Grasslands and Biodiversity in Switzerland European Commission on agriculture, Erevan,12 May 2010

1
Grasslands and Biodiversity in SwitzerlandEuropea
n Commission on agriculture,Erevan,12 May 2010

• Hubert PoffetSwiss Federal Office for
  Agriculture

2
Swiss grassland systems
3
Swiss grassland systems

• Grassland 30 of the country area
• 70 of the agricultural area
• Various types of grassland
• Mainly milk production based on grassland.
• Dairy and meat production are the main income
  sources for agriculture in Switzerland

4
Agriculture and biodiversity some important
features

• Biodiversity is high in Switzerland. Roughly
  40000 animal species and 3000 plant species.
• Habitats in the agricultural landscape have
  become increasingly fragmented which leads to a
  loss of biodiversity.
• Species-rich habitats in the agricultural
  landscape have shrunk significantly. Main
  reasons
• intensified management in favorable locations
• abandonment of land with difficult conditions

5
Support measures for promoting agro-biodiversity

• Since 1993 ecological direct payments granted
  for ecological compensation payments for
  extensive meadows, litter areas, hedges,
  floraland rotation fallow, extensive area strips
  and high-stem fruit trees.
• 1997 launching of the National Plan of Action
  for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
  of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
  Agriculture in accordance with the international
  Treaty.
• 2008 introduction of a new programme Sustainable
  use of natural resources. Objective financing
  of projects developed by local authorities to
  improve the use of natural resources.

6
Evaluation of the measures and next steps

• Impact of the measures on the agro-biodiversity
  is moderatively positive . Objectives only
  partially met.
• In general the agricultural policy measures are
  still not sufficient to stop the loss of
  biodiversity.
• New concept for the development of direct
  payments is under consideration. It calls for a
  strengthening of the efforts to promote
  biodiversity.
• The current system which focus on the
  preservation and promotion of species and
  habitats should be replaced by a system including
  all aspects of biodiversity including
  agri-environmnental services.

7
The FAO-CIHEAM Mountain Pastures Network

• Since 1962 Scientists from Eastern and Western
  Europe members of this Network have contributed
  to develop best practices in general and in
  grassland management and grazing systems in
  particular.
• Contacts established during the meetings of this
  network have created links between research teams
  of East and West working on mountains pastures.
• This Network has recently submited a projet for
  High quality products from mountain pasturesto
  the COST (European Cooperation in Science and
  technology) Office in Brussels.
• Main objective establish recognised criteria to
  the definition of mountain animal products
  specificity in a way to support sustainable
  pasture-based production systems.

8
COST-project

• offers the ideal framework to promote exchange
  between the main actors (scientists, producers,
  processors, marketers) involved in mountain
  grasslands and mountain dairy and meat products.
• bring together research teams. Many countries are
  concerned by the topic. Interest to extend this
  project to countries in Eastern Europe
• For more information contact
• Mr. Eric MosimannAgroscope Changins-Wädenswil
  ACW
•  CP 1012,  1260 Nyon - SuisseTéléphone 41 22
  363 47 36 - Fax [phone]
• mailtoeric.mosimann_at_acw.admin.chw
• www.agroscope.ch
•