The concept of the BDM
Switzerland is one of the first countries in the world to monitor its biological diversity. Whereas numerical qualitative objectives are accepted in most areas of environmental protection, there are so far no targets for how biodiversity should change. Biodiversity monitoring helps us to define specific targets for nature conservation policy and to establish whether the measures that have been implemented are enabling us to reach these targets.
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Diversity in Waterbodies
Covering mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland (BDM) now also surveys species diversity in waterbodies. Preliminary results indicate that on the Central Plateau, species diversity in waterbodies does not fulfill its natural potential.
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BDM in motion pictures
On occasion of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland released a video on biodiversity in Switzerland. BDM also proposes two videos on its surveying methods.
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What is biodiversity?
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the number of species – animals, plants and microorganisms – found in a certain area. The concept also includes the genetic variability of these species.
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Frequently asked questions
On what basis did BDM select the species it is monitoring? How are sampling areas being protected against human impact? What is the annual cost of 3.3 million Swiss francs composed of?
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