New mapping shows the carbon-rich areas humanity cannot afford to destroy if climate catastrophe is to be avoided

Irrecoverable carbon, tonnes per hectare*

1

25

50

75

100

125+

The tropical forests and peatlands of the Amazon are the biggest store of irrecoverable carbon

The Congo basin is also a major store

Russia hosts the biggest store of irrecoverable carbon, 23%, and has been hit by wildfires in recent years

Australia is home to 2.5% of the world’s irrecoverable carbon

Russia hosts the biggest store of irrecoverable carbon, 23%, and has been hit by wildfires in recent years

Irrecoverable carbon, tonnes per hectare*

1

25

50

75

100

125+

The tropical forests and peatlands of the Amazon are the biggest store of irrecoverable carbon

The Congo basin is also a major store

Australia is home to 2.5% of the world’s irrecoverable carbon

Guardian graphic. Source: Nature Sustainability. *to 30cm depth for forests and grasslands and to 100cm depth for peat and wetlands (reflecting the different depths of typical disturbance for different ecosystems)