The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a 5-year, $812,787 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to conduct collaborative research on the pan-American tropical peatland biome. The project aims to (1) identify hydrological thresholds needed for peatland formation across the tropics, (2) quantify constraints on peat formation rates, and (3) document patterns of methane production, consumption, and emissions in these ecosystems. The research involves a large-scale field sampling campaign using a novel field kit to collect consistent data across approximately 80 study sites spanning broad environmental gradients in the Caribbean and Amazon regions. Key project activities include training the next generation of scientists, developing high-quality instructional videos, and integrating the field data into peatland modeling efforts. The project seeks to advance understanding of tropical peatland structure, function, and resilience to climate change, in order to improve regional and global carbon budgets.