A student from the University of Leeds has made a breakthrough in environmental science by discovering that the densest store of carbon in the Amazonia rainforest is not above ground in trees as previously thought but actually below ground in the peat.

Freddie Draper, a PhD student at the University worked with an international team of researchers to conduct the work and used expert satellite data and field measurements to reach the conclusion. The findings appear in the journal Environment Research Letters and claimed to be the ‘most accurate estimates to date.’

The scientists claim: ‘This investigation provides the most accurate estimates to date of the carbon stock of an area that is the largest peatland complex in the Neotropics.’

Mr Draper added: ‘We expected to find these peatlands but what was more of surprise was how extensive they were, and how much this relatively small area contributed to Peru’s carbon stock.’

The team worked on the Amazonia project for approximately 24 months and used a new research method combining a lot of field data, measuring how deep and dense the peat was as well as how much of it was made up of carbon. From this research they’ve also concluded that Peru’s peatlands need to be a conservation and research priority and that although the basin remains ‘almost entirely intact, there are still ever increasing threats.

Dr Roucoux who co-worked with Mr Draper said that, ‘scientists are still learning about the contribution these landscapes make to the global carbon cycle.’

The findings of this research have been published shortly after the conclusion of international climate negotiations were held in Peru’s capital city, Lima.

Emily Willson