Updates
UPSC Prelims 2024GS1Environment & EcologyTropical Peatlands and Carbon Sequestration

Q76. One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate.

Which one of the following denot that region ?

A. Amazon Basin
B. Congo Basin✓ Correct
C. Kikon Basin
D. Rio de la Plata Basin

Detailed Solution

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

The description refers to the vast peatlands located within the Congo Basin. This region is home to the world's largest tropical peatland complex, which stores an immense amount of carbon, estimated to be around 29 billion tons.

This carbon stock is equivalent to approximately three years of global fossil fuel emissions. The preservation of these peatlands is crucial for global climate regulation, as their degradation or destruction would release significant quantities of greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change.

While the Amazon Basin is known for its rainforests, its peatlands are not as extensive or as carbon-rich as those in the Congo Basin. Kikon Basin and Rio de la Plata Basin are not associated with such large tropical peatlands.

This question is highly relevant to current affairs concerning climate change, carbon sinks, and critical ecosystems, often highlighted in international reports.

Current Affairs Link

In Feb 2023, UNEP published a report on "Critical ecosystems : Congo Basin peatlands". Also in the same month, leaders from across Africa and Asia gathered in Gabon for an international summit on the state of the world's tropical forests, and many of the discussions focused on the Congo Basin, which stores more planet-warming carbon than the Amazon but is disappearing.

Ace UPSC with AI-powered Practice

LearnPro's test series adapts to your weak topics and shows real analytics.

Explore Courses →

Our Courses

72+ Batches

Our Courses
Contact Us