«Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland»

Species conservation is necessary because biodiversity in Switzerland has been declining sharply for over 100 years. One third of the species assessed for the Red List and almost half of all habitats are currently under threat. Targeted species conservation is especially important, as it ensures the survival of species that would otherwise disappear. In this way, we not only protect individual species but also help maintain the stability of our ecosystems and the foundations of life for us all.

To preserve diversity, nature conservation in Switzerland is based on three levels:

• Biodiversity-friendly use of the entire national territory – For some species, sustainable use and appropriate management of habitats are sufficient (for example, ecological compensation in agriculture, biodiversity-friendly urban planning and nature-conscious forest management).
• Specific habitat conservation – Protected areas such as natural forest reserves, biotopes of national importance or water- and migratory bird reserves improve the quality of key habitats. Wildlife corridors and measures in the landscape ensure connectivity. The aim is to create a functioning network of ecologically valuable areas (the ecological infrastructure), on which many species depend.
• Specific species conservation – Some species are so highly threatened or have such particular requirements or problems that general measures are not enough. They need additional, species-specific support through targeted measures such as nesting aids or special habitat enhancements.

A species is always assigned to only one level. If measures at the “national territory” (NT) level are not sufficient for the promotion and conservation of the species, the second level, “specific habitat conservation,” (HC) is needed. If that still isn’t enough, “the specific species conservation” (SC) measures are implemented as well.

Resources available for nature conservation are limited. They must therefore be used where they bring the greatest benefit – for species that are particularly endangered and for which Switzerland holds a special responsibility.

The Red Lists, which assess the risk of extinction of species according to international criteria (IUCN), serve as a basis. They show how threatened a species is both globally and within individual countries. However, these lists do not indicate how important the population in Switzerland is for the species’ overall survival.

For example, both the Common Quail and the Rock Partridge are considered threatened in Switzerland. The Common Quail occurs accross many regions of Europe and Africa, and the Swiss population is therefore hardly decisive. The situation is different for the Rock Partridge: it lives only in the Alps, Italy and the Balkans, and around 6% of the global population is found in Switzerland.

This is why the classification of priority species not only takes into account the threat status in Switzerland, but also our country’s international responsibility for certain species.

All species classified as being of national priority are assigned to one of the action levels in nature conservation. We refer to all species at the “specific species conservation” action level as “priority species for species conservation”.

The aim of the “Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland” is to identify the factors that threaten populations of species that are dependent on targeted conservation efforts (priority species for species conservation) and to improve their conservation status through specific projects and programmes. Implementation takes place on two levels:

• Nationwide species conservation: it is based on the FOEN’s national action plans and other implementation concepts at both national and cantonal levels. A national monitoring program provides information on population trends and sheds light on where action is needed.
• Exemplary conservation and research: applied research projects identify limiting factors that affect populations. Concrete measures are then developed to adress these limiting factors (e.g. rewetting Northern Lapwing breeding sites to improve food availability). Regional projects test the potential and limitations of specific conservation measures. If successful, this model can then be used to motivate stakeholders to implement these measures in other regions.

The “Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland” motivates and advises relevant stakeholders and provides specialist information in a targetted manner. This includes practical implementation tools such as action plans and fact sheets as well as species-specific working groups and continued education events. In addition, implementation projects led by third parties (particularly the cantons) are initiated, supported and guided in collaboration with experts. For certain species, such as the Little Owl, cross-border cooperation is also particularly important.The programme works in partnership with specialists, nature conservation organisations, volunteers, the federal government, cantons and other stakeholders.

The “Elements for Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland” was created in 2013 as a foundation and tool for the “Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland”. This publication and its accompanying website provided the key information for each priority species for conservation, including their status, threats, effective measures and outlook, as well as research and monitoring needs.

The list of national priority species was updated by the FOEN in 2025. New species such as the European Turtle Dove were added, while others are no longer considered as priority species for species conservation. The basis for the program has been updated accordingly and is available here in the form of a revised, clearly structured web resource.