Ecological infrastructure of the Canton of Bern

HUB BERN | Project LANAT-6

Our goal:

Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services in the long term—by means of efficient implementation of a functioning ecological infrastructure.

The structured landscape of Ranflüh: Varied natural and near-natural habitats favor biodiversity. Photo: Hintermann & Weber

In a nutshell:

With its Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and associated action plan, the Swiss Federal Council seeks to preserve or restore ecosystem services for the long term. Central to this is the development of a functioning ecological infrastructure by 2040. Ecological infrastructure means a network of natural and near-natural habitats. It consists of core areas (like raised bogs or fens) and connecting corridors (like wildlife bridges or hedgerows).

Through 2024, the cantons laid the foundations for their ecological infrastructure. In the Ccnton of Bern, this project defined regionalized goals and priority areas based on the current state of the planned core and connectivity areas. Priority areas indicate where existing core areas and connectivity areas should be maintained or improved, and where new areas should be established.

Technical planning was carried out in close collaboration with the agencies concerned. Actual implementation of the ecological infrastructure falls under the revision of the sectoral plan for biodiversity and was not part of this project.

City creek of Burgdorf: Near-natural watercourses and their surroundings are used as “migration routes” by many animals and plants, thus connecting the landscape. Photo: Hintermann & Weber

More information:

Ökologische Infrastruktur (Information about ecological infrastructure on the website of the Canton of Bern; available in German and French)

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In collaboration with:

Office for Agriculture and Nature of the Canton of Bern (LANAT)

Status: Completed project