Marshlands are given different names – swamps, baygalls, bogs, fens, marshes, peat-bogs. They are usually located in lower parts of the terrain - in valleys and river valleys. However, there are so called "high peat-bogs", which exist on hills and slopes. Marshlands are often cultivated and used as pastures for cattle.
Short history of marshlands in Europe
After the last glacial period the climate of Europe was much colder and much dumper. Marshlands covered a great part of the continent. They served for defensive purposes – it was difficult to breach the barrier of bogs in conquering new lands, thus people build their settlements on dry islands surrounded by bogs, which guarded them from the enemy.
With time and the development of agriculture man transformed marchlands into arable lands. Around 13th century hunting was replaced by farming and great parts of bogs started to be used as pastures. The demand for cereal kept growing, and between 14th and 17th century meadows and pastures where turned into arable lands. In the 19th century, when people started to breed more farm animals the demand on fodder increased quickly. Natural marshlands had to be drained to make room for expanding agriculture. This process continued up to the 1950s. The majority of Polish rivers were controlled in this period, and many peat-bogs were irreversibly damaged.
Project Treasures of Nature is cofinanced by The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
2012,
Domeny 
Why should we protect the marshlands?