Cluster: Science Archives - Page 158 of 243

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Water quality of Swiss rivers criticised by WWF

This content was published on Oct 20, 2014 Whereas rivers in France and Austria are generally clean, rivers in Switzerland have been given poor marks in a study by WWF Austria and conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. No other alpine country uses its rivers as intensively as Switzerland, which has around 1,500 power plants and 150,000 artificial weirs, the environmental organisation reported on Monday. This has an effect on flora and fauna. “Intact rivers, streams, wetlands and flood plains provide us with clean water and vital flood protection,” said Christopher Bonzi, head of WWF Switzerland’s water programme. “We can’t consider them only as energy providers.” But in Switzerland, protection of the remaining natural waterways is less strict than in the European Union. WWF Switzerland criticised the fact that whereas the EU explicitly forbids deterioration of valuable bodies of water, Switzerland financially supports small hydropower projects. According to the study, only one in ten rivers in the entire alpine region fulfils its role as an area for relaxation, a reservoir of drinking water and natural protection against flooding. Out of around 22,000km, 6,500km of rivers are dammed, diverted or forced into concrete beds. The study looked at all rivers in Austria, Italy, Slovenia, France, Germany and Switzerland with a catchment area of more than ten square kilometres and their tributaries – a total of 57,000km. WWF’s goal is to set up areas in these countries where the use of rivers for production of power and other infrastructure projects would be taboo.

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Toxic drug could threaten Alpine vultures

This content was published on Oct 7, 2014 A veterinary drug administered to cattle caused a decline of almost 99% in vulture populations in India that fed on the contaminated carcasses. It is now being sold in Europe, potentially putting Alpine vultures at risk.

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WWF warns of planet ‘burn-out’ risk

This content was published on Sep 30, 2014 World wildlife populations have dropped by 52% in 40 years, far faster than previously thought, the non-governmental WWF has said. It points the finger at countries like Switzerland for using far more resources than they need.

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Swiss options run thin as economy wilts

This content was published on Sep 9, 2014 Economists predict that Switzerland faces several months of weaker economic growth having used up most of the trump cards it once played to insulate itself against global turmoil.

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Helping India cope with climate change

This content was published on Sep 4, 2014 India is one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world. Rural and isolated communities in India are hit hard by climate change.

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A gamekeeper for the city

This content was published on Sep 3, 2014 There are around 100 different kinds of birds living in the city of Zurich. A number of lake birds, sparrows, but also birds of prey such as the common kestrel. While some species like pigeons are thriving in cities, others like house sparrows that are having a hard life and might soon disappear. It’s gamekeeper…

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Vultures thrive in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 11, 2014 The Swiss bearded vulture population is having an excellent year, with eight vultures born in the wild and two captive-bred birds successfully released into the wild.

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When flood protection works

This content was published on Jul 30, 2014 Schüpfheim in central Switzerland saw two rivers burst their banks. In the Emmental region, floods even carried away some cars. And in the south, in Ticino, a landslide covered the connecting road from Gandria to Lugano. There are only a few things the authorities can do once the flooding has started. Altstetten in St Gallen…

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National park’s plants hold secrets of past, keys to future

This content was published on Jul 29, 2014 At the Swiss National Park, the longest-running meadow observation project in Switzerland has defied expectations and uncovered buried secrets.

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Keeping tabs on migrating birds

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Water quality of Swiss rivers criticised by WWF

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Toxic drug could threaten Alpine vultures

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WWF warns of planet ‘burn-out’ risk

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Swiss options run thin as economy wilts

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Helping India cope with climate change

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A gamekeeper for the city

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Vultures thrive in Switzerland

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When flood protection works

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National park’s plants hold secrets of past, keys to future

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