AreaBilateral/Multilateral

Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals

CommodityPeatlands

Date01/03/2020

Policy CategoryOther

Policy InstrumentEnvironmental policies

DescriptionThe UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a geospatial online tool to help countries preserve critical carbon stores known as peatland. To halt peatland degradation and effectively plan peatland restoration, FAO called for urgent mapping and monitoring activities at national level and offered recommendations for the responsible management of such lands.

NotesPeatland conservation: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a geospatial on-line tool to help countries preserve critical carbon stores known as peatland. To halt peatland degradation and effectively plan peatland restoration, the agency called for urgent mapping and monitoring activities at national level and offered recommendations on how to manage peatlands. According to FAO, locating and accurately mapping peatlands – via a mix of satellite and ground-based tools – allows to effectively monitor changes in peatland conditions, notably their water level, thus spotting risks of fires and harmful GHG emissions. To facilitate countries’ access to high-quality imagery, the agency developed a state-of-the-art, open-source monitoring module. Reportedly, the tool is being successfully used in Indonesia, where it provides timely information about soil moisture trends to help detect drainage and monitor restoration efforts. Similar applications are planned in the Congo Basin and in Peru.