Corine Land Cover 2000 - Wetlands

Wetlands represent an ever-decreasing area in Tyrol. Furthermore, most wetlands are so small that they are not included in this scale. In Tyrol's northerly neighbour, Bavaria, however, moors and wetlands are frequently marked landscape types. Wetlands develop on the impervious ground moraine material that was deposited during the ice ages.

Wetlands are forest-free areas that are in part repeatedly flooded or wet. These areas include lakesides, silted-up lakes and peat bogs. Typical plants are reeds, rushes, sedges or peat mosses. As wetlands do not serve any agricultural purpose (according to the CORINE-classification), they are normally in a relatively natural state and are often protected as special biotopes.

However, many wetlands no longer exist for the very reason that they were changed by human hand. In this way, for example, many valley meads are potential wetlands. However, through river regulation and partly by additional drainage ditches their original character is no longer recognisable. Sometimes it is only through flooding that the true nature of some residential or commercial areas becomes apparent.

The wetlands are mainly of ecological importance, for example, they contribute to the regeneration of lakes or serve as breeding grounds for birds.