Topic Soil
With the unsustainable way in which it treats its soil, Switzerland is missing opportunities to produce food, gain clean drinking water, use space for leisure activities, reduce greenhouse gases, conserve biodiversity and counter the growing stress of high temperatures. Inward urban development has slowed the urban sprawl to some degree, but soil sealing has picked up pace again over the past decade. Additionally, soils are still being compacted and contaminated with pollutants, and they are eroding.
In focus
Products and Services
Indicators
Search and list of all indicators
Soil: Geodata
Geodata available at the FOEN on the topic of soil
Studies Soil
Soil and Biotechnology Division
The division is responsible for the protection of our soils, for the remediation of contaminated sites and for biotechnology and genetic engineering
Media releases
Soil: In brief
informs about the state of the environment and reveals the links between driving forces, pressures, environmental quality, impacts and responses.
Soil: Dossiers
Soil and its functions
Soil is a limited, ecologically and economically valuable non-renewable resource. Along with water and air, it is essential for life.
Swiss National Soil Strategy
This strategy provides a guiding framework so that future generations are also able to benefit from the diverse services that soil provides.
Physical, chemical and biological soil pressures
Soil pressures can be divided up into physical (mechanical), chemical (material) and biological pressures.
State of Swiss soil (NABO)
Together with the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), the FOEN operates the Swiss soil monitoring network (NABO). NABO is not only a reference network, but also an instrument for detecting problems early on and evaluating the effectiveness of soil protection efforts.
Soil: Legislation and enforcement
Soil and Biotechnology Division
Soil and Biotechnology Division
Monbijoustrasse 40
3003 Berne