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Alpine flowers colour Swiss meadows

The Alps have the most varieties of flowers anywhere in Europe, but many species are under threat because of competition for space and water as well as from overuse of the land.

The large number of alpine flower species owes much to the delicate relationship between nature and careful farming practices over the years. Mountain farmers ensured for centuries that the alpine regions were used carefully tended, keeping uninhibited tree and bush growth at bay and leaving room for many plant, butterfly and bird species. Over the past few years though, the meadows have come under pressure from farming, the wood industry and tourism.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR