NCI 2024
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    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Myxini – Hagfishes Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays Animals Holocep' – Chimaeras Ray-finned fishes Dipneusti – Lungfish Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Coelac' – Coelacanths Insecta – Insects / bugs Arachnida – Spiders & scorpions Malacostraca – Malacostracans Diplopoda – Millipedes Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Chilopoda – Centipedes Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs More Classes
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    Switzerland’s diverse landscapes, spanning from the vast Central Plateau to the majestic Alps, showcase a rich tapestry of ecosystems like the Alps, wetlands, and forests, seamlessly integrated with urban areas, shaping Switzerland’s picturesque allure. Its biodiversity, ranging from iconic Alpine vistas to lush valleys, teems with life, underscoring the importance of preserving this natural wealth to maintain ecological balance.

    This biodiversity owes much to Switzerland’s varied climate and terrain, with alpine regions and forests brimming with species diversity. Rivers and streams also play a crucial role as habitats for rare species. Recognizing the value of biodiversity for human welfare and the economy, the federal government has instituted protective measures to conserve Switzerland’s natural heritage.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 64.7 8 N/A
    Land Management 49 123 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 43 129 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 62 69 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 26 164 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine)
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 99 126 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 36 103 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 27 96 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 76 24 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 87 94 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine)
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 100 1 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 34 63 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine)
    Depleted Fisheries
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas
    Invasive Species Pressure 81 143 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 75 14 N/A
    Total Management Cost 98 72 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 48 70 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 33 123 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 70 3 N/A
    Control of Corruption 90 4 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 90 3 N/A
    Future Trends 59 15 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 59 15 N/A

    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Switzerland is home to approximately 15 regional national parks, providing natural habitats for diverse flora and fauna. The first Swiss National Park was established in the canton of Graubünden in 1914, and additional parks have been established since 2008 under the Nature and Cultural Heritage Act. Moreover, designated wildlife areas, known as ‘zones de tranquilité/Wildruhezonen,’ have been designated in parts of the Swiss mountains by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) to safeguard wild animals and plants. Access to these areas is restricted, with walking and flying prohibited, and clear signage is in place to indicate these zones.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     Since 1960, human-induced extinction rates have surpassed natural rates, driven by factors like intensive agriculture, urbanization, land abandonment, and increased forest coverage. Climate change threatens forests, hindering natural adaptation processes. Human activities, such as intensive agriculture and settlement expansion, have long impacted mountain ecosystems. Nitrogen pollution affects over 90% of forests, while ground-level ozone concentrations harm plant cells. Inland water ecosystems face threats from river control, dams, pollution, invasive species, and land use changes.

    Despite progress in reducing nutrient input to Swiss lakes, pollution from pesticides, pharmaceuticals, warming waters, and invasive species poses risks. Air pollutants, like heavy metals, affect bryophytes in the southern Alps, resembling levels found in heavily industrialized areas.

    Capacity and Governance

     The Federal Constitution mandates both the federal government and the cantons to ensure the protection of biodiversity. This commitment is reinforced by various laws, including the Nature and Cultural Heritage Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Hunting Act, the Water Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, and the Gene Technology Act. Additionally, regulations promoting the sustainable utilization of biodiversity are outlined in the Spatial Planning Act, the Agriculture Act, the Forest Act, and the National Park Act.

    Switzerland is a signatory to the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which seeks to halt the global decline of animal, plant, and other organism species. Furthermore, in 2012, the federal government formulated and adopted a strategy for the conservation and advancement of biodiversity.

    Future Trends

     Switzerland is actively addressing biodiversity loss through national and international initiatives, aligning with the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to protect 30% of key land and water ecosystems by 2030. The country’s biodiversity challenges stem from agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects that have significantly impacted ecosystems, especially lakes, rivers, and agricultural lands.

    To combat this, Switzerland promotes measures to improve the ecological quality of important biotopes and hosts conferences like the Bern III Conference to foster international cooperation on biodiversity. Events like the International Day for Biodiversity further support these efforts, emphasizing widespread stakeholder engagement in biodiversity conservation​.


    Biodiversity

    Switzerland’s biodiversity is remarkably rich, reflecting its diverse landscapes that range from the towering peaks of the Alps to lush valleys, forests, and pristine lakes. The country’s varied topography and climate create numerous habitats that support a wide array of flora and fauna. The Alpine region is particularly notable, with its high-altitude environments hosting species adapted to harsh conditions, such as the ibex, chamois, and the iconic Alpine marmot. The mountains are also home to a variety of bird species, including the golden eagle, bearded vulture, and the Alpine chough.

    Switzerland’s forests, which cover about one-third of the country, are dominated by species such as beech, oak, pine, and spruce. These forests provide habitats for a range of wildlife, including red deer, roe deer, wild boar, and various bird species like the black woodpecker and the hazel grouse. The country’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands, including famous bodies of water like Lake Geneva and Lake Constance, are crucial for aquatic biodiversity. These freshwater ecosystems support fish species such as trout, perch, and pike, as well as amphibians like the Alpine newt. Additionally, Switzerland’s agricultural landscapes, particularly its traditional meadows and pastures, are rich in wildflowers and insects, contributing to the country’s overall biodiversity.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Switzerland only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 86 (#133) 3 3.5%
    Birds 286 (#135) 10 3.5%
    Reptiles 18 (#164)
    Amphibians 21 (#96) 1 4.8%
    Fishes 88 (#187) 8 9.1% 12 13.6%
    Plants 13,000 (#20) 4 0.0% 360 2.8%

    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    Switzerland

    Where the Alps whisper the secrets of untouched wilderness

    Score:

    64.7 / 100

    Rank:

    8 / 180