Global biodiversity has been declining for years. About one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Scientists therefore speak of the sixth mass extinction. Biodiversity is under great pressure from land use and habitat loss. Then there is rapid climate change. Both crises have a direct impact on people’s livelihoods.
From December 7 to 19, the 15th Global Conference on Biodiversity (COP 15) will take place in Montreal. This World Nature Summit is about making global agreements to protect biodiversity. The main goal is that by 2030 a total of 30 percent of the world’s marine and land areas will be protected for biodiversity (“30 by 30”).
Government representatives from all over the world meet here. Switzerland is also sending a delegation to Canada. You want to get started with “ambitious goals and clear rules for the implementation of measures”.
But what about biodiversity here? These seven points reflect the situation and developments in Switzerland.
The Federal Environment Agency (FOEN) last published the current status in 2017 in the report “Biodiversity in Switzerland: status and development”.
There are specific challenges for agriculture. Many animal and plant species are under pressure in the intensively cultivated Mittelland. For example, the partridge here became extinct in 2019. Habitats are disappearing and fertilizers and pesticides are affecting biodiversity. While the agricultural area has decreased slightly since 1900, production has expanded considerably.
In terms of nitrogen losses, Swiss agriculture ranks third in Europe, after the Netherlands and Belgium. These surpluses from livestock farming end up in vulnerable ecosystems and crowd out rare species. There is also a lack of space for biodiversity: today only one percent of arable land is made available for pollinators and natural pest controllers.
Compared to other ecosystems, the general condition of the forests is good. Natural forest renewal is gaining ground and biodiversity is high. About 40 percent of Swiss species live primarily in the forest, grow there or depend on the forest at some point.
The waters are less rosy (see also below). Habitat areas in the Alps are under pressure and areas of settlement can present opportunities as well as risks. In general it can be said that generalists are on the rise, specialists are less and less. Overall, the situation for endangered species has not improved.
Switzerland is at the top in terms of the share of endangered groups of animal species (e.g. mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, etc.). At least this is the case if one evaluates the OECD data and only takes into account countries that have prepared corresponding evaluations for at least five species groups. At best, this selection balances high/low results from a single species group.
On average, more than 40 percent of all species in each species group in Switzerland are threatened. This means that the share is about twice as high as the average for the selected countries:
Field observations are necessary to assess the situation of the different species. These are managed and evaluated by the faunal and floristic data and information centers in Switzerland (Info Species).
These observations can provide information about the distribution of different species. It turns out that the hard-to-reach areas in the mountains are of course less vegetated. But more could also be done in the Mittelland.
Also striking: the more an area is surveyed, the more likely it is that the highest category of observed species (purple) will be reached.
Red lists show the threat of species. Commissioned by FOEN, these are drawn up and updated by experts according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
To date, 56,000 different species have been identified in Switzerland. Experts estimate that at least 29,000 other multicellular species live in Switzerland. There is a risk assessment for about 20 percent (10,844 species) of the registered species. That does not seem like much at first, but it is also considerably more compared to other countries. 35 percent of them are considered endangered or extinct.
To be on the Red List, a species must meet criteria such as "decreasing population size", "small range" or "small number of individuals capable of reproduction". Then it is divided into categories. Three of them are considered "Red List" species.
A few years ago, the Forum for Biodiversity Switzerland, Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) published information on the change in biodiversity in Switzerland since 1900 in the brochure "Biodiversity in Switzerland".
Two maps show how the dry meadows and pastures in Switzerland changed between 1900 and 2010. During this period, 95 percent of the areas were lost. Since 1990, the decline alone has been 30 percent.
In 2010, about 21,000 hectares of dry meadows and pastures were protected. However, the quality of the objects decreases as areas are used more intensively:
In addition to dry meadows and meadows, the share of floodplains (-70% since 1850) and heaths (-82% since 1900) has also decreased enormously. The preservation of heaths and floodplains is crucial for biodiversity. Since 1990, several such areas have been placed under protection to halt the decline:
Insects are among the most endangered animal species. The study "Insect diversity in Switzerland" clearly showed this in 2021. Many Swiss insects are endangered and are on the Red List of endangered species.
There are currently red lists for six insect groups in Switzerland. Of the 1,153 insect species assessed, 43 percent are classified as endangered and another 16 percent as near threatened. In our country, 38 species are already extinct.
It is also interesting to look at the butterfly fauna in Switzerland. Over the last 30 years, the species that prefer higher temperatures (heat indicators) tend to expand here. Those more comfortable with low temperatures (cold indicators) are becoming rarer.
As mentioned, the waters in Switzerland in particular are under pressure. The status is analyzed in the 2022 FOEN report of "Waters in Switzerland". Switzerland's many water resources are of great importance to society, the economy and nature. For example, about 80 percent of Swiss drinking water comes from groundwater.
The diverse use of water changed the landscape and led to loss of habitat for animals and plants (see also the decline of floodplain landscapes above). Here is a review. Measures have also been taken to improve water quality.
Streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are generally among the most species-rich habitats. More than 80 percent of all known animal species occur in bodies of water and in the immediately adjacent habitats along the banks and floodplains. In Switzerland, many of them are under threat. As a result, aquatic organisms are affected above average. 53 percent are already endangered or extinct.
Source: Blick
I am Ross William, a passionate and experienced news writer with more than four years of experience in the writing industry. I have been working as an author for 24 Instant News Reporters covering the Trending section. With a keen eye for detail, I am able to find stories that capture people’s interest and help them stay informed.
