Bart Crezee

As a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds, UK, I study peat swamp forests in the central Congo Basin. Peat swamp forests are one of the most-carbon dense ecosystems on Earth. The peatlands of the Congo Basin alone store as much carbon in their soils as the entire world economy emits in three years. This makes preserving them vital to prevent further climate change.

In my research, I aim to understand how the peatland vegetation varies across the Congo Basin and how this is related to flood patterns. I also model peatland distribution, peat depth and carbon density across the region.

I have co-led and organised three scientific field campaigns into the swamp forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.