Mires are wetlands in which – in contrast to most other ecosystems – the dead plant material is not completely decomposed by the excess water, but instead becomes peat. They fulfil important functions for the nature. Due to their potential to store enormous amounts of water, they contribute to water retention and supply water in times of drought. Due to their carbon storage capacity, peatlands play an important role in climate protection. Although peatlands only cover 3% of the world’s land surface, they store around a third of all the carbon stored in the soil. However, like other ecosystems, peatlands can only provide these services if their functioning is not disrupted.