Switzerland: Bird Life Dramatically Changed Over 100 Years
Great grey shrike, grey partridge and woodchat shrike: According to a new report by the bird protection organisation BirdLife, Switzerland's birdlife looked very different 100 years ago. Many species are today endangered or extinct. Others have newly established themselves in Switzerland.
One hundred years is not a long time in world history. And yet Switzerland has changed more dramatically during this short period than ever before.
“No one today can remember that time anymore,” says Beat Wartmann, Vice President of BirdLife Switzerland. “That is why most people are not even aware of how dramatically badly birds are faring nowadays.”
Curlew, great grey shrike and little owl have disappeared
The analysis, published in the journal Ornis, shows that the cultivated landscape 100 years ago still provided a habitat for many specialised species. Lapwing, Eurasian curlew, common snipe and redshank still bred in wetlands. Grey partridge, corn bunting, great grey shrike and whinchat were common in the Mittelland.
“These species hold up a mirror to us,” says Wartmann. “They show what we have lost in terms of biodiversity, because with them countless other species and entire habitats have also disappeared.”
Thanks to improved hunting laws, several heron and bird of prey species that had previously been rigorously persecuted also recovered.
Wartime cultivation drive and land improvements
Nevertheless, today 60% of birds appear on the Swiss Red List. Devastating was the agricultural policy, beginning with the ‘wartime cultivation drive’ during the Second World War: 60’000 ha of land were drained, 11’000 ha of forest cleared and 80’000 ha of land improved. Over 90% of wetlands have disappeared to date.
Enormous need for action
What is finally needed is an agricultural policy that ensures sustainable management including high-quality measures for biodiversity made possible. Less than 10% of Switzerland's national territory is currently protected. To preserve biodiversity, approximately 30% of the area must be secured, as the international community of states also established at the World Nature Summit COP15. More on the topic Environment and Nature Conservation.
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