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Size of Secure Protected Areas (M2)
 

Legally binding protection turns nature preserves into valuable long-term instruments of nature conservation. However, there is no guarantee that designated nature preserves will in fact provide effective protection for the plants and animals they are supposed to shelter.

The M2 indicator initially monitors the size of protected areas of national importance as listed in Switzerland’s federal habitat inventories. Based on this data, BDM shows the extent to which cantons actually enforce legal protection for nature preserves. So far, though, only the results of the 2006 federal implementation monitoring of alluvial plains, fenlands and bogs are available for analysis.

While roughly 75% of all alluvial plains are protected one way or another on a cantonal level, cantons themselves only consider 34% of the total area to be adequately protected. The situation is similar regarding fenlands: More than 80% of Switzerland’s fenlands are protected on a cantonal level, but the quality of this protection has been found to be severely wanting. For example, 24% of fenlands have no buffer zone, and there is no information available on this issue for another 46%. Things look slightly better as regards raised bogs: 92% of raised bogs are protected on a cantonal level, with 21% lacking a buffer zone.
 
 
For example: Protection status and buffer zones of raised bogs in Switzerland
 

Schutzstatus und Pufferzonen der Hochmoore in der Schweiz

Comments
Raised bogs are generally better protected than fenlands. Just 1% of their total area is merely protected by a cantonal guiding master plan. In contrast, 40% of all raised bogs are governed by an ordinance or similar instrument, and 47% by a cantonal or communal land-use plan.

While no less than half of all raised bogs are surrounded by a buffer zone, there is no such data available for another 27% — which is quite high a share.

For complete data and complementary information please refer to the complete Data Sheet.
 
 
Complete Data Sheet
 

> Complete Data Sheet M2 (920 kB)
 
 
Further Information
 

In charge of this indicator
Meinrad Küttel, meinrad.kuettel@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 322 93 24

Expert FOEN contacts
Jürg Schenker, juerg.schenker@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 322 80 05
Stephan Lussi, stephan.lussi@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 324 49 94 (alluvial plains)
Rolf Waldis, rolf.waldis@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 322 93 61 (fenlands and bogs)

Weblinks
> www.ecogis.admin.ch: GIS maps for locating nature preserves; text in French and German only
> www.bafu.admin.ch: FOEN homepage
> FOEN habitat inventory list; not available in English
> Ordinance on Alluvial Plains (not available in English)
> Ordinance on Raised Bogs (not available in English)
> Ordinance on Fenlands (not available in English)
 
 
 
 
     
       
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