Peatland and wetland conservation projects are an emissions-reduction project type within the land & forests segment of the carbon market. They are designed to avoid emissions from degradation, drainage, or conversion of wetlands and peat-rich ecosystems. The carbon benefit comes from avoided emissions from peat and wetland carbon losses. Common project configurations include Protection of peat-rich or tidal wetland areas where methodology allows conservation crediting.

Peatlands are among the most carbon-dense ecosystems on Earth, which is why preventing drainage and oxidation can be so important. These projects can protect large carbon stocks and important ecosystems, but their credibility depends heavily on baseline setting, leakage control, permanence, and the strength of social and land-rights safeguards. For buyers and program designers, the most important diligence questions are: How is the baseline degradation pathway defined? Are hydrology, leakage, and permanence adequately addressed?