Newcomer Species and their Implications in a Warmer Switzerland

Project description

Objective

Biodiversity in Switzerland is already under pressure. National data centres collect species records for use by federal, cantonal and local authorities, but these focus almost entirely on species that are already present in the country. Climate change is shifting habitats northwards and uphill, meaning many “newcomer” species are expected to arrive naturally in the coming decades. These organisms, native to Europe but not to Switzerland, form a new group of “neo-native” species. They could enrich or disrupt ecosystems or have little impact at all. They could also affect farming, forestry or other human activities. Yet there is no instrument in current Swiss conservation laws and policies to anticipate and recognise them. Yet, anticipating their arrival is essential, as these newcomers will pose new ecological, legal and management challenges. FutureSpeciesCH addresses this gap by combining biology, ecology, law and policy to forecast which species may arrive, when and where, and what the implications could be.

Relevance

By showing when and where new species will be likely to establish, and by assessing the legal and policy consequences of these newcomers, FutureSpeciesCH will provide decision-makers with vital knowledge for biodiversity management in Switzerland, both today and under future climate scenarios.

Transdisciplinary Approach

The project will compile lists of newcomer species expected to find suitable conditions in Switzerland by 2035 and 2060 under national climate projections. These forecasts will be refined to identify likely entry points and patterns of spread and will serve as a basis to establish newcomer species lists for stakeholders at the federal, cantonal and communal levels.

For species judged most relevant, the team will work directly with stakeholders to evaluate the implications for law, policy and management. This will take place in an Open Lab, ensuring continuous exchange between scientists and society.

The aim is to deliver tangible outcomes: knowledge that can be applied in practice, policy tools that anticipate future pressures, and strategies that strengthen biodiversity governance in a changing climate.