Some Pesticide-Wildlife Problems in Switzerland

Abstract

and snow. (2) The woods in the lowlands; the Federal Forestry Law of 1902 forbids any reduction of their area. A relatively small part has been treated with pesticides against Cockchafers a few times within the last 15 years, at intervals of 3 years. (3) Treeless meadows in districts where dairy-farming is predominant remain free from pesticide treatment with the exception of a few areas that have been treated with lindane or aldrin against white grubs. (4) Lakes, rivers and water-courses are never treated intentionally with pesticides with a few very rare exceptions. In fact, the use of chemical pesticides is limited in the open air to fields, gardens, orchards, and vineyards. Federal and Cantonal law forbid any poisoning of game, birds and fish (Laws on hunting and bird-protection of 1925 and 1962). The observance of protection laws is watched over not only by the authorities but also by the public. The Swiss League for the Conservation of Nature with its cantonal sections now has a total of 42 000 members. Any conspicuous poisoning of game would not be tolerated. A more difficult problem is concealed poisoning with no immediate effect, which can only be recognized after prolonged scientific investigation and population studies. The Federal Agricultural Law provides that all pesticides must be tested and approved by the Federal Research Stations before being put on the market. Official trial includes not only testing of their effectiveness as regards certain insect pests, but also of their undesirable side-effects (toxicity, poisonous residues, endangering of useful and harmless animals). The employment of such preparations must be justified. The responsibility for such decisions rests with the experts of the Research Stations, who are independent of any commercial enterprise and can if necessary take a firm stand against one-sided demands by agricultural circles. They endeavour to replace chemical with less harmful methods, reducing the use of chemicals to a minimum as far as is feasible, and combining them with the natural forces of crop protection. Directing the chemical means of destruction into reasonable channels involves untiring instruction and enlightenment of those concerned; for the poisons employed occasionally get into the hands of people whose training and sense of responsibility render them incapable of dealing with such problems.