Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The Federal Council adopted the Action Plan for the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy on 6 September 2017.

The measures contained in the Biodiversity Action Plan

promote biodiversity directly (creation of ecological infrastructure, support for species)
build bridges between federal biodiversity policy and other policy areas (e.g. agriculture, spatial planning, transport, economic development)
raise awareness among decision makers and the public about the importance of biodiversity as a central pillar of life

Action Plan Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (PDF, 1 MB, 06.09.2017)

In doing this the Biodiversity Action Plan implements the objectives of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy.

From Rio de Janeiro to the Action Plan

Switzerland, along with many other states, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the sustainability summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Convention’s 193 Member States (status as of May 2017) have set themselves the goal of ensuring the conservation of ecosystems and their services and of species and their genetic diversity. This is necessary to meet the needs of both today’s and tomorrow’s generations. The Convention’s provisions include the development of national strategies for the conservation of biodiversity. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 was passed at the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan) in October 2010. This comprises, among other things, strategic goals known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and provides the individual states with a framework for the efficient and coherent implementation of the Convention.

UN-Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Swiss InformationSystem Biodiversity (SIB): Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The diagram presented below shows the most important events leading to the adoption of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and the accompanying Action Plan.

Click to select the individual milestones and open the associated links.

Adoption of the Biodiversity Action Plan

The Federal Council adopted the Action Plan for the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy on 6 September 2017. The Action Plan contains a catalogue of measures and pilot projects for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity and the services it provides to the economy and society. The Confederation will contribute up to CHF 80 million annually for the implementation of the first phase of the Biodiversity Action Plan in 2017-2023.

Media Release: Federal Council adopts the Action Plan for the Conservation and Promotion of Biodiversity (07.09.2017)

Conference of the Parties (COP) - December 2016

A Swiss Delegation led by Marc Chardonnens, Director of the FOEN, participates in COP 13 in Cancun, Mexico. The topics for discussion include the integration of biodiversity into other economic sectors, in particular agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism.

UN Biodiversity Conference

Action Plan - May 2016

On 18 May 2016, the Federal Council decides to invest an additional CHF 55 million in the conservation of biological diversity in Switzerland. It is planned to use the funds for immediate measures to be implemented in the period 2017-2020 (urgent rehabilitation and upgrading of biotopes of national importance and biodiversity in forests).

Medienmitteilung: Biodiversität - Bundesrat spricht Mittel für dringliche Massnahmen 2017-2020 (18.05.2016)

UN Conference - September 2015

For the first time in its history, the international community sets itself binding goals for sustainable development in the context of Agenda 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015. Eleven of the 17 goals concern the environment directly or indirectly. The SDGs are also taken into account in the Biodiversity Action Plan.

Agenda2030 (EDA): Post-2015 Verhandlungen - Die entscheidende letzte Runde

Action Plan - 2015-2016

The proposed measures are substantiated and combined based on the feedback from the cantons, the responsible departments of the FOEN and other federal authorities. The measures are revised in the process so that they are even more efficient in terms of fulfilling the ten objectives of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy.

Action Plan – April to July 2015

Consultation with the cantons on the Action Plan shows that most cantons acknowledge the need for an Action Plan for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity and largely welcome the general direction of the Action Plan.

Ergebnisbericht Vorkonsultation Massnahmen Aktionsplan Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz (PDF)

Action Plan – February 2015

On 18 February 2015, the Federal Council acknowledges the general direction, timeline and the Confederation’s financial requirements for the implementation of the Swiss Biodiversity strategy. It also decides to canvass the positions and assessments of the cantons in 2015 on the measures that affect them directly.

Medienmitteilung: Bundesrat konsultiert Kantone zur Umsetzung der Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz (18.02.2015)

Action Plan - 2012-2014

Approximately 650 experts from the administration (Confederation, cantons, communes), political circles, business, science, interest groups and NGOs participate in the development of the measures for the Action Plan.

Partizipativer Prozess zur Erarbeitung des Aktionsplans Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz: Zusammenfassende Berichterstattung (PDF)

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan – April 2012

The Federal Council adopts the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy in spring 2012. At the same time, it mandates the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (PDF)

Conference of the Parties (COP) - October 2010

The Parties to the CBD pass the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 at the tenth Conference of the Parties in October 2010 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. The Plan comprises five strategic goals with a total of 20 core targets referred to as the “Aichi Targets”. In view of the urgent need for action, the United Nations declared the years 2011 to 2020 the “UN Decade on Biodiversity”.

Swiss Information System Biodiversity (SIB): Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - July 2009

On 1 July 2009, the Federal Council mandates the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to develop a Swiss Biodiversity Strategy. The cornerstones of the Strategy are: Biodiversity is rich and capable of reacting to change; Biodiversity and its ecosystem services are conserved in the long term.

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - September 2008

Based on a request submitted by National Councillor Adèle Thorens and a postulat submitted by National Councillor Kurt Fluri, Parliament includes the development of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy in the Legislature Plan 2007-2011.

Schweizer Parlament: Erarbeitung der Biodiversitätsstrategie für die Schweiz (Interpellation 08.3505)

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - May 2007

In its Environmental Performance Review of 2007, the OECD recommends that Switzerland prepare and develop a strategy for the conservation of biological diversity as a matter of urgency.

Swiss Biodiversity Strategy – December 2004

Kurt Fluri submits a parliamentary postulate for the development of a biodiversity strategy. The postulate is not debated.

UN Conference – June 1992

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was signed at the United Nations’ Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, is the first international treaty to tackle the protection of biological diversity comprehensively, globally and sustainably (species protection, ecosystem protection and protection of genetic resources). The Parties to the Convention are required, among other things, to develop national strategies for the conservation of biodiversity.

Swiss Information System Biodiversity (SIB): The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 8, 22. December 2016

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Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 7, 29. April 2016

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Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 6, 18. February 2015

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Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 5, 16. July 2014

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Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 4, 10. January 2014

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Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 3, 4. October 2013