Alpine and pre-alpine meadow and marsh landscapes

The Allgäu - a region renowned for its beauty, its marvelous mountainsides, rolling hills and mountain meadows full of flowers. Nothing of this matters, though, as this WHS proposal is only about some specific spots with flat, grassy marshlands. It is one of these sites where it is difficult to point out what to see and why it does matter. I choose to visit the 'Murnauer Moos' area, as it has a rather well specified location, easy access points and a hiking trail going all through the interesting area. So what's to see ? Mainly a lot of brown grass and some puddles. The on-site signs talk a lot about biodiversity and endemic species - none of which will be easily perceivable by the common visitor. Honestly, I walked the three hour trail and found nothing that looked remarkable. Marshlands might be an oddity in the alpine region, but the northern half of Germany consist of nothing but swampy flatlands. Even the mountains surrounding the marshlands seem much more interesting than these flat brown spots. And the marshlands are not some untouched wilderness - there are clear signs of human cultivation and caretaking all over it. If you have not guessed it until now, this WHS tentative site did not impress me at all. But wait, the site is actually defined as a cultural site, not a natural site. Yes, according to the official description, mowing and haymaking twice a year is already an act of human genius. Sorry, but …