Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In Situ Agrobiodiversity Conservation in the Swiss Inner Alpine Zone

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper considers Swiss experiences of in situ agrobiodiversity conservation. The Swiss recognise the multifunctionality of agriculture, particularly within the marginal, mountainous areas of the country and are spending public and private funds to maintain crop landraces, agroecosystems, landscapes, agricultural practices, and rural communities. State programs in marginal agricultural regions tie economic assistance to biodiversity conservation practices, through the use of direct payment systems. With the removal of many import restrictions and state-led marketing, alternative innovative programs linked to local values of diversity provide opportunities for conservation. In situ agrobiodiversity conservation ideas being pursued include awareness-raising schemes, scientific initiatives, the establishment of diversity gardens and community-based programs. Any extension of the in situ conservation programs could have substantial implications for regional development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bardsley D.K., 2001: A Comparative Study of In situ Agrobiodiversity Conservation in Switzerland, Turkey and Nepal. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, SAGES, University of Melbourne, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bätzing W., 1988: Ökologische Labilität und Stabilität der Alpinen Kulturlandschaft. Fachbeitrag zum Schweizerischen MAB-Program No.27, Bern.

  • Baur B., Ewald K.C., Freyer B. and Erhadt A., 1997: Ökologischer Ausgleich und Biodiversität. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel.

    Google Scholar 

  • BFS (Bundesamt für Statistik), 1999: Einblicke in die schweizerische Landwirtschaft. Bundesamt für Statistik, Neuchatel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blandford D. and Fulponi L., 1999: Emerging public concerns in agriculture: domestic policies and international trade commitments. European Review of Agricultural Economics 26: 409–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BLW (Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft), 1999: Direktzahlungen 1998 an die Landwirtschaft. Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • BLW (Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft), 1997: Bericht über die Umsetzung des globalen Aktionsplanes der FAO in der Schweiz zur Erhaltung und nachhaltigen Nutzung der pflanzengenetischen Ressourcen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft. Bericht des Eidgenössischen Volkswirtschaftsdepartementes. October 1997, BLW, Berne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brush S.B., 2000: Genes in the Field: On-farm Conservation of Crop Diversity. Lewis/IDRC/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUWAL (Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft), 1999: Merkblätter Artenschutz: Blütenpflanzen und Farne. BUWAL, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUWAL (Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft), 1998: National report of Switzerland for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Hintermann & Weber, Montreux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccarelli S., 1994: Specific adaptation and breeding for marginal conditions. Euphytica 77: 205–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers R., 1994: Participatory rural appraisal (PRA): analysis of experience. World Development 22: 1253–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • COOP, 1999: Annual Report of the COOP Group 1998. COOP Switzerland, Basle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curry N. and Stucki E., 1997: Swiss agricultural policy and the environment: an example for the rest of Europe to follow? Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 40: 465–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrler M. and Bravo-Baumann H, 1996: The future agriculture. In Kieser R. and Spillmann K.R. (eds), The New Switzerland: Problems and Policies, pp. 97–191, The Society for the Promotion of Science and Scholarship, Palo Alto, US.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), 1996: Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture prepared for the International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources Leipzig, Germany 17-23 June 1996. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fossati A., Kleijer G., Fried P., Saurer W., Weilenmann F., Winzeler H., Jaquiery R. and Paccaud F.-X., 1988: Wheat breeding in Switzerland. Swiss Food 10: 8–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel O.H., Brown A.H.D. and Burdon J., 1995: The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann H., 1998: A sustainable world food economy. In Keil R., Bell D.V.J., Penz P. and Fawcett L. (eds), Political Ecology: Global and Local, pp. 19–45, Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furgler D., 2000: The Swiss economy: facing the future. In Butler M., Pender M. and Charnley J. (eds), The Making of Modern Switzerland, 1848-1998, pp. 123–136, MacMillan Press, Basingstoke, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gofton L., 1996: Bread to biotechnology: cultural aspects of food ethics. In Mepham B. (ed), Food Ethics, pp. 120–137, Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hampicke U., 1999: Conservation in Germany's agrarian countryside and the world economy. In Dragun A.K. and Tisdell C. (eds), Sustainable Agriculture and Environment: Globalisation and the Impact of Trade Liberalisation, pp. 135–152, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlan J.R., 1995: The Living Fields: Our Agricultural Heritage, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer H. and Freyer B., 1995: Neuorientierung der Agrarpolitik: Materialienband zum Masterplan für den biologischen Landbau Pflanzenbau. FiBL, Oberwil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingold M., 1998: De Mont-Calme à Changins: l'histoire. Revue Suisse d'Agriculture 30: 243–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis D.I. and Hodgkin T., 1998: Strengthening the Scientific Basis of In situ Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity On-farm. Options for Data Collecting and Analysis. Proceedings of a Workshop to Develop Tools and Procedures for In situ Conservation On-farm 25-29 August 1997, IPGRI, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleijer G., Badoux S. and Corbaz R., 1990: Les varietés locales suisses: une grande richesse! Revue Suisse d'Agriculture 22: 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleijer G., 1983: La collection de blés à Changins. Revue Suisse d'Agriculture 15: 281–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambelet-Haueter C., Mosimann E. and Delabays N., 1998: Les surfaces de compensation écologique (SCE) en grandes cultures: présentation et gestion. Revue Suisse d'Agriculture 30: 2–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampkin N., Foster C., Padel S. and Midmore P., 1999: The Policy and Regulatory Environment for Organic Farming in Europe: Synthesis of Results. Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay J.M., 1997: Techniques in Human Geography. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mapinfo Australia, 1994: MapinfoV5.5: WorldInfo Disks. Mapinfo Australia, Greenwich NSW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathieu J., 1992: Eine Agrargeschichte der inneren Alpen: Graubünden, Tessin, Wallis 1500-1800. Chronos Verlag, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattmüller M. and Kühn M., 1994: Geschichte des Getreidebaus in der Schweiz. In Fringeli U. (ed), Dr Schwarzbueb, Verlag, Breitenbach.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser H., 1988: Der schweizerische Getreidebau und seine Geräte. Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt M. and Samuel D., 1996: From staple crop to extinction? The archaeology and history of the hulled wheats. In Padulosi S., Hammer K. and Heller J. (eds), Hulled Wheats. Promoting the Conservation and Use of Underutilized and Neglected Crops, 4. Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Hulled Wheats, 21-22 July 1995, Castelvecchio Pascoli, Tuscany, Italy, pp. 41–100, IPGRI, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Netting R., 1981: Balancing on an Alp: Ecological Change and Continuity in a Swiss Mountain Community. Cambridge Uni. Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), 1999: National Plant Germplasm Website. www.ars.grin.gov/npgs/acc/acc.queries.html, downloaded 15/10/1999.

  • OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), 2000: OECD Economic Surveys: Switzerland, 1999-2000. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), 1999: OECD Economic Surveys: Switzerland 1998-1999. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), 1998: Agricultural Policy Reform and the Rural Economy in OECD Countries. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paillotin G., 1998: The impact of biotechnology on the agro-food sector. In OECD (ed), The Future of Food: Long Term Prospects for the Agro-food Sector, pp. 71–89, OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson G.H., 1998: Methods and Techniques in Human Geography. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roux M. and Blum A., 1998: Developing standards for sustainable farming in Switzerland. In Röling N.G. and Wagemakers M.A.E. (eds), Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture: Participatory Learning and Adaptive Management in Times of Environmental Uncertainty, pp. 75–87, Cambridge University Press, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • SBS (Schweizerischen Bauernsekretariat), 1960: Statistische Erhebungen und Schätzungen über Landwirtschaft und Ernährung: 37 Jahresheft. Schweizerischen Bauernsekretariat, Brugg.

    Google Scholar 

  • SBS (Schweizerischen Bauernsekretariat), 1980: Statistische Erhebungen und Schätzungen über Landwirtschaft und Ernährung: 57 Jahresheft. Schweizerischen Bauernsekretariat, Brugg.

    Google Scholar 

  • SBV (Schweizerischer Bauernverband), 1999: Lagebericht 1999: zur wirtschaften Situation der schweizerischen Landwirtschaft. Schweizerischer Bauernverband, Brugg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachl R., 1988: Genetische Ressourcen der Kulterpflanzen im alpinen Raum. Kulturpflanze 36: 107–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schierscher B. and Kleijer G., 1999: Die Rolle der Schweizerischen Kommission für die Erhaltung von Kulturpflanzen. AMTRA pamphlet, Nyon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlumbaum A., Jacomet S. and Neuhaus J.-M., 1998: Coexistence of tetraploid and hexaploid naked wheat in a Neolithic lake dwelling of Central Europe: evidence from morphology and ancient DNA. Journal of Archaeological Science 25: 1111–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid J., Keller L. and Keller E.R., 1985: Züchtungsforschung an Landsorten = Erhaltung der genetischen Vielfalt beim Getreide. Die Grüne 36: 22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons I.G. 1997: Humanity and the Environment: A Cultural Ecology. Longman, Harlow, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smale M, Bellon M.R. and Pingali P.L., 1998: Farmers, genebanks, and crop breeding: introduction and overview. In Smale M. (ed), Farmers, Gene Banks and Crop Breeding: Economic Analyses of Diversity in Wheat, Maize and Rice, pp. 3–17, Kluwer, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrupp L.A., 2000: Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security: the valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture. International Affairs 72: 265–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traill B., 1997: Globalisation in the food industries? European Review of Agricultural Economics 24: 390–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripp R., 1996: Biodiversity and modern crop varieties: sharpening the debate. Agriculture and Human Values 13: 48–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), 1992: The Convention on Biological Diversity, June 1992. UNEP Environmental Law and Institutions Programme Activity Centre, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine G., 1997: Tell me about...: using interviews as a research methodology. In Flowerdew R. and Martin D. (eds), Methods in Human Geography: A Guide for Students doing a Research Project, pp. 110–126, Longman, Harlow, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson G.A., Lezzi M. and Egli C., 1996: Agri-environmental schemes in Switzerland: euro-(in)compatible? European Urban and Regional Studies 3: 205–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoller H., Erny-Rodmann C. and Punchakunnel P., 1996: The History of Vegetation and Land Use in the Lower Engadine (Switzerland): Pollen Record of the last 13,000 Years. Scientific Research in the Swiss National Park, 86.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Douglas Bardsley & Ian Thomas

Authors
  1. Douglas Bardsley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ian Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas Bardsley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bardsley, D., Thomas, I. In Situ Agrobiodiversity Conservation in the Swiss Inner Alpine Zone. GeoJournal 60, 99–109 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GEJO.0000033594.67186.c2

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GEJO.0000033594.67186.c2

Search

Navigation