Switzerland has embarked on a long-term endeavour to rehabilitate its rivers to their natural functioning and counteract continued aquatic biodiversity loss. It is one of the first countries implementing a national policy to reduce micro-pollutants in municipal sewage treatment plant effluents, and new measures are being considered to tackle diffuse pollution from agriculture. Enforcing protection of groundwater abstraction areas, the main source of drinking water, is an emerging issue. This chapter assesses Switzerland’s performance in these four areas. It also reviews the state of water quality and the main pressures on water resources.

This chapter reviews the pressures on Switzerland’s biodiversity and its status and trends, as well as institutional, governance and financing arrangements to promote conservation and sustainable use. It also assesses Switzerland’s progress in using regulatory and economic instruments for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and efforts to mainstream biodiversity considerations into sectoral and other policies.