Peatland ACTION – Developing the use of high-resolution remote sensing to monitor the effectiveness of peatland restoration on actively eroding blanket bog

Descriptions

Peatland ACTION supports peatland restoration across Scotland with funding provided by the Scottish Government. This requires robust monitoring to assess restoration effectiveness and inform future work. We would like to develop a standard methodology based on high-resolution (sub-metre) remote sensing to monitor the effectiveness of peatland restoration on actively eroding blanket bog. This will be used alongside field-based survey methods to provide complementary data on a subset of our monitoring sites. Restoration effectiveness will be assessed by using the remote sensing method to monitor change in vegetation cover, bare peat cover and surface water cover, as well as mapping erosion features and quantifying erosion rates. NatureScot is looking to commission a report to develop this standard remote sensing methodology. Firstly, the report will provide an overview of remote sensing techniques available to monitor the effectiveness of peatland restoration and identify a shortlist of candidate techniques that have potential to fulfil our requirements. Secondly, it will complete a detailed evaluation and comparison of the shortlisted remote sensing techniques using a set of specified criteria. Finally, the report will develop a standard high-resolution (sub-metre) remote sensing methodology that best meets our requirements. The successful tenderer may wish to trial preferred remote sensing techniques on a case-study site(s) as part of method development. NatureScot will use the report to support commencement of long-term monitoring on a sample of actively eroding blanket bog sites as early as summer 2023. Full details are provided in the attached Statement of Requirements.