Data belonging to Limpens et al 2020 Shrubs and degraded permafrost pave the way for tree establishment in subarctic peatlands, published in Ecosystems (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-020-00523-6))Highlights of the study are:• We assessed the mechanisms underlying tree expansion in subarctic peatlands• Tree establishment increased with permafrost absence and shrub cover presence• Subarctic peatlands may transition towards tree-dominated states with climate warmingThe dataset contains data on seedling survival and environmental conditions (vegetation characteristics, moisture, temperature, light) of two palsa peatlands in Finnish Lapland

Date Accepted: 2020-06-04

Date Submitted: 2020-06-22