Dark clouds in the sky with biodiversity – you must know these images

More than 56,000 different endemic species of plants, animals and fungi have been identified in Switzerland alone. Nearly 30,000 of these are insects. However, experts assume that there are another 20,000 insect species living in Switzerland that have not yet been discovered or described.

10,000 of the 56,000 known species are other invertebrates, and nearly 10,000 are fungi. There are 399 known native species of vertebrates – ie fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

To date, endangered status has been determined for 10,844 native species with sufficient data. According to the Federal Environment Agency (FOEN), six percent of them are threatened with extinction. 11 percent are classified as highly endangered and another 16 percent as vulnerable. Overall, there is a need for species protection and promotion measures for 47 percent of the species surveyed in Switzerland.

So far, however, only 10 percent of all known insect species have been assessed for risk of extinction, 32 percent for fungi and 41 percent for lichens. In vascular plants, mosses and vertebrates, on the other hand, this value is almost 100 percent.

According to the studies “Biodiversity in Switzerland” and “Red Lists – Threatened species and habitats in Switzerland”, the threat of many fish, reptile and bird species has increased significantly. Of the 10,844 species assessed, 35 percent (brown line in the graph) are classified as endangered or extinct.

The proportion of endangered or extinct species varies greatly depending on the group of organisms. It is especially high in groups with fewer species (less than 25 species) such as ringworts, decapods, locusts, amphibians and reptiles.

Streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are generally among the most species-rich habitats. But it is precisely in these aquatic habitats that the share of endangered and extinct species is particularly high. Because Switzerland’s many water resources are of great importance to society, the economy and nature.

The versatile use of water changes the landscape and leads to the loss of habitat for animals and plants: in the past 150 years, most of our streams, rivers and lakes have become clogged and 90 percent of wetlands and small bodies of water have been drained. According to the Bafu, the intensive use of hydropower and micropollutants from settlements and agriculture also affect water bodies.

Most species are bound to very specific habitats. The rarer a habitat is and the lower its quality, the greater the risk of extinction for the habitat specialists who live in it. Threatened species are therefore mainly preserved by protecting their habitats.

The development and condition of the habitats is reflected in the threat of vascular plant species (eg ferns): ecosystems with a high proportion of threatened and extinct habitat types also have a high proportion of threatened and extinct species.

Compared to neighboring countries, the share of endangered or extinct species in Switzerland is particularly high. The difference is particularly evident in the case of amphibians and fish, where Switzerland is particularly in need of action.

The reasons for this situation are many. The main reason is the poor ecological quality in many places and the fragmentation of suitable habitats on the Swiss plateau and in the valleys. The much better data base in Switzerland also plays a role, as do geographical influences such as the location of the country in the middle of Europe and therefore on the edge of the distribution areas of some species.

According to the Bafu, some progress has been made in protecting biodiversity in recent years. But these were not enough to reverse the trend. This requires the cooperation of all actors.

The Bafu sees a lot of potential in the settlement areas. In spatial planning, for example, more natural green and water areas, urban forests or green roofs and facades should be planned. In this context, the FOEN took the opportunity to promote the indirect counter-proposal of the Federal Council for the Biodiversity Initiative.

In this way, the Bundesrat wants to promote the quality and networking of habitats and promote nature in settlement areas. According to the Bafu, a balance of interests between protection and use is necessary when promoting renewable energy. (for)