Fifteen new measures will be deployed to preserve biodiversity in Switzerland. The Federal Council adopted the second phase of the Biodiversity Strategy action plan on Wednesday and released an envelope of 24 million for the years 2025-2030.
The second phase addresses existing gaps in a targeted manner. Among the measures decided are the identification and development of areas that are particularly important for insects, the adaptation of animal and plant species and their habitat to climate change, as well as the support of cantons and municipalities in the promotion of biodiversity in urbanized areas.
In the coming months, other federal offices whose policy areas have an impact on biodiversity will also define measures for the implementation of the action plan. Land use planning, transport, energy production, agriculture and foreign trade make important contributions to the action plan, the government said in a press release.
600 million for biodiversity
The first phase of the action plan (2017-2024) made it possible to set important milestones and initiate long-term activities, he continues. The financial resources made available under the program agreements have been sustained. Currently, the Confederation invests a total of more than 600 million francs per year in biodiversity.
Since the 1900s, biodiversity around the world has been under severe pressure from rapid environmental change. In Switzerland, almost half of natural environments are now considered threatened. Additionally, 17% of all species are “on the brink of extinction” or “endangered” and 16% of species are vulnerable.
To deal with this, the Federal Council adopted the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy in 2012.
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The plan of “inaction”
For the WWF, Pro Natura and BirdLife Switzerland, the Federal Council published the “inaction plan” on Wednesday, disappointing in every way in the face of the planned mass extinction of species.
The plan mainly provides for studies, method developments and clarifications – no resources are planned for implementation, denounce the three environmental protection organizations.
Without concrete measures and with paltry funding, this plan will unfortunately not be able to make a relevant contribution to the preservation of biodiversity in Switzerland.
ats/ebz
Swiss
