One-third of Swiss species face extinction, WWF report says

One-third of animal and plant species in Switzerland are threatened with extinction, according to the WWF’s 2026 biodiversity report, SRF reported. The report also describes a continuing global decline in wildlife populations.

Thomas Vellacott, head of WWF Switzerland, told SRF that the country’s biodiversity loss is linked partly to policy shortcomings. Switzerland lags behind other countries in areas such as protected habitats, he said.

Protecting species also means protecting their habitats and addressing pressures from energy production, food production and the financial sector, Vellacott said. He added that the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy can help biodiversity by limiting climate change, but renewable energy must be operated sustainably. For hydropower, that includes leaving enough water in rivers.

The report records a 73 percent reduction in wildlife populations, Vellacott said, but around half of the populations studied are stable or growing. He cited the recovery of lake trout in the Hasliaare, a river, where river restoration and sufficient residual water have created conditions for the fish to spawn.

Vellacott said restoring rivers can benefit both nature and people, including by improving protection against flooding.