Richard A. Betts

Land-use change causes rapid carbon losses in Congo Basin peatlands across climate scenarios, whereas the effects of climate change alone are uncertain.

One of Earth's most extensive tropical peatland complexes is in the central Congo Basin. Past climatic drying caused the widespread loss of a large proportion of the peat carbon stock, indicating its vulnerability to climate change. However, the additional effect caused by the interaction of climate change with land-us...