Fauna and flora
Over the centuries, a varied rural landscape has emerged, rich in landscape microstructures. The agropastoral activity practised in the past, based on extensive exploitation of natural resources, has created numerous biotopes, such as litter meadows and dry grasslands, home to a wide variety of animal and plant species with highly diverse requirements. Switzerland boasts some 2,700 species of vascular plants, two of which are endemic: Draba ladina and Artemisia nivalis. Bryophytes are particularly rich: of the 1,600 species of moss found in Europe, almost two-thirds are found in Switzerland. Switzerland's emblematic flower, the edelweiss, featured on many advertising materials and souvenirs, is representative of the Swiss-Alpine flora. This star of the Alps is protected in fourteen cantons. Nearly 412 species of lichen have been recorded in Switzerland, and the number of animal species is estimated at around 40,000, of which only 1% are vertebrates.
National parks
Swiss parks of national importance are characterized by their scenic beauty, biodiversity and heritage. The people of the communities concerned are committed to preserving, enhancing and exploiting these assets to promote the economic and social development of their region. Nineteen parks have been awarded the label. Parks of national importance are divided into three categories: national parks (of which there is only one), regional nature parks and peri-urban nature parks (of which there is only one: Wildnispark Zürich Sihlwald). The doyen of the parks, the magnificent Swiss National Nature Park, which celebrated its centenary in 2014, is located in Graubünden. To organize your visit to the parks, visit www.parks.swiss.
National park : Parc Naziunal Svizzer - Schweizerischer Nationalpark.
Parks of national importance: Naturpark Beverin, Landschaftspark Binntal, Parc régional Chasseral, Regionaler naturpark Diemtigtal, Parc naturel régional du Doubs, Parc Ela, Unesco Biosphäre Entlebuch, Regionaler naturpark Gantrisch, parc naturel Gruyère pays d'Enhaut, Jurapark Aargau, parc naturel régional Jura vaudois, Naturpark Pfyn-Finges, Regionaler naturpark Thal, Biosfera Val Müstair, Wildnispark Zürich Sihwald, Regionaler naturpark Schaffhausen.
Labellisés depuis 2020 et 2021: le parc du Jorat, Parco Val Calanca.
The natural sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites are spectacular and all have their own special features, such as the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch: stretching over 23 km, the Aletsch glacier is the longest river of ice in the Alps, and its character is unique with its glaciers and mountain ranges. The tectonic mecca of Sardona, between the cantons of Glarus, St. Gallen and Graubünden, shows the folding of rocks and the birth of mountains. Monte San Giorgio in the canton of Ticino is a true geological testimony to the presence of the Tethys Sea, where fossils of marine reptiles dating back 240 million years can still be seen. The terraced vineyards cascading over Lake Geneva at Lavaux in the canton of Vaud have been man-made since the 11thcentury .
A generous nature that must be preserved
Switzerland is rich in extremely diverse landscapes but, as everywhere else, urbanization is taking its toll. The Pro Natura association manages 700 reserves and nature centers throughout the country, offering visitors the chance to discover the flora and fauna of protected areas. The wild fauna is extremely rich, with Alpine mammals such as the ibex, red deer, roe deer, marmots and chamois, and numerous bird species such as the red kite, black grouse, golden eagle and bearded vulture. The lakes and rivers are home to perch, arctic char and trout.
There are numerous parks throughout Switzerland. In Geneva (nicknamed "the city of twenty-five parks"), the conservatory and botanical gardens are an exceptional place to relax and discover 12,000 species over 28 hectares.
Zoos and animal farms also play a role in safeguarding and raising awareness. Some zoos are devoted solely to local wildlife, such as the Garenne zoo with its 180 species, or the Marécottes zoo with its 35,000 m² of alpine fauna (chamois, ibex, lynx, deer, etc.). Others are home to more exotic species, such as Zurich Zoo and its 5,400 animals. It promotes nature conservation and the preservation of biological variety. The Aquatis museum in Lausanne is exceptional of its kind: on the theme of water, it takes you on a journey to the five continents (Komodo dragon, alligator fish...), the path of the Rhône glacier and the discovery of freshwater lake fish. In fact, it's the largest freshwater aquarium-vivarium in Europe.
Man's actions on nature
As elsewhere, man has shaped nature and modulated landscapes to reap the rewards. This gives rise to wonderful landscapes such as the Lavaux vineyards, a Unesco World Heritage site in the canton of Vaud. This terraced vineyard stretches some 30 km along Lake Geneva, from the outskirts of Lausanne to the Château de Chillon, south of Montreux. The scenery is breathtaking! The walks along the paths through the vineyards are as bucolic as you could wish. To find out more about this terraced vineyard dating back to the 11thcentury , visit the Lavaux Vinorama museum in Rivaz.
In Valais, the precious elixir of mountain streams is "domesticated" in irrigation canals to carry water to meadows, vineyards and orchards. Bisses are small irrigation canals with gentle slopes (0.5 to 1%). They are a legacy of Roman ingenuity (1st century BC) and it was not until the Middle Ages that Valais farmers began to harness runoff water to irrigate their cereal crops. Daring structures were created, such as the bazot (a hollowed-out trunk of larch wood), the gutter, made from an assembly of planks, and the perpendicular stone banks. The Musée des Bisses tells the story of these artisanal constructions.
