Nature Protection and Protected Areas in Switzerland Sofia, Déc. 2015 Dr Pierre Galland, consultant
Switzerland A small country in the middle of Europe
Biogeography - climatic influences Atlantic Alpine Central European (continental) Mediterranean
Six main biogeographical regions G E R M A N Y F R A N C E Jura Western Central Alps Central Plateau Northern Alps Eastern Central Alps I T A L Y Southern Alps A U S T R I A
Some facts about Switzerland from Lago Maggiore, 193 m a.s.l., up to Monte Rosa, 4634 m a.s.l. part of the catchment areas of rivers Rhine, Rhone, Danube and Po. Not an island, but an open system! CH: 8 million inhabitants 41 285 km2 (= 190 hab / km2) BG: 8.8 million inhabitants 110 910 km2 (= 80 hab / km2)
High diversity but many threatened spp. an estimated 50 000 plant and animal species, of which: - 400 vertebrate species - 3 000 vascular plant species - 1 000 bryophytes - 300 lichens - 1 000 macrofungi Threatned (RE/CR/EN/VU) Assessed species Vertebrates 169 (45%) 373 40 Mammals 17 (30%) 56 6 Reptiles 15 (79%) 19 0 Birds 78 (39%) 199 18 Vasc. plants 790 (31%) 2554 545 Not evaluated
Red data book
Land use Surface: 41 285 km 2 Forest distribution Forests: 31% Agriculture: 37% Habitat and infrastructures: 7% Non productive: 25% (High mountains, water surfaces, etc.)
From the Swiss National Park (1914) to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2012)
Milestones in Species, Biotopes and Landscape protection 1914: Creation of the Swiss national Park 1966: Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act 1977: First Federal inventory: Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance 1987: Rothenturm initiative - popular referendum on wetland protection 1991 1996: Inventories and protection of wetlands, mire and alluvial forests 2007: Revision of the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act introduction of National and Regional Nature Parks 2012: adoption of the National Biodiversity Strategy 2013 15: preparation of the Action Plan
Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance - 1977 Unique landscapes and natural monuments 162 sites with an area of 7'800 km 2 (18.9 % of the country)
Federal Hunting reserves 41 hunting reserves; surface: 1500 km 2 (3.9 % of the country)
Dry meadows inventory Number of sites: 3143 Surface: 237 km 2 (0.57 % of the country)
International Conventions and programmes
UNESCO World heritage 11 sites inscribed on the list 3 natural sites 8 cultural sites of which 2 cultural landscapes 1 candidates (serial) Bulgaria 9 sites inscribed 2 natural 7 cultural
Biosphere Reserves Switzerland: 2 BR Bulgaria: 16 BR (not Sevilla strategy compatible) Biosphere Entlebuch Biosfera Val Müstair Parc Naziunal (adaptation to Sevilla strategy in progress)
Water and migratory birds reserves 11 Ramsar sites 11 sites of international importance 27 sites of national importance
Ramsar Convention BULGARIA / BULGARIE 11 Ramsar Sites, 49,913 hectares (= 0.4%) SWITZERLAND / SUISSE / SUIZA 11 Ramsar Sites, 14,688 hectares (= 0.3%) * Atanasovo Lake 28/11/84 Burgas 1,404 ha * Belene Islands Complex TRS 24/09/02 Pleven 18,330 ha * Dragoman Marsh Karst Complex 11/02/11 Sofia Dristrict 14,967 ha * Durankulak Lake MR 28/11/84 Varna 350 ha * Ibisha Island TRS 24/09/02 Montana 3,365 ha * Lake Shabla 19/03/96 404 ha * Poda 24/09/02 Burgas 307 ha * Pomorie Wetland Complex (Pomorie Lake, Pomoriysko Ezero) 24/09/02 Burgas 922 ha * Ropotamo Complex 24/09/75 Burgas 5,500 ha * Srebarna MR TRS 24/09/75 Silistra 1,464 ha * Vaya Lake 11/11/02 Burgas 2,900 ha * Bolle di Magadino 18/02/82 Tessin 663 ha * Fanel et Chablais de Cudrefin 16/01/76 Berne, Neuchâtel, Vaud 1,155 ha * Kaltbrunner Riet 09/11/90 St. Gall 157 ha * Klingnauer Stausee 09/11/90 Argovie 364 ha 47º35 N 008º14 E * Laubersmad-Salwidili 02/02/05 Lucerne 1,376 ha * Le Rhône genevois Vallons de l Allondon et de La Laire 09/11/90 Genève 1,929 ha * Les Grangettes 09/11/90 Vaud 6,342 ha * Niederried Stausee 09/11/90 Berne 297 ha * Rhonegletschervorfeld 02/02/05 Valais 317 ha * Rive sud du lac de Neuchâtel 09/11/90 Fribourg, Vaud 1,705 ha * Vadret da Roseg 02/02/05 Grisons 383 ha
Emerald Network Preliminary study: Identification of 108 potential sites 1st list of candidates for the Swiss Emerald Network: 37 sites 64 000 ha (1.6 % of nat. territory)
Large Protected Areas From the Swiss National Park (1914) to the Parks of National Importance (2007)
Swiss National Park - 1914 From the beginning, 3 partners: Swiss Confederation : legal basis Swiss Academy of Sciences : research) Swiss League for Nature Protection (Pro Natura): fundraising
Territorial development
Chamois Ibex Red Deer
Parks of national importance: 3 Categories introduced in 2007: National Parks in addition to the actual one Swiss National Park Regional Nature Parks Nature Discovery Parks (Sub-urban Nature Parks) P.Galland
Parks of national importance Established on a voluntary basis; Democratic process(«bottom-up approach»); Established within the framework of existing legal instruments (e. g. land use planning); Support from the Federal Government (Label & financial contribution) Based on compelling agreements between the Confederation and the Canton(s). P.Galland
Creation of protected areas - two different processes Federal authorities Federal Office for the Environment Legal framework National and Regional nature Parks Biotopes and Landscape inventories Evaluation / certification Label & financial contribution National inventories Ordinance Project preparation Bottom-up Consultation at cantonal and local level Top down Local initiative Implementation Implementation Local authorities and population
Principles of Park policy: Conservation and promotion of high quality landscapes, based upon existing legislation Promotion of sustainable development in rural areas Encouragement of democratic processes in the regions Guarantee of high quality standards P.Galland
National Parks Core zone: >100 km2 «natural zone» Free development of nature (natural processes) NB: The core zone can be divided Core zone Surrounding zone: sustainable use; buffer to core zone Surrounding zone
National Parks Core zone: free development of nature
National Parks Surrounding zone: landscape conservation and sustainable use
Regional Nature Parks Promotion of natural and cultural elements in rural areas Sustainable use of cultural landscape Traditional cultural landscape >100 km2, without zoning, but inclusion of the whole territory of the communes. Specific orientations Candidates as Biosphere Reserves must be first certified RNP
Regional Nature Parks Nature and landcape in harmony with regional economic development
Nature Discovery Parks (sub-urban nature parks) Core zone>4 km2 «nature space» ( additional 20 % if divided) Limited use - visitors, education Zone centrale Zone périphérique Surrounding zone, dedicated to nature discovery Total srface: >6 km2
Nature Discovery Parks Nature discovery and environmental education in the vicinity of urban areas
Parks fundamental requirements High quality of natural and landscape values Well preserved habitats of indigenous plant and animal species Characteristic rural landscape and traditional settlements maintained Infrastructures and land uses compatible with conservation objectives
Long term guarantee Support of local populations, authorities and other stakeholders Local communities (communes) and regional user's groups are represented in the park authority Financial commitment of local communities, cantons and third parties Professional structure of the park authority free juridical from Long term economic viability of the park project Territorial guarantee (land use); P.Galland
Fostering instruments from the Confederation Global financial contributions for the creation and operation of the park, based on programme agreements between the Confederation and the cantons (4 years periods) Park Label : Awarded by the Confederation for a 10 years period whwn fundamental requiremnents are fullfiled Product Label : the park authority shall award the product label to products and services provides in accordance to agreed ToR (sustainable production, use of local products, etc.). P.Galland
Label «Swiss Parks» (Park Label) Allows the local people and visitors to identify the territory of the park and it's projects All products and services will take benefits of this visibility The Product Label will be closely linked to the park label.
Current situation of Parks and projects Park categories (2010) Operational Creation phase Projects Expec ted Total 1 - SNP National Parks 2 0 2 (+1) Regional Nature Parks 14 2? Ca. 25 Nature Discovery Parks 1 3-4 3-4 P.Galland
Some examples of Swiss Parks
Strategy Biodiversity Switzerland
Biodiversity Conservation - Swiss context Over 40 000 species, 230 ecosystems/habitats Halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 : not achieved In Europe: highest rate of threatened species and habitats A first attempt of BD strategy in summer 2010 that failed Nagoya decisions: clearer International framework to consider National Biodiversity Strategy adopted in 2012; no Action Plan yet
The CBD commitments: Drafting of a national biodiversity strategy (Art. 6 CDB) done; AP under preparation Establishment of an information exchange platform www.sib.admin.ch Periodic reporting
National Biodiversity Strategy Stronger governance: Steering Committee : Decision making body, in charge of the overall driving of the process, institutional support Accompanying expert group 25 representatives of institutions/ economic sectors/ political bodies/ NGO Active participation Workshop with Minister in charge More strategic: a mission, 4 goals, 10 targets
Mission statements CBD Mission: take effective and urgent action to halt biodiversity loss to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet s variety of life, and contributing to human wellbeing, and poverty eradication. Swiss BD mission: Biodiversity is resilient to change ; biodiversity and ecosystems functions are maintained long term.
Strategic goals: international and national levels CBD Strategic goals Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building Swiss strategic goals Sustainable use of ressources derived form biodiversity is ensured Protected areas and BD promoting areas are defined and long term preservation of these areas is guarantied Biodiversity is understood as being the basis of life by society; ecosystem services are being integrated in national accounting and decision making Switzerland's recognizes it s responsibility for global biodiversity and handles accordingly 10 Targets
Swiss BD strategy: 10 Targets 1. Sustainable use (agriculture, forestry, energy, infrastructure, tourism, army, spatial planning, consumption) 2. Ecological infrastructure 3. Threatened species, invasive species 4. Genetic diversity 5. Subsidies and negative incentives 6. Ecosystem services are measured and included into national accounting 7. Society, knowledge, research 8. Biodiversity in urban and suburban areas 9. Stronger engagement for global biodiversity 10. Comprehensive monitoring
Important steps to be undertaken in Switzerland (Aichi-Targets): Until 2020 the principle of biological diversity are integrated in national and local strategies and planning processes Until 2020 at least 17% of the national territory is protected and organized in a well structured and effectively connected network of protected areas
Swiss Protected Areas Gross surface (without considering the overlapping of different categories) Nagoya 17% Forseen or expected by 2020 0.5% 0.5% 1.4 % 3.0 4.0% Gap (increase of existing or establishment of new PAs; potential: giving a legal status to agricultural ecological compensation surfaces = 1.4%) River expansion zones (agriculture land) New national parks (core zones) Increase forest reserves Current state 11.7 % 3.7% 3.6% 4.4% Federal hunting reserves (until now only for game species) PAs for biodiversity; Local (canton) forest reserves, Biotopes of regional and local importance, buffer zones, private PAs PAs for biodiversity at national level (National Park, Federal inventories, Emerald network)
Ecological infrastructure: represents about 30 % of Swiss territory By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes. By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
Conclusion The Nagoya decisions constitutes a strong basis for the preparation and implementation of the national Biodiversity Strategy Biodiversity must be secured as fundamental living support at national and local level The Nagoya 17 % target for PAs can be met in Switzerland Connectivity and corridors are additional central elements for a "green infrastructure" ; they can and should be used also for economic purpose (multifunction) Biodiversity must also exist and be protected outside of green infrastructures