More than trees worth saving in the tropics

In Indonesia, peat bogs that trap huge amounts of greenhouse gases are being restored in a pilot program.

December 10, 2007

Indonesia's peatlands, made up of partially decayed plant material, emit some 2 billion tons of CO2 each year by drying out and catching fire.

That makes them an enormous source of the atmosphere-warming gas. A new project is restoring 150,000 acres of peatland in this tropical country, currently hosting an international conference on climate change, saving 4 million tons of CO2 emissions a year. The program includes training villagers, turning dried-out peatlands back into wetlands, and – planting trees.

Reporting from Bali, Indonesia, reporter Peter N. Spotts looks at the innovative program and why it's winning international attention.