Rothenthurm – Switzerland’s biggest raised mire
Following the adoption of the Rothenthurm Initiative, the protection of the Rothenthurm Mire was enshrined in the Swiss Constitution by referendum. Switzerland’s largest contiguous raised mire is located in the high valley near Rothenthurm. Large amounts of peat were cut there in the past.
December 6th 1987 was a memorable day for mire protection. It is the day on which the Swiss people approved the adoption of the Rothenthurm Initiative by referendum. This not only prevented the construction of a planned military range on the mire, but also resulted in mire protection being enshrined in the Swiss Constitution.
Switzerland’s largest contiguous raised mire can be found in Rothenthurm. Different stages of mire development can be observed here. Large blanket mires, in which all blanket mire communities can be found, extend from around the raised mire and on the slopes of the Hochtal valley.
Many of the raised mire areas that were dug up in the 20th century are gradually being regenerated thanks to the measures introduced under the initiative, for example the filling in of existing drainage trenches. Traces of peat cutting can still be seen in other places.
The traditional use of blanket mires as litter meadows is being continued to conserve the ecological quality of the landscape.
Switzerland’s largest contiguous raised mire can be found in Rothenthurm. Different stages of mire development can be observed here. Large blanket mires, in which all blanket mire communities can be found, extend from around the raised mire and on the slopes of the Hochtal valley.
Many of the raised mire areas that were dug up in the 20th century are gradually being regenerated thanks to the measures introduced under the initiative, for example the filling in of existing drainage trenches. Traces of peat cutting can still be seen in other places.
The traditional use of blanket mires as litter meadows is being continued to conserve the ecological quality of the landscape.
Nature reserves and landscape protection areas
A large part of this area is listed, inter alia, in the following federal inventories:
Other links
A large part of this area is listed, inter alia, in the following federal inventories:
- Federal Inventory of Landscape and Natural Monuments of National Importance (BLN object no 1308 “Moorlandschaft Rothenthurm-Altmatt-Biberbrugg”)
More - Inventory of Mire Landscapes (object no 1 “Rothenthurm”)
More - Interactive map browser displaying the object included in the BLN (available in German and French)
More
Other links
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