Mire complexes form ecosystems, which interact with the regional climate, topography and the chemical and hydrological properties of their catchment area. Native mires store nutrients by peat accumulation and act as sinks, disturbed peatland change their specific vegetation and fauna and act as sources for nutrients. Heaths including oligotrophic and xeric grasslands more pronounced than mires document the cultural development of landscapes with a former mesohemerobic human impact. Their previous cultivation leads to a loss of nutrients and an impoverishment of the soils. Recently, they commonly became fallows, and because of atmospheric input, they change into nutrient sink systems with a changing vegetation composition. The distribution of mire complexes with a different hydrology and genesis is presented for various landscapes in Germany. Comparative criteria of hemerobic steps, authenticity and endangerment of flora and vegetation were discussed. The structure of heaths is determined by the regional former land use systems as well as chorological and climatic features. A national action plan is necessary for an evaluation of the most valuable mires, heaths and oligotrophic grasslands in order to develop priorities for the further management and monitoring. Examples from neighbouring countries are presented. The essential basic data and evaluating criteria are pointed out for mire and heaths systems. Proposals for selected areas of international and national importance are presented.
