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Biotopes of national importance in Switzerland

The biotopes of national importance in Switzerland are particularly valuable biotopes. They are often ecosystems under threat and require specific protection. In addition to their value, the biotopes must be “sufficiently extensive habitats”, to be of national importance, but the actual size varies with the needs and the mobility of the species present.

Floodplain and low moors of national importance in the Greina (GR, Switzerland)

The type of protection, measures and obligations vary from one biotope to another and provide made-to-measure standards that vary from the general standards. The following five categories of biotopes of national importance are distinguished: peat bog and transitional moors, low-level moors, floodplain areas, amphibian spawning areas, dry meadows and pastures.

Legal basis of biotope protection

In Switzerland, biotope protection is regulated by Art. 18 NCHA (Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage), more specifically by Art. 18a NCHA on biotopes of national importance. This article is part of the section on protecting fauna and flora (Art. 18 - 23, NCHA). It aims to protect species by preserving their habitats, and considers biotopes to be objects worthy of conservation. It protects high-value biotopes that are often biodiversity hotspots and hosts endangered species.  Article 18a NCHA determines what is to designate biotopes of national importance, and establishes the conservation objectives for these areas. Further, it defines the responsibilities and tasks of the Federal government and the cantons. Therefore, Art. 18a NCHA does not make substantive statements, but rather serves as a delegation provision and is the legal basis for orders issued by the Federal government and cantons. Since 1987, it is the basis of inventory of biotopes of national importance.

History of the legal basis

Moors of Rothenturm

The first regulation on biotope protection was in Art. 18 NCHA. Adopted in 1966 and enforced in 1967, it was the first article recognizing the value of biotopes in addition to the need for protection of flora and fauna. The Article 18 has evolved into four paragraphs. Finally, Article 18a NCHA is part of the indirect counterproposal to the "Rothenthurm Initiative", which was created to protect the moors of Rothenthurm, and is based on Article 78 Paragraph 4 of the Federal Constitution.

Legal definition

The meaning of a biotope in law differs from its biological definition. Lawyers consider it a “sufficiently extensive habitat” for animal or plant species (Art. 18 Paragraph 1, NCHA).

Inventory of biotopes of national importance

The protection of biotopes of national importance is based on a list of biotopes of great worth. The reasons of an inscription on that inventory can be various, but are all linked to high ecological values:

• High value for biodiversity (ex. hosting threaten species)
• Fallback area
• Role of connector
• Rare or threatened habitat
• Role in the environmental equilibrium

Their importance can therefore be defined as its own biological importance, its place in a trophic network, its importance for a species or biodiversity.

The inventory is organised using the classification of habitats of Switzerland, based on the work of Delarze, Gonzeth and Galland “Guide des milieux naturels de Suisse”. This book defines nine major habitats in Switzerland with different threats, interests and therefore, different legal status have been established. Five of these categories are habitats of national importance and fall under the scope of Art. 18a NCHA and are each defined by an ordonance:

• Peat bog and transitional moors
• Low-level moor
• Floodplain areas
• Amphibian spawning areas
• Dry meadows and pastures

Responsibilities

The responsibility of the cantons and the confederation regarding the conservation of biotopes of national importance is legislated by Art. 18a NCHA. According to Article 18a Paragraph 2 NCHA, cantons are responsible for organising the protection and maintenance of biotopes of national importance which are guided by the provisions of the habitat protection inventory ordinances. Those inventories specify the legal requirements for habitat protection and have the goal to efficiently protect endangered species. They must be often revised and updated with the help of federal offices, cantonal authorities, parties, commissions and NGOs. The Federal Council, after consultation with the cantons and other stakeholders, determines the objects of protection, sets the conservation goals and a timetable with the help and guidance of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Since the early 1990s, Switzerland has designated around 7’000 objects of national importance among the five categories. While fundamental determinations are set by the Federal government, the formal authority for issuing the necessary enforcement orders for biotopes of national importance lies with the cantons, which are responsible for nature protection within their territories.

Disagreements

According to Article 18a Paragraph 1 NCHA, the Federal Council is obligated to consult with the cantons prior to designation. Nevertheless, the Federal Council can designate biotopes as objects of national importance against the will of the canton or attribute “no national importance" to an object, even if the canton desired otherwise.

Conservation objectives

The conservation objectives are determined by the Federal Council (Art. 18a Paragraph 1, NCHA). Deviations from the conservation objectives are only conceivable under the balancing of interests of the protection concept for riparian, amphibian spawning, and dry grassland biotopes. They could be, for example, if the project protects humans from harmful effects of natural hazards, but not, for example, for the construction of transport infrastructure. An intervention in the protected object, as previously stated, could only be conceivable if there are no alternatives to the proposed route and the project is of "national importance".