top of page
Wyss Academy

Stopping biodiversity loss in waterbodies – despite climate change


HUB BERN | Project LANAT-3



Our objective:

The preservation and restoration of biodiversity in bodies of water and the improvement of resistance to climate change through integral rehabilitation of water bodies. 


Dry river bed of the Emme below the so-called Emme-Birne expansion at Aefligen during the 2018 dry period. Photo: Canton of Bern Fisheries Inspectorate (Karin Gafner)

Revitalised Emme at Utzenstorf with flood protection embankment (right) and newly restored riverbank protection (left). Photo: © Luftaufnahmen Röthlisberger, www.peterbudi.ch

In a nutshell:

The biodiversity of Swiss water bodies is severely endangered, and climate change and other direct and indirect causes of biodiversity loss are increasing greatly. While regulatory and strategic principles exist to protect the biodiversity of Swiss water bodies, their enforcement involves numerous challenges such as an absence of databases, a shortage of resources, conflicting goals and an inadequate exchange between relevant stakeholders. The LANAT-3 project contributes to overcoming these challenges as follows: 

  • The precise recording and description of fish and selected macroinvertebrates and their habitat parameters in the catchment area of the Aare and Rhine rivers improves the database on biodiversity in Swiss water bodies and the hazards that are faced.  

  • Modelling the original, contemporary and future biodiversity of water bodies and different ecological and anthropogenic influencing factors facilitates the identification of biodiversity hotspots and the prioritising of locations and hydraulic engineering measures in the interest of the biodiversity of water bodies.  

  • Analysis of the relevant stakeholders and their social networks highlights deficits and illustrates the potential for cooperation and the exchange of information. 

  • Participative processes bring the relevant stakeholders to a single table where common and practicable solutions can be developed and implemented. 

Initial data was collected and analysed in all areas during the initial project phase (2020–2023), with methods being tested and contacts established. This produced important (interim) results such as initial modelling, an improved understanding of the correlations between environmental influences and biodiversity, the description of three new fish species, a robust analysis of stakeholder groups and analysis of social networks in the "Lower Emme" test region. A participatory process in the same test region facilitated the development of an exemplary catalogue of measures for promoting biodiversity in Swiss water bodies. A report provides an insight into the activities and findings of the initial project phase (2020–2023):



Collecting field data on the Lower Emme. Photo: Murielle Neuhaus, October 2022

The focus during the second project phase (2024–2027) is on the continuation of work in two pilot regions with the aim of improving the robustness of data and the models, discussing specific model output with local stakeholders, and the initiation and implementation of specific measures. Project findings are also to be included in ongoing strategic processes (e.g. strategic planning of the revitalisation of watercourses in Swiss cantons) and the development of a user-friendly modelling tool for future planning processes. 



Workshops with stakeholder groups in the "Lower Emme" test region.

 

In collaboration with:

  • The Office for Landscape and Nature (LANAT) of the canton of Bern  

  • The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment 

  • The Institute of Ecology & Evolution (IEE) at the University of Bern / Eawag Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution 

  • The Institute of Political Science (IPW) at the University of Bern / Eawag Department of Environmental Social Sciences 

  • The Swiss Competence Centre for Fisheries (SKF) 


 

More information:


2024:








2023:



Commenti


bottom of page