Biodiversity: urgent open letter from 86 scientists of 23 Swiss institutions
Posted on Nov 8, 2022Author(s)
Aïcha Besser
Communications Manager
CLIMACT
Expert(s)
Prof. Antoine Guisan
Full Professor in Spatial Ecology
FBM | FGSE, UNIL
"Compromising the preservation of biodiversity for the sake of the energy transition is counterproductive". This is the urgent appeal made by 86 scientists, all confirmed experts in the field of biodiversity, from 23 Swiss institutions, to the Swiss media on November 7, 2022.
Their objective: make their recommendations heard, in the heart of various current debates on the opposition (or not) between energy/climate policy and the protection of nature and biodiversity.
This text is the original version of the
urgent appeal signed by the 86 scientists, it is also available in French/Français, German/Deutsch
and Italian/Italiano. Shorter versions of the appeal are also published in the
press. Read the article in Le Temps.
Climate change and biodiversity decline are two major crises of our time, both extremely well documented scientifically. As detailed by scientific experts in their presentations to the Swiss Parliament on May 2, 2022, neither crisis can be resolved without addressing the other.
"Climate and biodiversity: two essential and interdependent dimensions of ecosystems
Climate and biodiversity are indeed two essential and interdependent dimensions of ecosystems. Climate controls the distribution of organisms and, in return, biodiversity regulates the climate. As a result, climate change is impacting natural ecosystems whose health is essential for mitigation and adaptation to climate change (e.g., carbon sequestration, water cycle). Healthy ecosystems also play a key role in the prevention of natural disasters (e.g. flood mitigation by marshes and alluvial zones), which are themselves favored by climate change. Biotopes and landscapes of national importance play an important role in this respect. They are well-established federal instruments that have been recognized for decades and are based on the constitution and legal foundations to ensure a future for valuable habitats and species in Switzerland. A sustainable future for our societies is simply not possible without preserving nature and its essential functions (air quality, soil fertility, human health, etc.), especially if climate change continues. If solutions are to be found urgently to address these two crises, it is imperative that actions are taken in concert between these two sectors, so that they are mutually beneficial and, above all, do not conflict with each other.
"Climate change mitigation depends on biodiversity"
While climate regulation is one of the most important services provided by our ecosystems, their proper functioning depends on their integrity, for which biological diversity is the main guarantor. Thus, intact or restored ecosystems, richer in species and ecological interactions, allow better mitigation of the effect of climate change. Since the restoration of ecosystems - an activity that is still rare in Switzerland - produces its effects only in the long term, often after decades, it is essential to focus on the conservation of existing natural ecosystems to mitigate the impact of climate change. This observation, based on scientific evidence, is relevant in view of the increasingly pressing desire to promote and increase the production of renewable energy in the few remaining natural areas of our country. We are thinking here of the proposals for the development of photovoltaic infrastructures in the high mountains, as well as new hydroelectric catchments and the reduction of residual flows in our rivers.
"Producing more renewable energy is desirable but not at the expense of biodiversity"
The desire to produce more indigenous renewable energy is to be welcomed. It aims to free ourselves from our dependence on imported fossil fuels. However, this energy transition must not be achieved by sacrificing our last natural environments and our biodiversity in danger. This would be tantamount to sawing off the branch on which we are sitting, thereby considerably diminishing our ability to adapt to climate change. New settlements should rather invest in existing infrastructures within our already largely transformed landscapes. Equipping current buildings and infrastructures with solar panels would allow to produce 67 TWh/year, which would represent 110% of the current Swiss electricity consumption. Adding solar panels along roads and railroads, as well as on dams, would allow to produce 15 TWh/year more and of course, important consumption reductions would still be possible by increasing our energy efficiency. On the other hand, degrading natural ecosystems, which are undoubtedly our biggest carbon sinks, would have devastating effects in terms of climate protection. Preserving natural ecosystems is therefore essential to mitigate the impact of climate change and, compromising the preservation of biodiversity for the sake of the energy transition would therefore make no sense.
"Rethinking spatial planning to reconcile energy, climate and biodiversity"
In addition to the synergies mentioned between climate and biodiversity, natural ecosystems rich in species are also more appreciated than intensively exploited areas. In a country with a strong tourist industry, this issue cannot be ignored. Building new infrastructures in almost untouched ecosystems would lead to a depreciation of these landscapes, while covering our roofs and walls with dams would not cause any damage. There is a real opportunity to rethink land use planning to reconcile energy production with climate protection and biodiversity, and to make Switzerland a pioneer in this field. Switzerland has already sacrificed many of its landscapes and natural environments, which is the primary cause of the collapse of biodiversity. It would be dangerous today to sacrifice even more of them, as this would reduce the capacity of our ecosystems to trap excess atmospheric carbon and mitigate climate change. Did you know, for example, that our peatlands, protected by the federal constitution since 1987 for primarily landscape reasons, offer the best carbon storage opportunities in our country?
"Towards an integrated management of the biodiversity, energy and climate crises"
To summarize, it seems essential to us that the following scientific elements be considered jointly in the current debate on new energy developments: 1) climate change mitigation and biodiversity preservation cannot be solved independently of each other. 2) Biotopes of national importance contribute to this, provided their integrity is preserved. 3) The production of renewable electricity could be concentrated in areas that are already heavily exploited by man, where the necessary technical infrastructure is already available. Switzerland's energy autonomy can be achieved without sacrificing the remaining natural landscapes and their biodiversity.
Signatories of the open letter
Dr. Antoine Guisan, Professor, University of Lausanne
Dr. Raphaël Arlettaz, Professor, University of Bern
Dr. Edward Mitchell, Professor, University of Neuchâtel
Dr. Marco Moretti, Senior Scientist, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Maria J. Santos, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Thomas Sattler, Project leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Nicola Schoenenberger, Director, Conservatory and botanical garden of the City of Geneva
Dr. Pascal Vittoz, Lecturer, University of Lausanne
Dr. Christine Alewell, Professor, University of Basel
Dr. Nadir Alvarez, Professor, University of Geneva
Dr. Sven Bacher, Professor, University of Fribourg
Dr. Norman Backhaus, Professeur, University of Zurich
Dr. Jordi Bascompte, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Bruno Baur, Professor em., University of Basel
Dr. Ariel Bergamini, Group leader, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Louis-Felix Bersier, Professor, University of Fribourg
MSc Simon Birrer, Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Pierre Bize, Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Steffen Boch, Researcher, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Aurélie Boissezon, Researcher, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Dr. Fabio Bontadina, Co-Director, SWILD - urban ecology, wildlife research, communication
Dr. Matthias Bürgi, Research unit leader, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Philippe Christe, Professor, University of Lausanne
Dr. Thomas Crowther, Professor, ETH Zurich
Dr. Jurriaan de Vos, Senior Scientist & Principal Curator, University of Basel
Dr. Patrice Descombes, Curator, Botanical museum of Lausanne
Dr. Peter Duelli, Professor em.
Dr. Stefan Eggenberg, Lecturer, University of Bern
Dr. Nicolas J. Fasel, Scientist, University of Lausanne
Dr. Montserrat Filella, Scientist, University of Geneva
Dr. Luca Fumagalli, Lecturer, University of Lausanne
Dr. Madeleine Geiger, Researcher, SWILD - urban ecology, wildlife research, communication
Dr. Andreas Gigon, Professor em., ETH Zurich
Dr. Gregory Giuliani, Senior scientists, University of Geneva
Dr. Sandra Gloor, Co-Director, SWILD - urban ecology, wildlife research, communication
Dr. Catherine Graham, Group Leader, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Andrin Gross, Head of Swiss Fungi, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Daniel Hegglin, Co-Director, SWILD - urban ecology, wildlife research, communication
Dr. Barbara Helm, Professor and Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Patricia Holm, Professor, University of Basel
Dr. Jean-Yves Humbert, Lecturer, University of Bern
Dr. Alain Jacot, Senior Scientist, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Barbara Jaun-Holderegger, Lecturer, Pädagogische Hochschule Bern
Dr. Jukka Jokela, Professor, ETH Zürich
Dr. Ansgar Kahmen, Professor, University of Basel
Dr. Roger Keller, Senior Scientist, University of Zurich
Dr. Seraina Klopfstein, Lecturer, Curator of Entomology, Natural History Museum of Basel
Dr. Pius Korner, Project leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Fränzi Korner, Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Christian Körner, Professor em., University of Basel
Dr. Gregor Kozlowski, Professor, Director, Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Fribourg
Dr. Cornelia Krug, Senior Scientist, University of Zurich
Dr. Thibault Lachat, Professor, Bern University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Andreas Lang, Senior scientist, University of Basel
Dr. Anthony Lehmann, Professor, University of Geneva
Dr. Brigitte Marazzi, Senior scientist, Natural History Museum of Canton Ticino & Info Flora, Lugano
MSc Sylvia Martinez, Project leader, University of Basel
Dr. Heinz Müller-Schärer, Professor, University of Fribourg
Dr. Martin K. Obrist, Senior scientist, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Beat Oertli, Professor HES, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Dr. Christian Parisod, Professor, University of Fribourg
Dr. Gilberto Pasinelli, Director of Research, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Jean-Nicolas Pradervand, Project leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Sergio Rasman, Professor, University of Neuchâtel
Dr. Christian Rixen, Senior Scientist, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Sabine Rumpf, Professor, University of Basel
Dr. Michael Schaepman, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Gabriela Schaepman-Strub, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Michael Schaub, Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
MSc Hans Schmid, Group leader, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Bernhard Schmid, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Ole Seehausen, Professor, University of Bern & Eawag
Dr. Irmi Seidl, Professor, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and ETH Zürich
Dr. Claudio Signer, Project leader, lecturer, Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW
Dr. Mauro Tonolla, Professor, Institute Director, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
Dr. Matthias Tschumi, Senior scientist, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Marcel van der Heijden, Professor, University of Zurich
Dr. Luca Vetterli, Scientist (retired)
Dr. Matthias Vögeli, Senior scientist, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr. Christian Widmann, Professor, University of Lausanne
Dr. Alex Widmer, Professor, ETH Zurich
Dr. Yvonne Willi, Professor, University of Basel
Dr. Sonja Wipf, Head of Department of Research and Monitoring, Swiss National Park
Dr. Nicolas Wyler, Curator, group leader, Conservatory and botanical garden of the City of Geneva
Dr. Florian Zellweger, Project leader, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Dr. Niklaus Zimmermann, Senior Scientist, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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