Global Carbon Sinks: Remote Sensing for Monitoring Peatland Restoration

Peatland ecosystems are the largest natural terrestrial carbon store. Healthy peatlands trap atmospheric CO2 as soil organic matter. However, anthropogenic disturbances like drainage and peat extraction have turned many into carbon sources. Global efforts are essential to restore peatlands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle biodiversity loss. For such efforts to succeed, a cost-effective, widescale approach to monitoring peatland rehabilitation is crucial. This study employs a novel multi-sensor remote sensing approach (multispectral, SAR, and InSAR) to monitor peatland rehabilitation. Observations from six pilot sites, ranging from degraded to intact, demonstrate that multi-sensor remote sensing can provide cost-effective monitoring for peatland restoration at various scales.