SMOKE ON WATER

Environmental and social impacts of peatland drainage

Kills animals and plants

G REENHOUSE G AS E MISSIONS

Increases GHG emissions

Generates haze and toxic substances

B IODIVERSITY L OSS

I NCREASES FIRE FREQUENCY

P EATLAND D RAINAGE

Increases risk of flooding and droughts

L AND DEGRADATION

I NCREASES CARBON LOSS VIA WATER

Land loss/subsidence

Negatively affects aquatic species

Productivity loss

Transports contaminants and pollutants

Salt water intrusion

Worsens drinking water quality

L ÓPEZ , 2017

Based on FAO-Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme, 2014, Peatlands and Climate Change.

GRID-Arendal

Figure 9. An illustration of the environmental and social effects of peatland drainage.

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