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Hubert Poffet Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture

Grasslands and Biodiversity in Switzerland European Commission on agriculture, Erevan , 12 May 2010. Hubert Poffet Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture. Swiss grassland systems. Swiss grassland systems. Grassland = 30% of the country area 70% of the agricultural area

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Hubert Poffet Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture

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  1. Grasslands and Biodiversity in SwitzerlandEuropean Commission on agriculture,Erevan,12 May 2010 HubertPoffetSwiss 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 40’000 animal species and 3’000 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 pastures”to 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 +41 22 363 46 90 • mailto:eric.mosimann@acw.admin.chw • www.agroscope.ch

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