Peatlands play an outsized role in slowing climate change, but when drained or degraded they release large amounts of greenhouse gases. A new study led by Aalto University is the first to use long-term satellite archives to measure how restoration affects peatlands across the Northern Hemisphere.

The team examined 72 sites in Europe and North America and found that restored peatlands gradually start to resemble intact ones. Within about ten years they show more natural surface temperatures and reflectivity, helping stabilise local climates.

About one-third of Finland’s land area is made up of peatlands, roughly half of which have been drained. The study underlines the importance of Finland’s large-scale restoration projects, which are supported by satellite monitoring in cooperation with the Natural Resources Institute Finland.