The burning of tropical peatlands is so significant for greenhouse gas emissions because these areas store some of the highest quantities of carbon on Earth, accumulated over thousands of years, WRI said. But experts warn the current outbreak is on track to become the worst c a ever, exacerbate by bone-dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. The fires on the huge islands of Sumatra and Borneo are typically brought under control in November with the onset of the rainy w season