Global peatlands under threat from human encroachment

Level of human pressure in peatlands

High

Medium

Low

>5% peat

Canada

US

Brazil

Peru

Russia

Finland

China

Congo

DR Congo

Indonesia

Level of human pressure in peatlands

High

Medium

Low

>5% peat

Canada

US

Brazil

Peru

Russia

Finland

China

Congo

DR Congo

Indonesia

Level of human pressure in peatlands

High

Medium

Low

>5% peat

Canada

US

Brazil

Peru

Russia

Finland

China

Congo

DR Congo

Indonesia

Level of human pressure in peatlands

High

Medium

Low

>5% peat

Russia

Finland

Canada

US

China

Brazil

Peru

Congo

DR Congo

Indonesia

Level of human pressure in peatlands

High

Medium

Low

>5% peat

Russia

Finland

Canada

US

China

Brazil

Peru

Congo

DR Congo

Indonesia

Guardian graphic. Source: Austin et al, Conservation Letters, 2025. Note: named countries hold 80% of the world’s peatland. Peatlands in China are particularly diffuse and often don’t meet the density threshold to appear on the map