Species protection is not an option, it is mandatory! Switzerland is committed in many national and international laws and agreements to protect the species of Switzerland - including lichens.
National laws and conventions
The federal act on the protection of nature and cultural heritage, for example, stipulates that "the extinction of native animal and plant species (fungi are still counted as plants here) is to be counteracted by the conservation of sufficiently large habitats and other appropriate measures". The Regulation contains in Annex 2 a list of nationally protected species, including 18 lichen species and 4 lichen genera.
- Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage 1966 (NHG, SR 451), as at 1 January 2012, Section 3: Protection of native flora and fauna
- Regulation on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage 1991 (NHV, SR 451.1), Section 3: Protection of Native Flora and Fauna
Various ordinances regulate the protection of particularly endangered habitats and landscapes as well as their typical animal and plant species. They contain the federal inventories of habitats of national importance:
- Regulation on the Protection of Floodplain Areas of National Importance 1992 (Floodplain Ordinance; SR 451.31)
- Regulation on the Protection of Peat Bogs and Transitional Peat Bogs of National Importance 1991 (Peat Bog Ordinance; SR 451.32)
- Regulation of 1994 on the Protection of Fens of National Importance (Fens Ordinance; SR 451.33)
- Regulation on the Protection of Mire Landscapes of Special Beauty and National Importance 1996 (Moorlandschaftsverordnung; SR 451.35)
- Regulation on the Protection of Dry Meadows and Pastures of National Importance 2010 (Dry Meadow Ordinance, TwwV; SR 451.37)
The federal act on the protection of the environment is intended "to protect human beings, animals and plants from harmful or annoying effects on their communities and habitats, and to preserve the natural foundations of life, in particular biological diversity and soil fertility, on a permanent basis". It stipulates, for example, that an environmental impact assessment must be obtained as early as possible for the planning, construction or modification of any new installations.
- Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment 1983 (USG; SR 814.01 )
In the Agriculture Act, the federal government undertakes, among others, "that agriculture will make a substantial contribution through sustainable and market-oriented production".
- Federal Act on Agriculture 1951, rev. 1998 (LwG; SR 910.1 )
Other legal bases: