This project was funded by the Senate of Berlin and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).
Alongside rivers, peatlands or mires (flood mires) are embedded with periodically flooded areas. An important ecosystem service of them is to act as hydrologic „catch basin“ having a balancing effect on flood water, i.e. to prevent flood water rises or keep their levels low. This helps to lower discharge peaks. In Berlin, flooding is only a minor factor. However, official records listing some areas as flood-risk zones are here.
Whether a peatland can provide this balancing function and forms such a catch basin, or retention area for potential floods depends on its location in relation to possible flood-risk zones. Especially in the heavily built-up, urban areas of Berlin, such open spaces are very valuable, and one such rarity is illustrated at the example (see figure) of the peatland Tegeler Fließ Süd.
