Swiss voters reject plan to better protect country’s biodiversity
Citizens voted against an initiative to expand the protection of nature reserves, fearing economic development would suffer
Switzerland, known for natural beauty like pristine lakes and majestic Alpine peaks, ranks among the world’s richest countries whose plant and animal life is under the greatest threat. Environmentalists were seeking better protections for the country’s biodiversity in a nationwide vote that culminated on Sunday.
Final official results showed more than 63 per cent of voters casting ballots had rejected the initiative that aimed to boost public funding to encourage farmers and others to set aside lands and waterways to let the wild develop more, and increase the total area allocated for green spaces that must remain untouched by human development.
The contest was decided by mail-in ballots followed by a morning of in-person voting on Sunday.
Factors behind the weakening biodiversity in the country of rivers, lakes, valleys and mountains include intensified agriculture, soil alteration, a fragmentation of the landscape - such as the building of roads and housing that cut through wildlife habitats - and pollution and climate change, proponents of the measure said.
The federal government - parliament and the executive branch - opposed the plan, as did many rural voters and the country’s main right-wing party, according to polls. They called it too costly, saying 600 million Swiss francs (over US$700 million) is already spent on biodiversity protection each year, and fear economic development will suffer.
