Nature and the Environment

People have shaped much of the world: we build houses, roads, factories, aircraft and much more. Although human activity increasingly pushes nature back, a thoughtful, sustainable way of life can make a positive difference. We need to strengthen our awareness of environmental and climate protection. This includes protecting and restoring habitats for animals and people. Animals especially need natural refuges where they can escape predators and build safe nests.

The nutrient cycle recycles the materials living things need. Energy enters ecosystems mainly through sunlight and flows through the food chain. These relationships are sensitive: the disappearance of a species can disrupt them.

Plants use sunlight, nutrients, water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to grow, producing glucose and oxygen (O₂). This process is called photosynthesis. Plants bring energy from the sun into the living world. People and animals need oxygen to breathe and release carbon dioxide during respiration.

Photosynthesis, feeding relationships and decomposition.

Plants feed herbivores such as deer and cows. These in turn provide food for carnivores and scavengers such as foxes and bearded vultures. Bacteria and fungi break down remains and waste into nutrients that plants can absorb from the soil. This closes the nutrient cycle.

Nature includes many habitats: mountains, woods, meadows, wetlands, bodies of water and settlements. Scouts and Guides spend much of their time in woodland, an important ecosystem for many animal and plant species.

Woodlands may be deciduous, coniferous or mixed. Healthy, diverse forests support many ecological processes: they store carbon, produce oxygen, protect against rockfall and avalanches, provide timber and offer places for people to relax. Other habitats are equally important parts of our ecosystems and need our care too.

Fungi are neither plants nor animals: they form a kingdom of their own. They include mushrooms, yeasts and moulds. The mushroom you recognise is only a fruiting body. Much of the fungus consists of a thread-like network called mycelium, often hidden in soil or wood.

Examples of fungi and lichens.

• Be very careful when collecting mushrooms. Some are highly poisonous and species are not always easy to identify. Have everything you collect checked by an official mushroom inspection service before considering eating it.

A mushroom fruiting body and its mycelium.

A lichen is a close association between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. Lichens grow on surfaces such as trees, stones and asphalt. Many are sensitive to air pollution, making them useful indicators of air quality.

Here are some plants you may encounter in our habitats. These short descriptions and illustrations are for learning to recognise plants; they are not sufficient to identify wild food safely.

The Scots pine has long needles growing in pairs. Its bark is dark low down and reddish higher up. The cones are fairly small. Its wood contains much resin, so take care with sparks when using it for a fire.

Scots pine.

The silver fir has flat, blunt needles with two white stripes underneath. Its cones stand upright on the branches, and its bark is silvery grey.

Silver fir.

The Norway spruce has short, sharp needles arranged all around the twig. Its trunk is reddish to brown and its cones hang down. Its shallow roots make it vulnerable to wind.

Norway spruce.

The yew has flat needles and red, berry-like structures. It is highly poisonous: do not eat any part of it. Yews can live for a very long time.

Yew – poisonous.

The European larch has needles growing in clusters and small, egg-shaped cones. Its needles turn golden yellow and fall in autumn, unlike those of most familiar European conifers. It needs plenty of light and grows well in the mountains.

European larch.

The European beech has smooth, oval leaves with largely unbroken edges. It is the most common deciduous tree at lower elevations in Switzerland. Its autumn fruits are called beechnuts; their use as food requires correct identification and preparation.

European beech.

The birch has small, triangular leaves with toothed edges and characteristic white, peeling bark. Shed bark can serve as a paper substitute or tinder. Birch is adaptable and grows in colder regions too.

Birch.

The hornbeam has egg-shaped, pointed leaves with toothed edges. Its dense foliage makes it popular for hedges.

Hornbeam.

The oak shown has lobed leaves, dark brown bark and acorns on stalks. Oak wood makes good firewood.

Oak.

The Norway maple has sharply pointed, lobed leaves. Its paired, winged fruits are easy to recognise. Maple leaves turn colourful in autumn; a stylised maple leaf appears on Canada's flag.

Norway maple.

The field maple has much smaller leaves than the Norway maple. They are rounder, less glossy and darker, turning yellow in autumn.

Field maple.

The ash has compound leaves with paired, lightly toothed leaflets. Its strong, elastic wood is often used for tool handles.

Ash.

The horse chestnut has large leaves made up of several oval leaflets spreading from one point. Its fruits fall in autumn from green, slightly spiny cases. They are poisonous and must not be eaten.

Horse chestnut – not edible.

The sweet chestnut produces the edible chestnuts also known in Switzerland as marroni. They are protected by very spiny husks. The tree needs warmth and grows widely in Tessin, where its cultivation has a long history associated with the Romans.

Sweet chestnut.

The hazel has oval to heart-shaped, toothed leaves. Its yellow catkins release large amounts of pollen. Hazelnuts develop in autumn.

Hazel.

The ribwort plantain has long, pointed leaves with prominent veins. Its leaves have traditionally been rubbed on insect bites to ease itching; avoid applying unclean plant material to broken skin.

Ribwort plantain.

Clover usually has three leaflets and is an important livestock fodder plant. Four or more leaflets are uncommon variations.

Clover.

The wild strawberry has slightly hairy leaves, white flowers and edible fruit. Correctly identify fruit and wash it thoroughly before eating.

Wild strawberry.

Wild garlic. Blackberry. Wood anemone. Ivy. Lesser celandine. Cowslip.

Here are some animals you may encounter in our habitats.

Amphibians and reptiles

Amphibians and reptiles are vertebrates. Most amphibians, such as frogs and newts, reproduce in water. Reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, reproduce on land.

Amphibians

The common toad has short hind legs and dry, warty skin that produces toxic secretions. Most live in woodland, but they also occur in fields, meadows and settlements.

Common toad.

The agile frog is a native species especially associated with Tessin. Like other frogs and toads, it develops from a tadpole into an adult, a process called metamorphosis. Tree frogs, common frogs and water frogs are also native to Switzerland.

Agile frog.

Reptiles

The slow worm is a legless lizard. It occurs throughout Switzerland, including at elevations up to about 2000 m. Unlike snakes, it can shed its tail as a defence against predators.

Slow worm.

The sand lizard grows to around 20–25 cm and is particularly common in northern Switzerland and on the Mittelland. Lizards detect chemicals by flicking their tongues in and out. They can also shed their tails.

Male and female sand lizards.

Insects

Insects play a vital role in ecosystems and food chains: many larger animals depend on them. Protecting them matters. They are invertebrates with a hard, protective outer covering containing chitin. Their main features are six legs, three body sections—head, thorax and abdomen—and two antennae.

The ladybird has a rounded, dome-shaped body, often with spots. Many feed on aphids and help control pests. Colours and spot numbers vary between species.

Ladybird.

The wood ant lives in colonies in mounds with underground passages. Ants have different roles in their community and can carry many times their own body weight.

Wood ant.

The honeybee lives in colonies often managed by beekeepers. Bees gather pollen and nectar, turning nectar into honey stored in their combs. They pollinate many plants and are important to the environment. A honeybee's sting can remain in the skin after stinging a person.

Bee illustration accompanying the honeybee description.

Wild bees come in many colours and shapes. Switzerland has more than 600 species. Most are solitary and need suitable nesting sites and materials. Like honeybees, they pollinate many plants and are an important part of ecosystems. Bumblebees are familiar wild bees.

Bee illustration accompanying the wild-bee description.

Wasps occur across much of the world. Adults often feed on nectar and other sugary foods. Social wasp queens start new nests each year. Unlike honeybees, wasps can sting repeatedly.

Wasp.

The small tortoiseshell is a butterfly. In summer it can be found in the mountains; adults overwinter in sheltered places, including at lower elevations. Its caterpillars feed mainly on nettles, while adults drink nectar.

Small tortoiseshell butterfly. Small tortoiseshell caterpillar.

More insects and other small animals:

Earthworm. Burying beetle. Common rough woodlouse. Grasshopper. Mosquito. Roman snail.

Birds

Birds have wings, feathers, beaks and two legs. They are the only living descendants of dinosaurs. They hatch from eggs, and not all can fly: some run or swim very well instead.

The red kite is a bird of prey with reddish plumage, a pale head and a deeply forked tail. It feeds mainly on small mammals, carrion and worms.

Red kite.

The common buzzard has variable white and dark-brown plumage and very broad wings. It feeds on small mammals. A pair may use the same nest for several years.

Common buzzard.

The bearded vulture has long, narrow wings and a wedge-shaped tail and is one of the largest Alpine birds. After disappearing from Switzerland, it returned through reintroduction. Its population remains a conservation concern.

Bearded vulture.

The grey heron has a pale neck and a black head stripe and crest. It feeds on fish and small mammals and is mainly found in lowland areas and Tessin.

Grey heron.

The goshawk has barred underparts and dark grey upperparts. It occurs in much of Switzerland, flies quickly and skilfully, and feeds mainly on small mammals and birds.

Goshawk.

The common swift has dark brown-black plumage, a pale chin, sickle-shaped wings and a short, slightly forked tail. It nests in cavities in older buildings and towers.

Common swift.

The white stork is black and white with red legs and a red bill. It communicates by clattering its bill. It eats insects, small mammals, amphibians and worms. Storks migrate in large flocks and form pairs during the breeding season, tending and defending their nest.

White stork.

The common cuckoo is a rather inconspicuous grey bird with a long tail. It lays its eggs in other birds' nests and leaves the hosts to rear its young. Its name comes from its distinctive call.

Common cuckoo.

The raven has entirely black plumage and is one of Switzerland's largest songbirds. It is omnivorous, eating berries, small animals and food scraps.

Raven.

The Eurasian jay has pinkish-brown plumage and blue, black and white wing markings. It is shy and stores acorns and other nuts for later.

Eurasian jay.

The great spotted woodpecker is black and white with red beneath the tail. Males also have red on the back of the head. Listen for its characteristic drumming on trees or buildings. It feeds largely on insects.

Great spotted woodpecker.

The barn swallow has a slender body and long tail streamers. It is common in rural settlements and on farms, feeding mainly on flying insects.

Barn swallow.

The magpie is black and white with a blue sheen on its wings. It is highly intelligent. An omnivore, it also eats other birds' eggs.

Magpie.

The blue tit has a green back, yellow belly and blue wings, tail and crown. It occurs mainly in Europe and eats insects and plant food, sometimes taking food stored by other birds.

Blue tit.

Black woodpecker. Wren. Sparrowhawk. Woodpigeon. Sparrow. Great tit. Blackbird. Robin. Chaffinch.

Mammals

Woodland provides food and shelter for many of Switzerland's mammals.

The brown bear is one of the world's largest land predators. After its eradication in Switzerland, bears have returned as visitors from neighbouring populations, particularly Italy. It is omnivorous but eats mainly plant food.

Brown bear.

The wolf is social and lives in packs, each with its own territory. It hunts red deer, roe deer and wild boar and also eats smaller animals and insects.

Wolf.

The male red deer, or stag, grows large, branched antlers and renews them each year. The female is a hind and the young a calf. They often form separate male and female herds. Red deer eat grasses, shrubs, acorns and fungi.

Red deer stag. Red deer hind.

The roe deer often lives in dense undergrowth and may be solitary. The male is a buck, the female a doe and the young a fawn. Bucks have small antlers; does do not. Roe deer eat grasses, herbs and woodland fruits.

Roe deer.

The wild boar occurs across Europe and Asia. The male is a boar, the female a sow and the young piglets. It is omnivorous and roots in the soil for food. Its adaptability brings it close to towns too.

Wild boar.

The Eurasian lynx is mainly active at night and usually lives alone. It hunts other animals. Its ear tufts are distinctive. After disappearing from Switzerland, it was reintroduced and now lives in the Jura and Alps.

Eurasian lynx.

The red fox lives in woodland and near towns throughout Switzerland. It is usually shy and mainly nocturnal. If a fox loses its fear of people, loud calls may drive it away. Avoid attracting foxes by leaving food or rubbish outside.

Red fox.

The badger has distinctive black-and-white head stripes. Its underground home, called a sett, has several entrances and chambers. It eats worms, insects, small mammals and plant food.

Badger.

The beaver lives beside rivers and lakes. Pointed, gnawed tree stumps reveal its presence. It uses felled wood to build dams. It eats bark, leaves, twigs and aquatic plants and does not hibernate.

Beaver.

The brown hare is widespread and has long ears and legs. Mainly solitary and active at night, it can make powerful leaps. It eats grass, leaves, roots and bark and rests in shallow ground hollows called forms.

Brown hare.

The edible dormouse has a bushy tail and a body up to about 20 cm long. It lives in woods but also uses lofts and garden sheds. It may hibernate from late summer until spring. Its food includes fruit, acorns, nuts, leaves, insects and small birds.

Edible dormouse.

The hedgehog has spines on its back and fur on its face and underside. It curls into a ball when threatened. It lives in hedges, scrub and woodland edges and eats insects and other small animals.

Hedgehog.

The red squirrel lives in trees in woods and towns. Its bushy tail helps it balance and control jumps. Usually solitary, it builds twig nests called dreys. Its varied diet includes berries, nuts, insects, fungi and bark.

Red squirrel.

The wood mouse has a long tail, strong hind feet and large eyes and ears. It lives in woods, fields and settlements, often carrying food to a sheltered place before eating. It feeds mainly on plant material, but also takes insects.

Wood mouse.

The brown long-eared bat occurs in Switzerland. Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight. They use echolocation to navigate and find prey such as insects. They hang upside down to rest in places such as caves, lofts and ruins, and use suitable shelters for hibernation. They are rarely seen, and all Swiss bat species are protected.

Brown long-eared bat.