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Paper Trees in Precious Ground
Plantation industries have taken root across much of Southeast Asia’s peatland forests, disturbing habitat with the highest carbon content in the world. The release of carbon from Indonesia’s vast and deep peatlands has made this developing country the wo
Two huge plantation industries are sweeping Indonesia: palm oil and acacia trees used to make paper. But most of the land left for plantations is in peat forests — land with the highest carbon content in the world. Plantations on peat have helped Indonesia become the world’s third biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Some paper companies say they’re part of the solution. Some scientists disagree. Living On Earth’s Ingrid Lobet reports.