Peat bog 'the size of England' discovered in Congo

Archived from this blog's pervious incarnation, Stone & Bone on 02/06/14.

A peat bog totalling 40,000-80,000 square miles was discovered in the Congo region of Africa by Dr Simon Lewis, of the University of Leeds last month.

© Simon Lewis

Thought to contain billions of tonnes of peat, the implications of the discovery are vast. Next to nothing is known about the geography and landscape of the region due to unstable political conditions and a difficult climate: whenever Dr Lewis' team had to stop to cook or rest during the expedition, they had to construct platforms to prevent sinking in the wetland.

The researchers believe that due to the bog's size and 10,000 year age it contains a very significant amount of carbon, which will not only yield a valuable record of Africa's climatological history but provide vital insight into how much of an impact mankind has really made on the earth's atmosphere.

However, the discovery may also raise issues. Speculation is already circulating surrounding the value of the peat as fuel, and thus its potential to be used as a political tool. However Dr Lewis remains confident that the bog is safe, for now, as its remoteness and situation in a conservation area will prevent its exploitation.

But how long before opportunists try? Not that a few peat thieves could make that big of a dent in such a massive area... there is also another issue I couldn't find information or speculation on, that of bog bodies. Does this bog, like the wetlands of Denmark and Ireland, also contain the cocktail of ingredients needed to preserve a body? If so, in a region of Africa where humans can't easily go and so wildlife like crocodiles, elephants and gorillas are concentrated, could preserved animals be discovered that may shed light on evolution or population patterns? Hidden somewhere in the 23-foot deep bog, is there a specimen of a now-extinct animal... or even an unlucky ancient human being who wandered too far?