Peatlands are unique wetland ecosystems that provide various ecosystem services such as carbon storage and biogeochemical cycling, however being threatened by anthropogenic activities. The present study was conducted to explore the impact of land use conversion on carbon stocks and peat properties in a tropical peatland in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP) in Northeastern Leyte, Philippines. The carbon stocks (aboveground and belowground) and physico-chemical properties of peat soil were compared among peat swamp forest, grassland and peatland with cultivation. Land use conversion resulted in the significant reduction of the total aboveground carbon stock. The peat swamp forest had the highest carbon stocks (38.56 ± 4.58 Mg ha−1), and when converted to grassland and peatland with cultivation, it has resulted to carbon loss of as much as 86.59 and 90.45%, respectively. The belowground root carbon stock was highest in the peat swamp forest (5.05 ± 0.64 Mg ha−1), also while highest peat carbon stock (1 m depth) was observed in the cultivation areas (45.28 ± 2.25 – 61.27 ± 3.07 Mg ha−1). However, peat swamp forests with very deep peat deposits potentially store a significant amount of carbon than in peatland with cultivation that was characterized by shallower compressed peats. In addition, land use conversion altered the physico-chemical properties of peat such as water content, organic matter, and porosity, and bulk density which all indicated peatland degradation. Finally, the overall result of this study highlights the importance to develop and implement management and conservation plans for LSBP.
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