A grid-based spatial database of current and potential mires in Estonia (EstMire)

The EstMire dataset includes 11,394,461 points (center points of a 25×25 m regular grid) covering the known (as of 2022) and potential mires in Estonia. It was compiled and modified from multiple data sources for running a spatial simulation model, SooSim. The database includes the areas mapped by the Estonian Fund for Nature (1997–2021), wetland polygons from Estonian Topographic Database (2023), and the completed mire restoration projects carried out by the State Forest Management Centre (2013–2022). Added to these sources are the remaining Histosols areas from Estonian soil map, which were screened for being either so far unmapped mires or potential areas (mostly drained forests) that could develop into mires once restored. Natural open- or semi-open (wooded) mires, peatland forests and areas with the recovery potential was separated by assessing tree canopy height and density based on the Lidar data provided by Estonian Land Board, and by combining this with land use data to remove regenerating clear-cuts or otherwise human modified areas. Each current or potential mire point includes its coordinates and 10 variables describing its woody cover and restoration potential, mire site type, the surrounding ditch length, and (if recently subjected to ditch renovation or restoration) the year of those interventions. The dataset consists of two tables, the current mire points (“Estmire_current.csv”) and other peatland points (“Estmire_potential.csv”).