Tracking the Colour of Peatlands project

Using the power of citizen science to monitor the health of wetland environments

Title: Tracking the Colour of Peatlands

Funding: Ducks Unlimited Canada; Sustainable Earth Institute

Duration: 2021–ongoing

University of Plymouth staff: Dr Scott J. Davidson (PI)

Using citizen science to monitor peatlands

Phenology is the study of the timing and seasonal changes in a plant's life cycle events, specifically when plants bud, grow green leaves, flower and fruit, as well as when their leaves turn brown and shed. Studying the ‘greenness’ of plants is important, as this can be linked to how well the ecosystem is functioning and whether it is a carbon sink or not.

This project aims to monitor changes in peatland green leaf phenology (how the peatlands change colour over the course of the year) using smartphone photography. Members of the public (citizen scientists) will be able to take fixed-point photographs using specially designed phone cradles at a wide range of wetland project sites. Analysis of the photos will then give us an indication of the health of these important wetland ecosystems and their resilience to disturbance.

Scott Davidson at Goss Moor using his smartphone on a dedicated cradle next to peatland.

We can use smartphone RGB photos to understand how these plants 'green up' over the summer, the timing of when they hit their maximum greenness and how they start to turn brown in the autumn. The photos will be used to analyse the change in growth over the growing season.

Dr Scott Davidson
Lecturer in Ecosystem Resilience

Project methodology

Using specialised RGB colour analysis software, photos from peatland sites can be used to monitor changes over time.

Tracking the colour of peatlands phone cradle signage graphic; text on graphic reads "Help us track plant colours in peatlands! We can use smartphone photos to understand how plants green up over the summer, the timing when they a re at their maximum greenness and how they start to turn brown in the autumn. why is it important? Understanding how plants can change over the course of the year can give is insight into how peatlands function (i.e. linking how green they are to much carbon they store) and how this might change under future climate change." The image shows a colour changing forest through the seasons, follow by University of Plymouth and Wetland Resilience Research Group logos.

Public information

Specially-created signs and smartphone cradles are distributed to wetland and peatland sites around the world, with detailed instructions on how citizen scientists can take part in the project.

Example of a peatland sign and phone cradle next to a peatland.

On location

The cradles and signs are affixed to heavy-duty posts and deployed in a location with public access, often at the end of a boardwalk or next to a firm path to ensure that the cradles will be able to remain stable.

Forsinard flows peatland phenology showing colour changes over a season.

Citizen science

Members of the public can then use the cradles to take and submit photos like these ones, from RSPB Forsinard Flows, in Scotland. Dr Scott Davidson is then able to analyse the colour values to monitor change over time.

Project update

Tracking the Colour of Peatlands phone cradle sites dotted across a world map.

The initial phase of this project focused on three main sites – the Boreal Wetland Centre, in Alberta, Canada; RSPB Forsinard Flows, in Scotland; and the Eden Project, in Cornwall, UK.

Following the successful completion of phase one, this initiative has now expanded to 16 new sites, with phone cradles and signage sent out to additional sites in Canada and the UK, as well as sites in Australia, Finland, Ireland, Germany, France and Sweden. Dr Scott Davidson hopes that this work can help to raise awareness of the importance of wetland and peatland conservation and help to ensure increased protection, restoration and management for these environments so that they can continue to offer viable nature-based solutions to climate change.

Partner sites

Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve, NatureScot, UK: 97 photos
Boreal Wetland Centre, Canada
Castell Nos, Lost Peatlands Project, UK: 8 photos
Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, UK: 60 photos
Eden Project, UK: 12 photos
Miscou Island, Government of New Brunswick, Canada: 39 photos
Jouvion Peatland, France
Kauhaneva, Pohjankangas National Park, Finland: 33 photos
La Trobe University/Australian Alps National Park, Australia

Lauhanvuori, Hämeenkangas Geopark, Finland
Natural Resources Wales, UK
Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve, NatureScot, UK: 33 photos
Peatland ACTION, UK
RSPB Forsinard Flows, UK: 329 photos (over two years)
Société de conservation de la Grande Plée Bleue, Canada: 30 photos
Store Mosse National Park, Sweden: 46 photos
Torronsuo National Park, Finland: 80 photos

Above, the list of partner sites has been updated to show the number of photos received so far from each location. Below are comparison photos from some of the sites, taken in spring and summer 2024, showing how the peatlands change between different seasons.

Flanders Moss, UK

Forsinard Flows, UK

Foulshaw Moss, UK

Grande Plee Bleue, Canada

Jouvion, France

Kuahaneva, Finland

Miscou Island, Canada

Store Mosse, Sweden

Torronsuo, Finland

Peatlands are nature's unsung climate warriors

Peatlands are among the most critical ecosystems on earth. It is surprising, then, that despite public support, many environmental protections for peatland have failed to materialise. From peat cutting and burning to the continuing sale of peat-based compost, these habitats are under threat. Has their public image led to them being misunderstood and underappreciated?

Find out why Dr Scott Davidson thinks we need to change our perspectives on peatlands and their value to climate resilience

Plymouth Peatlands Research Group

Investigating the link between historic and current land-use change, climate change and disturbance, our peatland research falls into the thematic areas of peatland ecosystem services, restoration practice, and impacts of disturbance regimes on peatland function. We work with key stakeholders to drive positive change in restoration, monitoring and management, and provide specialist advice and input into planning for the integration of cultural services within peatlands and forested wetlands.

Find out more about our peatland research

Sustainable Earth Institute

The Sustainable Earth Institute connects the University of Plymouth's world-leading research and expertise with the wider world.

We bring together researchers from natural and social sciences, engineering, arts, humanities, health and business, to take an interdisciplinary, systems-thinking approach to help tackle sustainability challenges.

Our research responds to the call of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to both global efforts, and the needs identified locally where our capabilities can make a difference.

Find out more about the Sustainable Earth Institute