Biodiversity: Information for specialists

Biodiversity encompasses the diversity of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms, genetic diversity within the different species, the diversity of habitats and their interactions with one another. Biodiversity has been declining for decades and it is continuing.

Biodiversity is currently in a poor state, which is why the Confederation is taking measures at various levels to conserve and promote biodiversity in cooperation with the cantons.

Biodiversity policy

The Confederation is committed to conserving and promoting biodiversity. To this end, it has developed a national strategy and set binding targets for the authorities. It supports the cantons not only financially, but also with technical foundations, and participates in international agreements.

Strategy & Actionplan

In order to preserve biodiversity and secure Switzerland’s ecological performance over the long term, on behalf of the Federal Council the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is preparing a national strategy with specified targets. An action plan will define the targets and formulate the necessary measures. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is responsible for developing the action plan.

International Affairs

Numerous global and regional agreements have been concluded to arrest the decline and ensure the sustainable use of global biodiversity and ecosystems. In the current decade, the efforts made by all of these agreements target the implementation of the global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the attainment of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020.

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Last modification 05.11.2020

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