It is of great importance to monitor the turnover of organic matter (SOM) in forests, as forest management has a significant impact on surface radiation and SOM mineralisation, which in turn leads to an increase in CO₂ emissions. The objective of the SONIR project was to test the replicability of the same NIR spectrometer (Neospectra Scanner, Si-Ware) using two different devices and another model of spectrometer produced by the same company, namely the Neospectra PUCK, in forest soils. Furthermore, the most suitable method of spectra acquisition in the field was also tested.

In the project Ecto-High-Expand, researchers from the National Institute of Biology (NIB) from Slovenia conducted a 6-day field trip in July 2024 to the South Eastern Swiss Alps surrounding of eLTER site Stillberg. The hosts were researchers from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos. With the results, the researchers expect to gain a better understanding of the altitudinal adaptation of subcellular metabolic traits in ectotherms.