Cantonal popular initiative: Canton of Valais

«For professional wildlife protection» / «Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage»

Constitutional initiative in the form of a fully drafted proposal / Initiative constitutionnelle rédigée de toutes pièces

Based on Articles 100 and 102 of the Constitution of the Canton of Valais of 8 March 1907 and on the Act on Political Rights

Submitted by the initiative committee [date of submission]

Note: The Canton of Valais is bilingual. For submission, the text of the initiative must be available in both German and French. The French version must be verified by a legal professional prior to submission.

Text of the initiative

The undersigned persons, eligible to vote in the Canton of Valais, submit the following constitutional initiative:

The Constitution of the Canton of Valais of 8 March 1907 is supplemented by the following articles:

Art. [new] Professional wildlife protection

1 The practice of hunting by private individuals (licence hunting, recreational hunting) is prohibited throughout the entire territory of the Canton of Valais.

2 The protection, care and, where necessary, regulation of wild animals shall be the exclusive responsibility of professionally trained wildlife managers employed by the canton.

3 The killing of wild animals is only permitted as a last resort, when all other suitable measures for preventing damage or averting danger have been exhausted or are insufficient. It requires prior approval by the Wildlife Commission.

4 The canton shall establish an independent Wildlife Commission, composed of representatives of animal welfare and nature conservation organisations, the scientific community and the authorities concerned. The commission shall oversee wildlife management and decide on regulatory measures.

5 The canton shall promote the natural regulation of wildlife populations, the connectivity of habitats and the coexistence of humans and wild animals.

6 Further details shall be regulated by law.

Art. [new] Protection of endangered and protected wild animal species

1 The canton refrains from regulating populations of protected wild animal species pursuant to Art. 7a of the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds and does not grant kill permits for individual animals of protected species pursuant to Art. 12 para. 2 of this Act, in particular not for wolf, lynx, bear, beaver, otter, golden jackal, golden eagle, goosander and other species protected under federal law. Paragraph 3 remains reserved.

2 It relies on fostering coexistence between humans and wild animals, passive damage prevention, the ecological enhancement of habitats and the scientific monitoring of wild animal presence.

3 Measures against individual wild animals that pose an immediate and significant danger to humans remain reserved. They are to be limited to the minimum necessary and carried out by the canton's competent specialist authority.

4 The canton actively advocates for the protection and preservation of endangered wild animal species within the framework of inter-cantonal cooperation and towards the Confederation.

Transitional provision

1 The Council of State shall issue the necessary implementing provisions within two years of the adoption of this constitutional amendment.

2 Existing hunting licences expire upon the entry into force of the implementing provisions. Patent fees already paid for the current hunting season will be reimbursed on a pro-rata basis.

3 The Council of State shall ensure the continuity of wildlife management during the transitional phase.

Explanatory notes

1. Starting position

In the Canton of Valais, the third-largest canton in Switzerland by area, with around 345'000 inhabitants across 5'224 km², today's recreational hunting is a system that serves neither species protection nor contemporary wildlife management. It is the practice of a bloody leisure pastime at the expense of sentient beings, legitimised by outdated narratives that do not withstand scientific scrutiny. The claim that without recreational hunting the ecological balance would collapse has been empirically refuted by the Geneva model for over 50 years (see the comprehensive dossier on the Geneva hunting ban on wildbeimwild.com).

In Valais, recreational hunting is organised as licence hunting. Private individuals purchase a cantonal licence and hunt without fixed responsibility for a hunting ground (see the The Psychology Of Recreational Hunting In The Canton Of Valais as well as the critical analysis of hunting training on wildbeimwild.com).

The canton of Valais is at the centre of the national wolf debate. Valais is one of the cantons with the most wolf packs and has in recent years applied for and carried out particularly many wolf kills. Since February 2025, cantons have been able to authorise the killing of individual beavers that cause significant damage (Art. 9d JSV). The lynx is native to the canton. The golden eagle breeds in the Valais Alps. Valais is home to the bearded vulture, the ibex and a unique alpine fauna. With the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, one of Europe's most valuable protected areas lies partly within the canton (see the analysis of hunting policy on wildbeimwild.com and the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

The canton of Valais has the opportunity to send a clear signal here: not only in favour of professional wildlife protection instead of recreational hunting, but also for the consistent protection of endangered wildlife species at cantonal level. As one of the Swiss cantons with the most wolf packs, this signal would have an impact reaching far beyond the canton's borders.

2. The role model: canton of Geneva

On 19 May 1974, a good 70 percent of voters in the canton of Geneva voted to abolish militia-style recreational hunting. Before the ban, big game in the canton had been practically wiped out: red deer and wild boars had been absent for decades, and only a few dozen roe deer remained. Over 400 recreational hunters released large numbers of pheasants, grey partridges and hares for recreational hunting.

The experience since the recreational hunting ban has been unequivocal:

Biodiversity has increased markedly. The number of overwintering waterfowl has multiplied from a few hundred to around 30,000. Geneva is now home to the largest brown hare population and one of the last grey partridge populations in Switzerland.
The roe deer population has settled at a healthy level, with an annual special cull by professional game wardens of just 20 to 36 animals.
The ban has been in force continuously for over 50 years. Geneva has never repealed it.
The total cost of professional wildlife management in Geneva amounts to around 1.2 million francs annually, split into approximately 600,000 francs for personnel (around three full-time positions, shared among roughly a dozen environmental officers), 250,000 francs for prevention, and 350,000 francs for damage compensation. This corresponds to around 2.40 francs per resident per year.

The long-serving Geneva fauna inspector Gottlieb Dandliker (2001 to 2025) described the recreational hunting ban as the most financially favourable alternative for the canton. A detailed account can be found in the dossier «Geneva and the hunting ban» on wildbeimwild.com.

The efficiency of the Geneva model becomes clear in a direct comparison: a professional game warden in Geneva needs on average 8 hours and a maximum of 2 cartridges for a sanitary kill of a wild boar. A recreational hunter in the canton of Zurich needs 60 to 80 hours and up to 15 cartridges for the same task. The density of brown hares in Geneva is 17.7 animals per 100 hectares (the highest in Switzerland), whereas in the canton of Zurich it is only 1.0 per 100 hectares (cf. fact check by the Zurich Cantonal Council).

3. The concept: professional wildlife wardens instead of recreational hunting

The initiative does not replace recreational hunting with a vacuum, but with professional wildlife management based on the game warden model. This model is founded on the following principles:

Professional expertise instead of leisure pursuit. Professional wildlife managers act on a scientific basis (cf. the critical analysis of hunting training on wildbeimwild.com).

Last-resort principle. A kill is only permissible once all non-lethal measures have been exhausted.

Democratic oversight through a wildlife commission. The independent commission prevents political pressure from diluting wildlife management.

Natural self-regulation as a guiding principle. Experience from Geneva, from national parks and from numerous scientific Studies confirms that, in most cases, wildlife populations regulate themselves.

4. Why Valais?

The canton of Valais is suited to the introduction of professional wildlife protection for several reasons:

Flashpoint of the wolf debate. Valais is one of the cantons with the most wolf packs and has, in recent years, applied for and carried out a particularly high number of wolf kills. The canton's wolf policy is controversial both nationally and internationally. The initiative offers a constitutional response: professional wildlife management and professional herd protection instead of politically motivated mass killings. The second article on species protection makes the initiative attractive to conservation organisations that have so far remained defensive in the wolf debate (see the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch. The Great Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding area belong to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage. Professional wildlife management would protect this unique conservation area more consistently than recreational hunting (see wildbeimwild.com on national parks and protected areas).

Unique alpine fauna. Valais is home to the bearded vulture, golden eagle, ibex, chamois, wolf, lynx and numerous other species in a unique high-mountain landscape. It is one of the most species-rich alpine cantons in Switzerland (see wildbeimwild.com on predators).

Bilingualism as a bridge. Valais is bilingual: around two thirds of the population speak French (Lower Valais), and one third speak German (Upper Valais). The initiative combines the Geneva experience of French-speaking Switzerland with the German-speaking debate. The core messages must work in both German and French.

Protective forest and alpine farming. Valais has a high proportion of protective forest. The wolf naturally regulates the roe deer population and reduces browsing pressure in the protective forest. For alpine farming, professional herd protection offers better protection than recreational hunting, which does not effectively keep predators away from livestock herds.

6,000 signatures in one year. With 345,000 inhabitants, 6,000 signatures represent 1.7 percent of the population. Signatures can be collected in Sion, Brig-Glis, Visp, Monthey, Martigny and Naters. The collection must be organised in both languages.

Licence hunting = a simple change of system. No lease agreements, no compensation for municipalities.

Tourism canton. Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Verbier, Crans-Montana: Valais is one of Switzerland's most important tourism cantons. Professional wildlife protection and coexistence with predators are an argument for sustainable tourism.

5. On the text of the initiative

Paragraph 1: Ban on recreational hunting

The ban on licence hunting by private individuals corresponds to the Geneva model. Cantonal competence is undisputed: Art. 3 para. 1 and 2 of the hunting act. The three hunting systems are of equal standing. Geneva has been compliant with federal law since 1974.

Paragraph 2: Professional wildlife management

Instead of recreational hunters, professionally trained wildlife managers in cantonal service take on all tasks. In Geneva, this system has proven its worth for over 50 years.

Paragraph 3: Kill as a last resort

A kill is the exception, not the rule. Passive measures take priority.

Paragraph 4: Wildlife commission

The independent wildlife commission is modelled on the Geneva example. It prevents the Council of State from independently approving exceptions. In Valais, wolf policy has shown how quickly political pressure can lead to mass culls. A constitutionally enshrined wildlife commission would have prevented this automatism (cf. Hunting myths fact-checked).

Paragraph 5: Natural regulation and coexistence

In Valais, promoting coexistence includes in particular securing the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, connecting alpine habitats, professional herd protection, and raising awareness among the population and tourists.

Transitional provisions

The two-year deadline gives the Council of State sufficient time. The existing cantonal Office for Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife (Service de la chasse, de la pêche et de la faune) can serve as the institutional basis. Important: Valais is bilingual. The initiative text must be available in both languages.

6. On the second article: protection of endangered and protected wild animal species

The second article is of the utmost topicality for Valais. Valais is one of the cantons with the most wolf packs and wolf kills. The initiative offers constitutional protection that prevents every presence of a wolf from automatically leading to a kill order. The bearded vulture breeds in Valais. The golden eagle is present. The lynx is native. The “in particular” wording also protects future returning species, especially the bear (see the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

7. Cost implications: A concrete budget for Valais

The Geneva reference budget

In Geneva, which at 282 km² is roughly eighteen times smaller than Valais and has around 500’000 inhabitants, the total costs amount to around 1.2 million francs annually.

Conservative projection for Valais

For Valais, with an area of 5’224 km² and around 345’000 inhabitants, the following deliberately conservative cost estimate results. This calculates generously and takes into account the particular challenges of one of the largest Alpine cantons:

Personnel costs: 1’440’000 to 2’520’000 francs annually. 12 to 18 full-time positions are required. Valais is eighteen times larger than Geneva and topographically extremely demanding: high mountains, numerous side valleys, extensive alpine farming. However, settlement is concentrated in the Rhone valley and the side valleys. The higher number of positions takes into account the red deer transition management.

Material costs: 350’000 to 600’000 francs annually. In the high mountains, material costs are higher: off-road vehicles, alpine equipment, herd protection material, monitoring infrastructure, and public relations work in two languages.

Damage compensation: 250’000 to 500’000 francs annually. Mainly wolf kill damage to livestock and browsing damage in protective forests.

Herd protection start-up investment: 700’000 to 1’200’000 francs. In the first three to five years after the system change, a one-off start-up investment in herd protection infrastructure is needed for the entire Valais alpine area, which represents the greatest herd protection challenge in Switzerland: livestock guardian dog programmes, mobile fences, night pens, and training of herders. This investment is not recurring.

Total costs: 2’040’000 to 3’620’000 francs annually (gross). This corresponds to around 5.90 to 10.50 francs per inhabitant per year.

Transitional management of red deer

In Valais, too, red deer populations are considerable and not sustainably regulated by recreational hunting. Compensatory reproduction (i.e. the reproduction rate artificially increased by hunting pressure) prevents a sustainable reduction. After the system change, targeted transition management is needed, which is factored into the higher number of positions (cf. studies on wildbeimwild.com).

Savings and counter-financing

This is offset by considerable savings: no hunting examinations, no licence administration, no kill quota planning, no hunting supervision. In Valais, there are additionally the enormous costs for the logistically demanding wolf kills: a single pointlessly killed wolf costs the public around 35,000 francs (helicopter deployments, coordination, legal proceedings). With dozens of kills per year, this quickly adds up to hundreds of thousands.

Lost revenue

Abolishing recreational hunting eliminates licence fees estimated at 2.5 to 3.5 million francs annually. However, this is offset by the never-balanced external costs of militia hunting (wildlife accidents, hunting-related browsing damage in protective forests, administrative expenses, police and court proceedings), which amount to a multiple of this revenue. In the canton of Geneva, this revenue has been forgone since 1974, without financial problems: before the hunting ban, over 400 recreational hunters were active; today, three full-time positions do the same work better. Sanitary and therapeutic kills by professional game wardens are not the same as regulatory hunting based on hunters' lore or a misunderstood «experience of nature» among recreational hunters. A full cost accounting shows: militia hunting costs the taxpayer significantly more than it brings in (cf. «What recreational hunting really costs Switzerland» on wildbeimwild.com).

Recreational hunters in politics vote against nature conservation. The recreational hunting lobby systematically opposes biodiversity and species protection concerns. In 2024, it fought against the Biodiversity Initiative (63 per cent No). In 2020, the hunting act it had helped shape failed at the ballot box (51.9 per cent No). In 2016, the Ticino hunting association torpedoed the Parc Adula national park. During the 2015–2019 legislative period, recreational hunters in parliament voted predominantly against environmental concerns. Anyone who claims that recreational hunters are nature conservationists is ignoring their voting behaviour (cf. Ticino Hunting Association: 30 Years of Nonsense and Cost dossier).

The Net additional costs are likely to be between 1,200,000 and 2,500,000 francs annually, which corresponds to around3.50 to 7.25 francs per resident corresponds to. Even calculated generously: that is less than 0.06 per cent of the cantonal budget of around 4.6 billion francs (State accounts 2024, FFA). Or put differently: less than one coffee per person per year, for professional wildlife protection in a hotspot of the Swiss wolf debate (cf. Hunting myths fact check on wildbeimwild.com).

8. Compatibility with superior law

First article: Abolition of recreational hunting

Compliant with federal law. Art. 3 para. 1 and 2 JSG. Three equivalent hunting systems. Unchallenged in Geneva since 1974.

Second article: Protection of protected species

Art. 7a JSG permits preventive regulation but does not require it. The same applies to kill authorisations for individual animals under Art. 12 para. 2 JSG. Refraining from this violates neither federal law nor the Bern Convention.

Unity of subject matter

Ensured, as all provisions relate to cantonal wildlife management and the protection of wild animals.

9. Anticipating foreseeable objections

«Valais is eighteen times larger than Geneva and a high-mountain canton; the Geneva model does not work here»

The facts: A larger area requires more specialist staff (12 to 18 instead of around 3 full-time positions). But: settlement is concentrated in the Rhône valley and the side valleys. Most of the canton's area is high mountain terrain with no permanent settlement: there are no human-wildlife conflicts there. The absolute costs (1,200,000 to 2,500,000 francs) are modest for a canton with a billion-franc budget (cf. the The Psychology Of Recreational Hunting In The Canton Of Valais).

Short communicative formula: «The Rhône valley is the same kind of landscape as Geneva. And in the high mountains there are fewer conflicts, not more.» / «La plaine du Rhône est le même paysage que Genève. Et en haute montagne, il y a moins de conflits, pas plus.»

“The wolf must be regulated, Valais has the most packs”

The facts: Valais has many packs and many kills, and yet the packs are not disappearing. The kill policy has failed to achieve its goal. The wolf naturally regulates the roe deer population, reduces browsing pressure in the protective forest, and changes the behaviour of ungulates to the forest's benefit (landscape of fear). Professional wildlife management allows the wolf to fulfil its ecological function while at the same time protecting livestock herds through professional prevention.

Short communicative formula: «Valais kills as many wolves as hardly any other canton and still continues to have packs. Killing solves nothing. Coexistence does.» / «Le Valais tire autant de loups que presque aucun autre canton et compte toujours des meutes. Tirer ne résout rien. La coexistence, si.»

«The per capita costs are too high»

The facts: In a large, alpine canton with 345,000 inhabitants, the per-capita costs are naturally higher than in Zurich. In absolute figures, even calculated generously: 1,200,000 to 2,500,000 francs annually. Less than 0.1 percent of the canton's budget. Less than one coffee per person per year. The enormous costs of wolf kills are eliminated entirely.

Short communicative formula: «Less than one coffee per person per year. Less than 0.1 percent of the canton's budget. And the costly wolf kills are eliminated.»

10. Summary

This initiative gives the population of Valais the opportunity to speak out in favour of modern, evidence-based wildlife management and comprehensive protection for endangered wild animal species. The first article follows the Geneva model, which has proven successful for over 50 years. The second article is a direct response to Valais's wolf policy: it prevents every presence of a wolf from automatically leading to a kill order, and also protects the bearded vulture, lynx, golden eagle and future returning species such as the bear. As a flashpoint of the Swiss wolf debate, a success in Valais would send a signal of national significance.

Initiative committee "For professional wildlife protection" / "Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage"

[Name 1], [Name 2], [Name 3] …

(Committee members in accordance with cantonal law, resident in the canton of Valais)

Contact address: [Committee address]

Appendix: Further documentation

The Geneva model in detail: wildbeimwild.com/dossiers/genf-und-das-jagdverbot. Comprehensive overview of Geneva's wildlife management since 1974.

Scientific studies: wildbeimwild.com/studien

Hunting in Switzerland: wildbeimwild.com/jagd-in-der-schweiz

Psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of Valais: wildbeimwild.com: Psychology of recreational hunting in canton VS

Psychology of recreational hunting: wildbeimwild.com/category/psychologie-jagd

National parks and protected areas: wildbeimwild.com/tag/schweizerischer-nationalpark

Wild animals in settlement areas: wildbeimwild.com/tag/stadtwildtiere

Hunting myths: wildbeimwild.com/dossiers/jagdmythen

Cantonal popular initiative Basel-Stadt: Template text of the initiative in the canton of Basel-Stadt

Note on the procedure

The initiative committee submits the initiative text in German and French to the State Chancellery of the Canton of Valais for preliminary review before the collection of signatures begins. 6’000 valid signatures are required for the initiative to come about. The collection period is one year from publication in the Official Gazette (Art. 110 of the Act on Political Rights). The submission procedures are governed by the Act on Political Rights.

Strategic briefing for activists

Popular initiative "For professional wildlife protection", canton of Valais Internal working document, as of March 2026

Summary

Valais is both the most difficult and the strategically most important canton in the series. A flashpoint of the Swiss wolf debate, with many packs and many kills. The initiative is a counter-offensive: professional wildlife management instead of politically motivated mass culls. 6’000 signatures among 345’000 inhabitants are achievable. Bilingualism as a bridge. UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch. The core message: "Valais shoots as many wolves as almost any other canton and still continues to have packs. Shooting solves nothing."

1. Why Valais of all places?

Flashpoint of the wolf debate. Many packs, many kills, fierce debate. The species protection paragraph is the answer.

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Jungfrau-Aletsch. Professional protection for a World Heritage Site.

Unique alpine fauna. Bearded vulture, golden eagle, wolf, lynx, ibex.

6,000 signatures. 1.7 per cent. Feasible.

Bilingualism. Bridge between French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland.

Licence hunting = a simple change of system. No lease agreements.

2. Lessons from Zurich: What we are doing differently

Positive title. «For professional wildlife protection» / «Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage».

The wolf debate as a counter-offensive. Not defensive (“the wolf isn’t dangerous”), but offensive (“Shooting doesn’t work, coexistence does”).

Absolute costs. 1,200,000 to 2,500,000 francs. Less than 0.1 per cent of the cantonal budget.

Bilingual campaign from day one.

3. Particular challenges

Hunting culture. Valais is one of the cantons most strongly shaped by hunting culture in Switzerland. The campaign must work with facts, not emotions.

Wolf polarisation. The debate is more polarised in Valais than in any other canton. The initiative must win over the middle ground, not the extremes.

Alpine farming. Alpine farming is culturally and economically significant in Valais. The initiative must demonstrate that professional herd protection protects herds better than recreational hunting.

4. Analysis of opponents and prepared responses

Counter-argument 1: «Valais is too large and too alpine»

Short communicative formula: «The Rhone valley is the same landscape as Geneva. There are fewer conflicts in the high mountains.» / «La plaine du Rhône est Genève.»

Counter-argument 2: «The wolf must be regulated»

Short communicative formula: «Valais shoots as many wolves as almost any other canton and still has packs. Shooting solves nothing.» / «Le Valais tire autant de loups que presque aucun autre canton et compte toujours des meutes.»

Counter-argument 3: “The costs are too high”

Short communicative formula: «1,200,000 to 2,500,000 francs. Less than 0.1 per cent of the cantonal budget. And the costly wolf kills become unnecessary.»

5. Communication strategy: the three core messages

«Shooting doesn’t work. Coexistence does.» / «Tirer ne fonctionne pas. La coexistence, si.»

«Geneva has been demonstrating it for 50 years.» / «Genève le fait depuis 50 ans.»

«Professional instead of hobby.» / «Professionnel au lieu de loisir.»

6. Timetable and next steps

Phase	Content	Timeframe
Committee formation & preliminary text review	Engage lawyer; translation; committee members from Upper and Lower Valais	Month 1–4
Submission for preliminary review	State Chancellery of Valais (German and French text)	Month 4–5
Publication & start of signature collection	Goal: 7,000+ signatures as a buffer; bilingual collection organisation	Month 5
Party contacts & coalition building	SP, Greens, GLP; Pro Natura Valais; WWF Valais; Fondation Franz Weber; Groupe Loup Suisse	Month 1–12
Submission of signatures	State Chancellery, official verification	After the collection period
Grand Council debate	Parliamentary anchoring; bilingual media work	Following months
Voting campaign	Wolf debate as a counter-offensive, UNESCO argument, bilingual	Before the vote

7. Campaign material

Geneva dossier on wildbeimwild.com as the central set of arguments.
The The Psychology Of Recreational Hunting In The Canton Of Valais as background material.
Local media: Walliser Bote, Le Nouvelliste, Rhone Zeitung, Kanal 9, Radio Rottu.
Infographic: «Kills vs. Packs» chart (kills and pack numbers over time). UNESCO World Natural Heritage as a visual element. Cost comparison VS vs. GE.
All campaign materials bilingual (German/French).

8. Further sources

This document is a template text from IG Wild beim Wild. It may be freely used by activists, organisations or initiative committees and adapted to the circumstances in the canton of Valais.

Fact check: The claims of the recreational hunting lobby

The brochure «Die Jagd in der Schweiz schützt und nützt» ("Hunting in Switzerland protects and benefits") published by JagdSchweiz reads like a promotional pamphlet, yet its central claims do not hold up to a fact check. Ten narratives put to the test, from «statutory duty» to «biodiversity» to «80% approval»: Dossier: Fact check on the JagdSchweiz brochure →