon both in vegetation and in deep peat soils (can be several meters deep)
- Drainage and conversion of peatlands for agriculture releases stored carbon as CO₂ and N₂O
- Protection of peatlands is crucial for climate change mitigation strategies
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