The Site is the last-remaining area of marshland in the alluvial plain of the river Linth. Marshlands once characterized the floodplain between Lake Walen and Lake Zurich, but they disappeared at the beginning of the 19th century, when floods were confined by the construction of the Escher and Linth canals. Today, the Kaltbrunner Riet is partially maintained and used as litter meadows (in which the vegetation is cut for bedding) and plays a key role in maintaining this traditional land use on the Swiss Plateau. The important diversity of habitats includes reed beds, marshland with fens and ponds as well as wet meadows and transitional bogs with and without sphagnum mosses. The Site is a haven for many plant and animal species in an intensively cultivated area, and harbours an important diversity of rare and endangered species such as amphibians and dragonflies. A total of 31 plant and 90 animal species are listed on the red lists of endangered species in Switzerland and seven plant and 71 animal species are recorded in the IUCN global red list. The Site is an important breeding or stop-over area for many species of waterbirds. The Kaltbrunner Riet is managed by the NGO Pro Natura, which runs a small visitor centre.

Canton of St. Gall