Academics at the University of Nottingham are helping Scotland to break new ground in environmental monitoring with the launch of a powerful new method to assess the health of its peatlands—some of the country's most important natural assets for climate, biodiversity, and water management.
In a major step forward, NatureScot has published a series of reports and open datasets showcasing how satellite radar and statistical machine learning are being used to monitor peatland condition across more than 680,000 hectares - over one-third of Scotland's peatlands.
Developed by Professor David J. Large and teams at the University of Nottingham in collaboration with the University of the Highlands and Islands, the method uses satellite radar (InSAR) to detect tiny vertical movements in the peatland surface. These subtle shifts are powerful indicators of the health of the peatland and how it's changing over time.
Professor Large said: "This technology gives us a powerful, scalable way to monitor peatland health, supporting smarter policy, better land management, and more effective restoration.
Scotland is now leading the way in using space-age tools to protect one of its most ancient and valuable landscapes."
This breakthrough is the result of more than 10 years of research and field validation. By combining satellite data with on-the-ground observations from across Scotland, the team created a system that classifies peatland condition into three clear categories. It's a scalable, science-backed approach that complements traditional ecological and hydrological surveys.
Peatlands are vital carbon sinks, storing more carbon than all the world's forests combined. But when damaged, they can release that carbon back into the atmosphere. Monitoring their condition is essential for tackling climate change, protecting rare habitats, and supporting species like curlew, golden plover, and sphagnum mosses that depend on healthy bogs.
With Scotland investing heavily in peatland restoration—aiming to restore 250,000 hectares by 2030—this new capability offers a game-changing way to track progress, identify areas at risk, and guide future action.
Russell Hooper, NatureScot Peatland ACTION remote sensing analyst, said: "With more than 65,000 hectares of peatland set on the road to recovery through Peatland ACTION, it's vital we continue to adopt efficient ways to monitor how sites are responding. It's been insightful to see how different peatland types and restoration techniques influence surface motion and condition. The change detection method developed shows real promise, and with 680,000 hectares monitored, there's still much to learn as we explore how best to use this data in future restoration planning and prioritisation."
The data is now publicly available via the NatureScot Map Portal, giving policymakers, land managers, researchers, and the public a powerful new window into the state of Scotland's peatlands.
