Rare examples: this is how you can protect endangered plants in our mountains

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The flora and fauna in Switzerland and especially in the mountains inspire people from all over the world. Whether you know the name of the plant or not, it is always a pleasure to discover the colorful flowers while hiking.

Sonja Hassold (40) from Zurich is a professional botanist and co-founder and owner of botanical excursions. She explains why some species are endangered and how to protect them.

Switzerland has a national red list for Swiss vascular plants, most recently published by Info Flora on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (FOEN) in 2016. Almost a third of the species and subspecies evaluated are classified as endangered or even extinct. “This national red list is re-evaluated every ten to 15 years,” Hassold explains. «Another development of the Red List is the list of species of national priority. This takes into account Switzerland’s share of a species’ total population and therefore prioritizes species on the Red List. In this way, plants that are rare in neighboring countries can be protected in Switzerland,” says Hassold.

Extinct Habitats

Plants are always unique to a place and cannot move like animals. Therefore, they depend on the right conditions in their habitat.

When the habitat of a rare plant species is destroyed, the plant also disappears. “For example, scant dry meadows have become very rare in Switzerland,” says the expert.

The displacement of other plant species may also be a reason for the extinction of some plants. This is currently happening, for example, in mountainous areas. “Because of global warming, plants in lowland areas are also growing higher now. But most of the species that live there can’t grow higher. Also, they’re not very competitive and are being excluded,” Hassold explains.

Another threat to native plants is introduced species such as Swiss-controlled goldenrod or annual fleabane.

Man and climate as major herbicides

According to Hassold, there are two main reasons why there are so many endangered plant species: “The biggest killers for wild plants in Switzerland are humans and the climate.”

Ski resorts, urban sprawl and agriculture are just a few examples that have stripped away valuable habitats for flora and fauna. “There’s a huge potential for conflict between the protection of natural habitats and the aspirations of us humans.”

How are wild plants protected?

Anyone who wants to protect endangered plant species can be active at home, in the garden or on walks, as well as living an eco-friendly life.

According to the expert, if you can clearly identify problem plants that pose a threat to others along the way, you should remove them. These problematic species are summarized in the Black List. One of them is the late blooming goldenrod, which can cover entire forests or river banks. “After removing it, throw it into biogas or regular waste, not into manure,” Hassold says.

To protect the plants, you should not choose only the ones you love while hiking. “The probability of an endangered species in the mountains is very high,” explains the botanist. Plants are most admired outdoors, in nature. Meanwhile, endangered species in the area can often be found on information boards on hiking trails.

If you have a garden, you can also propagate rare plant species there. There are special types of conservation projects you can participate in. If you want to do nature a favor, you shouldn’t throw away everything in your own garden right away. Overgrown gardens are better for plant protection.

Source : Blick