Nine out of ten Swiss moors destroyed in the last 200 years
Published: Sunday, Jun 2nd 2024, 05:40
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Nine out of ten Swiss moors have been lost over the past 200 years. This is confirmed by figures from the Federal Office for the Environment. Fens and raised bogs have been drained in order to use the land for forestry or agriculture or to build over it.
The remaining moorland areas are protected by law, according to the nature conservation organization Birdlife on International Moorland Day. However, the protection status does not stop the deterioration in quality, as existing drainage systems continue to work and ditches can also be dredged to the same depth in filled moors. They therefore remove water, which is essential for the existence of a moor. Man-made nutrient excretions from agriculture or traffic are further threats.
Intact peatlands are important for protecting the climate and biodiversity, Birdlife continues. They store around a third of the carbon dioxide stored in the ground worldwide, although they only cover four percent of the earth's surface. Drained peatlands, on the other hand, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and accelerate climate change. In addition, peatlands absorb and store large quantities of water during rainfall, the report continued.
As with the climate, moors are also of great importance for the protection of endangered biodiversity. Numerous specialized and often endangered species of plants, animals and fungi occur only or preferably in peatlands.
Sunday, June 2, is International Bog Day.
©Keystone/SDA
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