Peat bogs are vital carbon stores, but they are disappearing fast.

Scientists writing in the journal *Science* warn that peatlands need urgent protection. Peat is partially decayed plant material that builds up in waterlogged ground over thousands of years. These bogs lock away huge amounts of carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere. When peatlands are drained or dug up, that stored carbon is released as carbon dioxide, a gas that drives climate change. The researchers argue that saving these wetlands is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to fight global warming. The message is simple: protect the bogs, for peat's sake.