Priority research questions in global peatland science
Issued Date
2026-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
26624435
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105037994537
Journal Title
Communications Earth and Environment
Volume
7
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Communications Earth and Environment Vol.7 No.1 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Milner A.M., McKeown M.M., Ruwaimana M., Gallego-Sala A., Loisel J., Menges J., Roland T.P., Ahiable C.A.E., Akwany L.O., Alarcon-Prado P., Anshari G., Alappat L., Baird A.J., Bąk M., Bambuta Boole J.J., Batten S.E., Beaudoin Y., Bechtold M., Bu Z.J., Budisusanti S.P.M., Benavides J.C., Chawchai S., Chimner R.A., Cobb A.R., Cole L.E.S., Connolly J., Calvo Vargas J.C., Courtney-Mustaphi C.J., Davidson S.J., de la Peña A., Duley E., Elshehawi S., Espinoza León I., Finkelstein S.A., Garneau M., Girkin N.T., Glen E., Grover S., Grundling P.L., Handley J.N., Helfter C., Hergoualc’h K., Hoyt A.M., Huang X., Imani G., James A., Kabonyi Nzabandora C., Kagaba Kairumba C., Kansiime F., Kolka R.K., Koren G., Korhola A., Krisnawati H., Kumar R., Lamentowicz M., Lång K., Larmola T., Lewis S.L., Lopez O.R., López-Blanco E., Lupascu M., Maldonado-Fonken M., Marchant R., Marcisz K., Mazei N.G., Mazei Y.A., Mbasi M., Melling L., Miles L., Montanarella L., Moss P.T., Murgía-Flores F., NGuyen M.K., Novita N., Oliver D.J.S., Orijemie E.A., Osaki M., Page S.E., Pancost R.D., Pandey S., Püschel Hoeneisen N., Quintana Zagaceta C.H., Ratnayake A.S., Reed M.S., Rochefort L., Saavedra B., Samuel J., Scheel P., Schutten H., Siegert F., Signori-Müller C., Strack M., Stolle F., Swindles G.T., Tanneberger F., Turetsky M.R., Urciuolo A.B., Väliranta M., Verstraeten G., Warren M. Priority research questions in global peatland science. Communications Earth and Environment Vol.7 No.1 (2026). doi:10.1038/s43247-026-03321-5 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/116726
Title
Priority research questions in global peatland science
Author(s)
Milner A.M.
McKeown M.M.
Ruwaimana M.
Gallego-Sala A.
Loisel J.
Menges J.
Roland T.P.
Ahiable C.A.E.
Akwany L.O.
Alarcon-Prado P.
Anshari G.
Alappat L.
Baird A.J.
Bąk M.
Bambuta Boole J.J.
Batten S.E.
Beaudoin Y.
Bechtold M.
Bu Z.J.
Budisusanti S.P.M.
Benavides J.C.
Chawchai S.
Chimner R.A.
Cobb A.R.
Cole L.E.S.
Connolly J.
Calvo Vargas J.C.
Courtney-Mustaphi C.J.
Davidson S.J.
de la Peña A.
Duley E.
Elshehawi S.
Espinoza León I.
Finkelstein S.A.
Garneau M.
Girkin N.T.
Glen E.
Grover S.
Grundling P.L.
Handley J.N.
Helfter C.
Hergoualc’h K.
Hoyt A.M.
Huang X.
Imani G.
James A.
Kabonyi Nzabandora C.
Kagaba Kairumba C.
Kansiime F.
Kolka R.K.
Koren G.
Korhola A.
Krisnawati H.
Kumar R.
Lamentowicz M.
Lång K.
Larmola T.
Lewis S.L.
Lopez O.R.
López-Blanco E.
Lupascu M.
Maldonado-Fonken M.
Marchant R.
Marcisz K.
Mazei N.G.
Mazei Y.A.
Mbasi M.
Melling L.
Miles L.
Montanarella L.
Moss P.T.
Murgía-Flores F.
NGuyen M.K.
Novita N.
Oliver D.J.S.
Orijemie E.A.
Osaki M.
Page S.E.
Pancost R.D.
Pandey S.
Püschel Hoeneisen N.
Quintana Zagaceta C.H.
Ratnayake A.S.
Reed M.S.
Rochefort L.
Saavedra B.
Samuel J.
Scheel P.
Schutten H.
Siegert F.
Signori-Müller C.
Strack M.
Stolle F.
Swindles G.T.
Tanneberger F.
Turetsky M.R.
Urciuolo A.B.
Väliranta M.
Verstraeten G.
Warren M.
McKeown M.M.
Ruwaimana M.
Gallego-Sala A.
Loisel J.
Menges J.
Roland T.P.
Ahiable C.A.E.
Akwany L.O.
Alarcon-Prado P.
Anshari G.
Alappat L.
Baird A.J.
Bąk M.
Bambuta Boole J.J.
Batten S.E.
Beaudoin Y.
Bechtold M.
Bu Z.J.
Budisusanti S.P.M.
Benavides J.C.
Chawchai S.
Chimner R.A.
Cobb A.R.
Cole L.E.S.
Connolly J.
Calvo Vargas J.C.
Courtney-Mustaphi C.J.
Davidson S.J.
de la Peña A.
Duley E.
Elshehawi S.
Espinoza León I.
Finkelstein S.A.
Garneau M.
Girkin N.T.
Glen E.
Grover S.
Grundling P.L.
Handley J.N.
Helfter C.
Hergoualc’h K.
Hoyt A.M.
Huang X.
Imani G.
James A.
Kabonyi Nzabandora C.
Kagaba Kairumba C.
Kansiime F.
Kolka R.K.
Koren G.
Korhola A.
Krisnawati H.
Kumar R.
Lamentowicz M.
Lång K.
Larmola T.
Lewis S.L.
Lopez O.R.
López-Blanco E.
Lupascu M.
Maldonado-Fonken M.
Marchant R.
Marcisz K.
Mazei N.G.
Mazei Y.A.
Mbasi M.
Melling L.
Miles L.
Montanarella L.
Moss P.T.
Murgía-Flores F.
NGuyen M.K.
Novita N.
Oliver D.J.S.
Orijemie E.A.
Osaki M.
Page S.E.
Pancost R.D.
Pandey S.
Püschel Hoeneisen N.
Quintana Zagaceta C.H.
Ratnayake A.S.
Reed M.S.
Rochefort L.
Saavedra B.
Samuel J.
Scheel P.
Schutten H.
Siegert F.
Signori-Müller C.
Strack M.
Stolle F.
Swindles G.T.
Tanneberger F.
Turetsky M.R.
Urciuolo A.B.
Väliranta M.
Verstraeten G.
Warren M.
Author's Affiliation
University of Toronto
Stanford University
University College London
University of Cambridge
National University of Singapore
The University of Queensland
KU Leuven
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Helsingin Yliopisto
University of Bristol
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Leeds
University of Nottingham
Aarhus Universitet
Hokkaido University
University of Waterloo
Queen's University Belfast
Universität Basel
Universitetet i Bergen
University of Exeter
University of Leicester
University of York
Trinity College Dublin
Queensland University of Technology
RMIT University
China University of Geosciences
Chulalongkorn University
La Trobe University
University of St Andrews
Universität Bremen
University College Cork
Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
University of Nevada, Reno
Royal Holloway, University of London
Université du Québec à Montréal
USDA Forest Service
University of Plymouth
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Northeast Normal University
University of Ibadan
University of the Free State
Universität Greifswald
Michigan Technological University
Makerere University
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Sunway University
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Max-Planck-Institut für Geoanthropologie
Center for International Forestry Research, West Java
Centre D'Etudes Nordiques, Rimouski
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
Universitas Tanjungpura
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City
Asian School of the Environment
Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
World Resources Institute
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University
Uva Wellassa University
Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Université de Kisangani
United Nations Environment Programme
Christ College, Irinjalakuda
Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Lima
Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH
Université Officielle de Bukavu
Ministry of Water and Environment
Ministerio del Ambiente
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara
Wetlands International, India
Ministry of Forestry
Greifswald Mire Centre
Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
Fisheries and the Environment
Knowledge Core GmbH
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Conservation International
Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA)
Wildlife Conservation Society Chile
Fundación Por El Mar (PEM)
Jacobs
Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
Alinea International
Rewilding Chile
Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Agronomiques de Bengamisa (ISEA-Bengamisa)
Stanford University
University College London
University of Cambridge
National University of Singapore
The University of Queensland
KU Leuven
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Helsingin Yliopisto
University of Bristol
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Leeds
University of Nottingham
Aarhus Universitet
Hokkaido University
University of Waterloo
Queen's University Belfast
Universität Basel
Universitetet i Bergen
University of Exeter
University of Leicester
University of York
Trinity College Dublin
Queensland University of Technology
RMIT University
China University of Geosciences
Chulalongkorn University
La Trobe University
University of St Andrews
Universität Bremen
University College Cork
Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
University of Nevada, Reno
Royal Holloway, University of London
Université du Québec à Montréal
USDA Forest Service
University of Plymouth
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Northeast Normal University
University of Ibadan
University of the Free State
Universität Greifswald
Michigan Technological University
Makerere University
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Sunway University
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Max-Planck-Institut für Geoanthropologie
Center for International Forestry Research, West Java
Centre D'Etudes Nordiques, Rimouski
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
Universitas Tanjungpura
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City
Asian School of the Environment
Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre
World Resources Institute
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University
Uva Wellassa University
Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Université de Kisangani
United Nations Environment Programme
Christ College, Irinjalakuda
Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Lima
Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH
Université Officielle de Bukavu
Ministry of Water and Environment
Ministerio del Ambiente
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara
Wetlands International, India
Ministry of Forestry
Greifswald Mire Centre
Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
Fisheries and the Environment
Knowledge Core GmbH
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Conservation International
Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA)
Wildlife Conservation Society Chile
Fundación Por El Mar (PEM)
Jacobs
Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
Alinea International
Rewilding Chile
Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Agronomiques de Bengamisa (ISEA-Bengamisa)
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Peatlands are among Earth’s largest terrestrial carbon stores and are crucial for climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and water security. Yet peatlands worldwide are deteriorating under pressures from climate change and human disturbance. Strategic, globally coordinated research is urgently needed to protect, restore and manage peatlands so they can continue to deliver essential ecosystem services. To meet this challenge, here we present a global research prioritisation for peatland science, based on a two-stage online survey and expert voting exercise involving 467 participants from 54 countries. We identify 50 priority research questions spanning carbon dynamics, climate impacts, restoration and management, technological innovation, and community and policy engagement. These questions provide a community-informed agenda to guide peatland research over the next decade. Addressing them will help close critical knowledge gaps, strengthen evidence-based decision making, and support the role of peatlands in achieving global climate and biodiversity goals.