The World's northern peatlands are its most important terrestrial carbon store, 20-30% of the global terrestrial carbon is held in only 3% of its land area, i.e. in northern peatlands, storing more carbon than is held in the entire atmosphere. Over the Holocene these peatlands have accumulated carbon at an average rate of 0.96Mt C/yr, making this ecosystem not only a substantial store but also a large potential sink of atmospheric carbon. Therefore, it is vital that we understand: the present state of the carbon in our peatlands; the future of this carbon store given the range of climatic and management pressures; and what could be done to preserve this carbon bank and enhance its carbon storage. This session will bring together scientist working on all aspects of carbon biogeochemistry in peatlands and all its carbon uptake and release pathways in order to better understand the present state and prognosis of this environment.