Marshes are wetlands that were once regarded as worthless land and were either managed for agricultural purposes to obtain litter or drained for grassland. However, the richness of their vegetation and their importance as habitats and breeding grounds for numerous species of fauna, particularly amphibians, were later discovered.

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Over the last two centuries, Switzerland's wetlands have been severely affected and many have been destroyed. Since the adoption of the Rothenthurm Initiative in 1987, the protection of marshes has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution. The Faido-Campiroi wetlands are protected at a cantonal level as a rare and exceptionally beautiful environment.

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The marshes form on land that is soaked to the surface in water. They are fed not only by rainwater but also by groundwater, run-off water or temporary flooding. The different chemical properties and the continuous fluctuation of the water level play a central role in the development of the marsh vegetation, which is rich and varied.

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To protect the mires, buffer zones are created around the core area. These limit the input of nutrients from neighbouring intensively farmed land and ensure that the natural water regime is maintained.