Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests

Euridice Nora Honorio Coronado; Adam Hastie; José Reyna; Gerado Flores; Julio Grández; Outi Lähteenoja; Frederick C Draper; Christine Åkesson; Timothy R Baker; Rupesh K Bhomia; Lydia E.S. Cole; Nállarett Dávila; Jhon Del Águila; Margarita Del Águila; Dennis Del Castillo Torres; Ian Thomas Lawson; Manuel Martín Brañas; Ed T A Mitchard; Abel Monteagudo; Oliver L Philips; Eliseo Ramírez; Marcos Ríos; Sandra Ríos; Lily Rodriguez; Katherine H Roucoux; Ximena Tagle Casapia; Rodolfo Vasquez; Charlotte E Wheeler; Mariana Montoya

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65

Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests

Euridice Nora Honorio Coronado^*, Adam Hastie, José Reyna, Gerado Flores, Julio Grández, Outi Lähteenoja, Frederick C Draper, Christine Åkesson, Timothy R Baker, Rupesh K Bhomia, Lydia E.S. Cole, Nállarett Dávila, Jhon Del Águila, Margarita Del Águila, Dennis Del Castillo Torres, Ian Thomas Lawson, Manuel Martín Brañas, Ed T A Mitchard, Abel Monteagudo, Oliver L PhilipsEliseo Ramírez, Marcos Ríos, Sandra Ríos, Lily Rodriguez, Katherine H Roucoux, Ximena Tagle Casapia, Rodolfo Vasquez, Charlotte E Wheeler, Mariana Montoya

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Peatland pole forest is the most carbon-dense ecosystem in Amazonia, but its spatial distribution and species composition are poorly known. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified variation in the floristic composition, peat thickness, and the amount of carbon stored above and below ground of 102 forest plots and 53 transects in northern Peruvian Amazonia. This large dataset includes 571 ground reference points of peat thickness measurements across six ecosystem types. These field data were also used to generate a new land-cover classification based on multiple satellite products using a random forest classification. Peatland pole forests are floristically distinctive and dominated by thin-stemmed woody species such as Pachira nitida (Malvaceae), Platycarpum loretense (Rubiaceae), and Hevea guianensis (Euphorbiaceae). In contrast, palm swamps and open peatlands are dominated by Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae). Peatland pole forests have high peat thickness (274 ± 22 cm, mean ± 95% CI, n = 184) similar to open peatlands (282 ± 46 cm, n = 46), but greater than palm swamps (161 ± 17 cm, n = 220) and seasonally-flooded forest, terra firme, and white-sand forest where peat is rare or absent. As a result, peatland pole forest has exceptional carbon density (1,133 ± 93 Mg C ha⁻¹). The new sites expand the known distribution of peatland pole forest by 61% within the Pastaza-Marañón Foreland basin, mainly alongside the Tigre river, to cover a total of 7540 km² in northern Peruvian Amazonia. However, only 15% of the pole forest area is within a protected area, whilst an additional 26% lies within indigenous territories. The current low levels of protection and forest degradation but high threat from road paving projects makes the Tigre river basin a priority for conservation. The long-term conservation of peatland pole forests has the potential to make a large contribution towards international commitments to mitigate climate change.

Original language	English
Article number	074048
Number of pages	16
Journal	Environmental Research Letters
Volume	16
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65
Publication status	Published - 14 Jul 2021

Keywords

Carbon density
Dominant species
Google Earth Engine
Indigenous communities
Natural resources
Peatland degradation
RAMSAR sites

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65Licence: CC BY

Honorio_Coronado_2021_Environ._Res._Lett._Intensive-field_CC
Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Final published version, 3.59 MBLicence: CC BY

Valuing Intact Tropical Peatlands: Valuing Intact Tropical Peatlands: An Interdisciplinary Challenge
Roucoux, K. (PI), Davies, A. (CoI) & Laurie, N. (CoI)
The Leverhulme Trust
7/01/19 → 2/08/22
Project: Standard
Carbon storage in Amazonian peatlands: Carbon storage in Amazonian peatlands: distribution and dynamics
Lawson, I. T. (PI) & Roucoux, K. (CoI)
NERC
1/12/17 → 28/02/22
Project: Standard

Cite this

Honorio Coronado, E. N., Hastie, A., Reyna, J., Flores, G., Grández, J., Lähteenoja, O., Draper, F. C., Åkesson, C., Baker, T. R., Bhomia, R. K., Cole, L. E. S., Dávila, N., Del Águila, J., Del Águila, M., Del Castillo Torres, D., Lawson, I. T., Martín Brañas, M., Mitchard, E. T. A., Monteagudo, A., ... Montoya, M. (2021). Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests. Environmental Research Letters, 16(7), Article 074048. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65

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title = "Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests",

abstract = "Peatland pole forest is the most carbon-dense ecosystem in Amazonia, but its spatial distribution and species composition are poorly known. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified variation in the floristic composition, peat thickness, and the amount of carbon stored above and below ground of 102 forest plots and 53 transects in northern Peruvian Amazonia. This large dataset includes 571 ground reference points of peat thickness measurements across six ecosystem types. These field data were also used to generate a new land-cover classification based on multiple satellite products using a random forest classification. Peatland pole forests are floristically distinctive and dominated by thin-stemmed woody species such as Pachira nitida (Malvaceae), Platycarpum loretense (Rubiaceae), and Hevea guianensis (Euphorbiaceae). In contrast, palm swamps and open peatlands are dominated by Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae). Peatland pole forests have high peat thickness (274 ± 22 cm, mean ± 95% CI, n = 184) similar to open peatlands (282 ± 46 cm, n = 46), but greater than palm swamps (161 ± 17 cm, n = 220) and seasonally-flooded forest, terra firme, and white-sand forest where peat is rare or absent. As a result, peatland pole forest has exceptional carbon density (1,133 ± 93 Mg C ha−1). The new sites expand the known distribution of peatland pole forest by 61% within the Pastaza-Mara{\~n}{\'o}n Foreland basin, mainly alongside the Tigre river, to cover a total of 7540 km2 in northern Peruvian Amazonia. However, only 15% of the pole forest area is within a protected area, whilst an additional 26% lies within indigenous territories. The current low levels of protection and forest degradation but high threat from road paving projects makes the Tigre river basin a priority for conservation. The long-term conservation of peatland pole forests has the potential to make a large contribution towards international commitments to mitigate climate change.",

keywords = "Carbon density, Dominant species, Google Earth Engine, Indigenous communities, Natural resources, Peatland degradation, RAMSAR sites",

author = "{Honorio Coronado}, {Euridice Nora} and Adam Hastie and Jos{\'e} Reyna and Gerado Flores and Julio Gr{\'a}ndez and Outi L{\"a}hteenoja and Draper, {Frederick C} and Christine {\AA}kesson and Baker, {Timothy R} and Bhomia, {Rupesh K} and Cole, {Lydia E.S.} and N{\'a}llarett D{\'a}vila and {Del {\'A}guila}, Jhon and {Del {\'A}guila}, Margarita and {Del Castillo Torres}, Dennis and Lawson, {Ian Thomas} and {Mart{\'i}n Bra{\~n}as}, Manuel and Mitchard, {Ed T A} and Abel Monteagudo and Philips, {Oliver L} and Eliseo Ram{\'i}rez and Marcos R{\'i}os and Sandra R{\'i}os and Lily Rodriguez and Roucoux, {Katherine H} and {Tagle Casapia}, Ximena and Rodolfo Vasquez and Wheeler, {Charlotte E} and Mariana Montoya",

note = "This work was funded by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant #5439, MonANPeru network), NERC (Grant ref. NE/R000751/1), Concytec/British Council/Embajada Brit{\'a}nica Lima/Newton Fund (Grant ref. 220-2018), Concytec/NERC/Embajada Brit{\'a}nica Lima/Newton Fund (Grant ref. 001-2019), Leverhulme Trust (Grant ref. RPG-2018-306), Scottish Funding Council, and USAID/SWAMP program. ",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Environmental Research Letters",

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Honorio Coronado, EN, Hastie, A, Reyna, J, Flores, G, Grández, J, Lähteenoja, O, Draper, FC, Åkesson, C, Baker, TR, Bhomia, RK, Cole, LES, Dávila, N, Del Águila, J, Del Águila, M, Del Castillo Torres, D, Lawson, IT, Martín Brañas, M, Mitchard, ETA, Monteagudo, A, Philips, OL, Ramírez, E, Ríos, M, Ríos, S, Rodriguez, L, Roucoux, KH, Tagle Casapia, X, Vasquez, R, Wheeler, CE & Montoya, M 2021, 'Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests', Environmental Research Letters, vol. 16, no. 7, 074048. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests

AU - Honorio Coronado, Euridice Nora

AU - Hastie, Adam

AU - Reyna, José

AU - Flores, Gerado

AU - Grández, Julio

AU - Lähteenoja, Outi

AU - Draper, Frederick C

AU - Åkesson, Christine

AU - Baker, Timothy R

AU - Bhomia, Rupesh K

AU - Cole, Lydia E.S.

AU - Dávila, Nállarett

AU - Del Águila, Jhon

AU - Del Águila, Margarita

AU - Del Castillo Torres, Dennis

AU - Lawson, Ian Thomas

AU - Martín Brañas, Manuel

AU - Mitchard, Ed T A

AU - Monteagudo, Abel

AU - Philips, Oliver L

AU - Ramírez, Eliseo

AU - Ríos, Marcos

AU - Ríos, Sandra

AU - Rodriguez, Lily

AU - Roucoux, Katherine H

AU - Tagle Casapia, Ximena

AU - Vasquez, Rodolfo

AU - Wheeler, Charlotte E

AU - Montoya, Mariana

N1 - This work was funded by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant #5439, MonANPeru network), NERC (Grant ref. NE/R000751/1), Concytec/British Council/Embajada Británica Lima/Newton Fund (Grant ref. 220-2018), Concytec/NERC/Embajada Británica Lima/Newton Fund (Grant ref. 001-2019), Leverhulme Trust (Grant ref. RPG-2018-306), Scottish Funding Council, and USAID/SWAMP program.

PY - 2021/7/14

Y1 - 2021/7/14

N2 - Peatland pole forest is the most carbon-dense ecosystem in Amazonia, but its spatial distribution and species composition are poorly known. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified variation in the floristic composition, peat thickness, and the amount of carbon stored above and below ground of 102 forest plots and 53 transects in northern Peruvian Amazonia. This large dataset includes 571 ground reference points of peat thickness measurements across six ecosystem types. These field data were also used to generate a new land-cover classification based on multiple satellite products using a random forest classification. Peatland pole forests are floristically distinctive and dominated by thin-stemmed woody species such as Pachira nitida (Malvaceae), Platycarpum loretense (Rubiaceae), and Hevea guianensis (Euphorbiaceae). In contrast, palm swamps and open peatlands are dominated by Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae). Peatland pole forests have high peat thickness (274 ± 22 cm, mean ± 95% CI, n = 184) similar to open peatlands (282 ± 46 cm, n = 46), but greater than palm swamps (161 ± 17 cm, n = 220) and seasonally-flooded forest, terra firme, and white-sand forest where peat is rare or absent. As a result, peatland pole forest has exceptional carbon density (1,133 ± 93 Mg C ha−1). The new sites expand the known distribution of peatland pole forest by 61% within the Pastaza-Marañón Foreland basin, mainly alongside the Tigre river, to cover a total of 7540 km2 in northern Peruvian Amazonia. However, only 15% of the pole forest area is within a protected area, whilst an additional 26% lies within indigenous territories. The current low levels of protection and forest degradation but high threat from road paving projects makes the Tigre river basin a priority for conservation. The long-term conservation of peatland pole forests has the potential to make a large contribution towards international commitments to mitigate climate change.

AB - Peatland pole forest is the most carbon-dense ecosystem in Amazonia, but its spatial distribution and species composition are poorly known. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified variation in the floristic composition, peat thickness, and the amount of carbon stored above and below ground of 102 forest plots and 53 transects in northern Peruvian Amazonia. This large dataset includes 571 ground reference points of peat thickness measurements across six ecosystem types. These field data were also used to generate a new land-cover classification based on multiple satellite products using a random forest classification. Peatland pole forests are floristically distinctive and dominated by thin-stemmed woody species such as Pachira nitida (Malvaceae), Platycarpum loretense (Rubiaceae), and Hevea guianensis (Euphorbiaceae). In contrast, palm swamps and open peatlands are dominated by Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae). Peatland pole forests have high peat thickness (274 ± 22 cm, mean ± 95% CI, n = 184) similar to open peatlands (282 ± 46 cm, n = 46), but greater than palm swamps (161 ± 17 cm, n = 220) and seasonally-flooded forest, terra firme, and white-sand forest where peat is rare or absent. As a result, peatland pole forest has exceptional carbon density (1,133 ± 93 Mg C ha−1). The new sites expand the known distribution of peatland pole forest by 61% within the Pastaza-Marañón Foreland basin, mainly alongside the Tigre river, to cover a total of 7540 km2 in northern Peruvian Amazonia. However, only 15% of the pole forest area is within a protected area, whilst an additional 26% lies within indigenous territories. The current low levels of protection and forest degradation but high threat from road paving projects makes the Tigre river basin a priority for conservation. The long-term conservation of peatland pole forests has the potential to make a large contribution towards international commitments to mitigate climate change.

KW - Carbon density

KW - Dominant species

KW - Google Earth Engine

KW - Indigenous communities

KW - Natural resources

KW - Peatland degradation

KW - RAMSAR sites

U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/ac0e65

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85110962949

SN - 1748-9326

VL - 16

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

IS - 7

M1 - 074048

ER -

Intensive field sampling increases the known extent of carbon-rich Amazonian peatland pole forests

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Projects

Valuing Intact Tropical Peatlands: Valuing Intact Tropical Peatlands: An Interdisciplinary Challenge

Carbon storage in Amazonian peatlands: Carbon storage in Amazonian peatlands: distribution and dynamics

Cite this