A methodology for establishing historical wetland habitat change in Irish freshwater pearl mussel catchments

Since the 1700s, global wetlands have declined by 3.4 million km². Wetland quality loss is a key driver of freshwater pearl mussel (FPM) population decline in peaty catchments. GIS techniques were used to determine wetland cover in 1834 and 2023, in eight peaty FPM catchments in Ireland, based on historical Ordnance Survey mapping (1834) and Irish National Land Cover (NLC) mapping (2023). Historical catchment wetland change (1834-2023) ranged between a net loss of 7.03 to 29.96%. Wetland coverage in 2023 varied between 53.85 and 83.53%. In 1834, that coverage ranged from 59.72 to 89.85%. The Hydromusindex (HDi) was developed to evaluate catchment-scaled historical wetland change, which for each of the catchments studied was a net loss. This damage index was based on the ratio of the 2023 catchment wetland coverage in proportion to the 1834 baseline scenario, and the catchment proportional coverage of each wetland cover type weighted by their potential contribution towards water storage; higher HDi values indicate increased damage. The HDi values of eight studied catchments ranged from 21 to 46. The HDi can be used to assess catchment restoration design and to rank FPM catchments for restoration, under the Nature Restoration Law. Measurable targets for catchment-scaled restoration have been produced. The sum of weighted wetland scores, in contrast to predefined reference values, can be used for rapid damage evaluation. An estimated 41.06% of Ireland's plantation forestry is located on peatlands and peat soils, thereby highlighting considerable opportunities in terms of meeting the EU Nature Restoration Law's targets.