Soil Protection in Switzerland

Summary

Current soil protection measures in Switzerland are described. These include:

Measures to limit settlement areas and give particular protection to farming (land).

Measures to limit pollutant immissions from non-agricultural sources and from agriculture itself

Application rules and advisory services for farmers.

A properly organized waste management system.

A surveillance system for monitoring the level of pollution in the soil.

This statutory national system is to all intents and purposes complete. It remains to be seen whether it will be sufficient to guarantee the desired degree of protection; for in Switzerland, too, numerous growth and intensification processes are continuing unabated which present a potentially serious threat to the soil.

As a result, the Swiss Bundesrat has announced a national research programme on ‘Land utilization in Switzerland’ The object of this programme is to draw up proposals for using land sparingly. The integrated programme is to last 5 years and examine land in its function as natural environment, as building land and settlement area and as a commercial and legal commodity. Proposals for specific measures are to be based on the studies. They will be aimed at a wide audience, for effective soil protection is possible only if supported by the general public. Public relations work is therefore an essential part of a soil protection strategy.