Mires and peatlands of Europe : status distribution and conservation This book provides for the first time in history a comprehensive and up to date overview of mires and peatlands in biogeographic Europe. The book describes mire and peatland types terms extent distribution use conservation and restoration individually for each country and integrated for the entire continent. The descriptions are complemented by a multitude of maps and photographs the book offers an impressive and colourful journey full of surprising historical context and fascinating details while appreciating the core principles and unifying concepts of mire science. The European continent features an impressive variety of mires and peatlands. Polygon palsa and aapa mires concentric and eccentric bogs spring and percolation fens coastal marshes blanket bogs saline fens acid alkaline nutrient poor nutrient rich: the peatlands of Europe represent unique ecosystem biodiversity and harbour a large treasure of flora and fauna typical of peat forming environments. Europe is also the continent with the longest history the highest intensity and the largest variety of peatland use and as a consequence it has the highest proportion of degraded peatlands worldwide. Peatland science and technology developed in parallel to exploitation and it is therefore not surprising that almost all modern peatland terms and concepts originated and matured in Europe. Their massive degradation also kindled the desire to protect these beautiful landscapes full of peculiar wildlife. In recent decades attention has widened to include additional vital ecosystem services that natural and restored peatlands provide. Already the first scientific book on peatlands (Schoockius 1658) contained a chapter on restoration. Yet only now there is a rising awareness of the necessity to conserve and restore mires and peatlands in order to avoid adverse environmental and economic effects.