农村室内薪柴燃烧的颗粒物和炭黑排放因子

室内薪柴燃烧是大气污染的重要来源,其排放的污染物对气候变化和人体健康都有很大影响。对该来源排放量的可靠估算是进行排放效应分析和合理控制的重要前提,而估算的可靠性主要取决于燃料消耗量和排放因子的准确性。目前,我国针对农村柴灶薪柴燃烧颗粒物排放因子的测定数据很少,变异很大,不足以支持可靠的排放清单估算。测定了9种薪柴(枫桦、兰考泡桐、黑杨、大叶风杨、楝树、枣树、柿树、桑树和桃树)在中国北方典型农村炉灶中燃烧产生的颗粒物(PM)、有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)的排放因子。受燃料种类、性质和燃烧条件的影响,测得的排放因子差别较大。9种薪柴各自的PM、EC和OC的排放因子变化范围分别为(0.74±0.13)～(6.23±1.47)g.kg-1,(0.10±0.06)～(0.97±0.28)g.kg-1和(0.14±0.03)～(3.81±0.92)g.kg-1(以干质量计)。全部薪柴的PM、EC和OC的排放因子均值和标准差分别为(2.58±2.15)、(0.29±0.31)和(0.98±1.24)g.kg-1。室内薪柴燃烧PM、EC和OC排放因子之间呈显著的相关性关系。各种薪柴燃烧排放的颗粒物粒径分布相似,均以细颗粒物为主,PM2.1占PM10总质量的90%以上。此外,除EC排放因子外,薪柴燃烧的PM和OC排放因子与校正燃烧效率显著负相关(P<0.05)。细颗粒物组分PM2.1与校正燃烧效率显著负相关(P<0.05),与燃料含水量显著正相关(P<0.05)。     

西安市春季大气细粒子的质量浓度及其水溶性组分的特征

为了探讨西安市春季大气细粒污染物的污染水平及水溶性组分的特征及来源,2005年3—5月对西安大气PM2.5进行了观测,并应用离子色谱对其中的水溶性组分进行了分析。结果显示,西安市春季大气PM2.5的质量浓度为159.9μg·m-3。分析的11种阴阳离子(Na 、NH4 、K 、Mg2 、Ca2 、F-、Cl-、Br-、NO2-、NO3-和SO42-)质量浓度占PM2.5的30%,表明水溶性组分是大气细粒子的主要组成之一。NH4 、SO42-和NO3-为水溶性离子的主要组分,其平均质量浓度分别为6.6、20.1和7.6μg·m-3,在总水溶性离子中的百分比分别为12.4%、47.4%和16.9%,SO42-和NO3-质量浓度与能见度有较好的负相关性,表明细粒子中二次气溶胶组分对能见度有显著的影响。阴阳离子的平衡和pH值的测定结果显示,西安市大气细粒子污染物为弱酸性。离子间的相关性分析揭示水溶性离子在颗粒物中主要结合方式为(NH4)2SO4、NH4HSO4、NH4NO3、KHSO4和K2SO4。Mg2 和Ca2 的相关性也较好,其摩尔比率为0.07,小于中国北方沙漠和黄土的平均值(0.15),揭示二次扬尘和建筑扬尘等过程对Ca2 的质量浓度影响较大。计算的NO3-/SO42-质量浓度比值的均值为0.38,说明固定排放源(燃煤)对细粒子中水溶性组分的贡献大于移动排放源(机动车)。     

基于聚类方法下的柴油车排放颗粒物无机元素谱分析

近年来在大气污染的防治工作中,柴油车污染防治的重要性日渐凸显.本文通过测试和文献检索等方法收集了97组与柴油车排放颗粒物无机元素排放有关的数据,采用k-means均值聚类分析的方法对数据进行分类并对分类结果进行分析,得出柴油车无机元素排放占颗粒物比例的大致区间为:Si(0—4.62%)、Al(0—1.53%)、Ca(0—4.09%)、Na(0—2.61%)、Mg(0—2.68%)、K(0—0.85%)、Fe(0—3.4%)、Zn(0—0.54%)、Cu(0—1.49%)、Ni(0—0.06%),且所得无机元素的排放区间的置信水平均大于94%.同时得到的柴油车排放颗粒物无机元素分析结果,可以为后续柴油车排放颗粒物无机元素数据分析以及相关污染治理提供参考,进而促进我国大气环境质量的改善、更好地保障人们身体健康.     

钾肥对小麦根际土壤镉的吸收及其植物毒性的影响

研究不同钾肥对Cd在根际土壤-植物系统中转移及植物有效性的影响可为农业生产提供依据。以潮褐土为供试土样,采用盆栽方法研究了氯化钾、硝酸钾、硫酸钾对小麦(Triticum aestivum L)根际环境镉的吸收转移及植物有效性的影响。结果表明,(1)KCl提高根际土中有效态Cd质量分数(wCd),K2SO4和KNO3降低根际土壤有效态wCd。(2)K2SO4处理下,小麦根wCd显著大于对照;随KNO3和KCl施入量的增加,小麦根中Cd含量逐渐升高。(3)相同处理三种钾肥比较小麦地上部干物重表现为:KNO3>KCL>K2SO4,根干物质量均低于对照。(4)钾肥的施入提高小麦体内CAT,POD酶活性。建议Cd污染土施用KNO3,尽量避免施用KCl和K2SO4。     

利用单颗粒气溶胶质谱仪(SPAMS)研究太原市冬季一次雾霾天气的污染特征及成因

2017年11月5日至6日太原市发生了一次重度污染天气,利用单颗粒气溶胶质谱仪(SPAMS)分析了细颗粒物的化学组成,根据太原市细颗粒源谱库对主要成分进行了来源解析,并结合激光雷达和气象条件研究了雾霾天气成因.结果表明,雾霾天时颗粒物主要包括如下9类:有机碳颗粒(OC)、元素碳颗粒(EC)、元素-有机碳混合颗粒(ECOC)、高分子有机碳(HOC)颗粒、富钾颗粒(K-rich)、富钠颗粒(Na-rich)、左旋葡聚糖颗粒、矿物质颗粒及重金属颗粒,9类颗粒中普遍存在的二次成分表明它们都经历了一定程度的老化过程.含碳颗粒物(OC、EC)与二次颗粒物(SO2-4、NO-3、NH+4)的相关性在干净天时高于雾霾天,二次颗粒物的相关性在两种天气状况下都较高.污染物来源解析结果表明,此次重污染过程主要是由机动车尾气和燃煤引起的.激光雷达及气象数据分析表明,此次污染过程是由外来污染物传输以及风速低、湿度高、大气边界层高度降低等不利的气象条件共同作用造成的.     

西安市大气颗粒物中水溶性无机离子的季节变化特征

用离子色谱法对11种无机水溶性离子(Na+,NH4+,K+,Mg2+,Ca2+,F-,Cl-,Br-,NO-2,NO-3和SO2-4)进行分析,探讨大气颗粒物中水溶性无机组分的季节变化与典型污染(灰霾、浮尘、燃烧秸秆和燃放烟花)的理化特性.结果表明,西安市大气中PM2.5和TSP的日均质量浓度分别为167.1和382.0μg·m-3,PM2.5占TSP总质量浓度的44%.PM2.5和TSP中无机水溶性离子组分的年均值分别为75.2μg·m-3和101.7μg·m-3.PM2.5中水溶性离子组分占PM2.5总质量浓度的45%左右,TSP中水溶性离子组分占TSP总质量浓度的30%左右.各种水溶性离子的来源和形成机理不同,其季节变化趋势和粒径分布也不同.典型污染事件期间,颗粒物污染特征与平时相比有很大差异:雾霾时PM2.5和TSP的质量浓度都显著增加,主要污染组分为二次污染离子NH+4,NO-3和SO2-4;浮尘发生时,大气颗粒物中人为污染组分会大大减少,而来自沙尘传输和地面扬尘等的地壳物质显著增加;燃烧秸秆对大气颗粒物中K+和Cl-的影响最大;燃放烟花时K+,Mg2+和Ca2+的质量浓度显著增加.     

深圳市餐饮源排放颗粒物的特征

采用在线监测和采样分析等手段对深圳市4家规模相当的餐厅(粤菜馆、茶餐厅、西餐厅、职工食堂)烹饪过程排放颗粒物的质量浓度、微观形貌、化学组分进行研究.结果表明,不同餐厅的烹饪方式、用油量、原材料及调料都会影响到餐厅排放颗粒物的理化性质.各餐厅午市烹饪时段排放的PM_(2.5)/PM_(10)约为7.5%—96.9%,说明餐饮源排放颗粒物在细颗粒和粗颗粒均有分布.餐饮源排放颗粒物主要包含6种形态:片状、块状、簇状、絮状、球状、不规则状,其中数量最多的为不规则状(30%)和块状颗粒物(21%).块状、片状、球状颗粒物粒径较小,处于小于2.5μm范围内;絮状和簇状颗粒物粒径普遍偏大,且大部分大于4.0μm;不规则状颗粒物在各个粒径段均有分布.Cu、Fe、Zn、Ca~(2+)、Cl~-、SO_4~(2-)等6种物质在餐饮源排放颗粒物中均偏高,此外,粤菜馆和西餐厅的CH_3COO~-占比偏高.     

石家庄冬季道路积尘水溶性离子污染特征及来源分析

为了解石家庄市城市道路积尘水溶性离子组分特征及来源,于2015年冬季使用移动采样法收集城市道路积尘样品,经离子色谱仪分析其水溶性离子组分,用相关性分析和比值分析法解析其污染特征,用主成分分析法初步推断其主要来源.结果表明,10种水溶性离子(Na+、NH+4、K+、Mg2+、Ca2+、F-、Cl-、NO-2、NO-3、SO2-4)占道路积尘PM2.5的15.31%、PM10的11.15%,Ca2+和SO2-4的百分含量在PM2.5和PM10中均大于1%;其中Ca2+在10种离子中所占比例最高、SO2-4次之,PM2.5和PM10中NO-3/SO2-4分别为0.24和0.18;颗粒物总体偏碱性,且PM2.5较PM10碱性更强;推测其来源于机动车排放、大气中燃煤、生物质燃烧和建筑尘的沉降及绿化带尘土.     

崇明东滩大气湿沉降酸性特征

对崇明东滩湿地的大气湿沉降进行了为期一年的样品采集,对其酸性特征进行了系统分析与讨论.结果表明,大气湿沉降表现出明显的酸性,pH均值为4.85,16.67%的降水达到强酸性,较强酸性的占19.44%;从各月份pH变化来看,9月份pH值相对较低,1月和7月较高,各季节pH值变化规律为秋季＜春季＜夏季＜冬季;降雨pH同降雨量表现出一定的负相关性,同风向表现出显著的正相关,风向变化引起的大气颗粒物含量的差异对湿沉降酸性产生明显影响;湿沉降中主要酸性离子NO-3和SO2-4平均含量分别为68 μmol·1-1和24 μmol·1-1,季节变化均表现为秋季＞冬季＞夏季≈春季;湿沉降中SO2-4和NO-3的当量浓度比均值为15.1,H2SO4对酸雨起决定性贡献作用,燃煤排放是湿沉降呈酸性的最主要原因.     

大肠杆菌对赤子爱胜蚓体表超微结构的影响

以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)为实验动物,研究了细菌诱导(浸浴诱导和注射诱导)对蚯蚓体表超微结构的影响.结果表明:(1)用细菌浸浴4h的实验组、用细菌注射4h的实验组及对照组蚯蚓的角质层厚度分别为(0.51±0.03)μm、(0.56±0.02)μm、(0.50±0.01)μm;上角质层突起的高度分别为(0.16±0.02)μm、(0.12±0.01)μm、(0.11±0.01)μm;上角质层游离面中微绒毛的高度分别为(0.18±0.02)μm、(0.11±0.01)μm、(0.11±0.01)μm.统计分析表明,蚯蚓在抵御微生物侵袭过程中,体表角质层中的上角质层突起及上角质层游离面中的微绒毛发挥着重要作用.(2)细菌浸浴4h的实验组、用细菌注射4h实验组及对照组蚯蚓体表的表皮厚度分别为(2.63±0.15)μm、(2.23±0.06)μm、(1.97±0.15)μm;表皮中小颗粒蛋白细胞的颗粒直径分别为(0.38±0.04)μm、(0.26±0.02)μm、(0.24±0.02)μm;大颗粒粘液细胞的颗粒直径分别为(0.50±0.04)μm、(0.26±0.03)μm、(0.21±0.02)μm;网状粘液细胞的直径分别为(0.93±0.06)μm、(0.63±0.06)μm、(0.28±0.03)μm.统计分析表明,蚯蚓在抵御微生物侵袭的过程中,表皮中的腺细胞(小颗粒蛋白细胞、大颗粒粘液细胞及网状粘液细胞)发挥着重要作用.图4表2参17     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.