The South of Scotland is joining a national network of flux towers, with a unique project allowing greenhouse gases to be measured as the land changes from commercial forestry crops to restored peatland.

The 14-metre flux tower is the first-ever installed in the South of Scotland and sits within a commercial forestry crop planted upon deep peat soil 24 years ago. Critically, the tower will be the first to measure carbon dioxide and methane from the site as the trees grow, reach maturity and are felled, to see how emissions change as the land is restored back to open peatland.

Greenhouse gases have increased in our atmosphere due to human activity since the industrial revolution, causing the climate crisis. Understanding how Scotland’s land stores or releases these gases is key to reducing carbon emissions.

Peatlands are recognised as vital carbon stores and are the largest terrestrial store of carbon in the UK. Information from the flux tower, funded by NatureScot Peatland ACTION, will help fill critical gaps in the understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands in different conditions.

Globally, it will put Scotland at the forefront of understanding peatland restoration including how forests impact deep peat. It will also provide critical information for the Scottish Government towards its ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2045.