Moors are the silent heroes of climate protection. They store enormous amounts of CO₂ in a small space and provide a home for rare species. But decades of drainage for agriculture and construction have destroyed many of these sensitive habitats. A renaturation project in the canton of Jura – supported by the federal government and organisations such as myclimate – is bringing the water back and reviving the moor. Marc Mallet from the Jura Department for the Environment explains in an interview why this is so important.
The raised bogs in the Étang de la Gruère nature reserve are among the most important in Switzerland. Up to nine metres of peat lie beneath the surface – a huge carbon sink. However, earlier drainage for a now abandoned mill has dried up the bogs. Oxygen entered, the peat decomposed and CO₂ escaped. 90 per cent of Switzerland’s peatland has already disappeared.
Our joint projectwill enable extensive restoration work. Between 2025 and 2028, 15 hectares – almost 70 per cent of the area – will be returned to its natural state. The project is being financed by federal funds and partners such as myclimate. During a project visit, Mélanie Siegrist, project manager for nature-based solutions, spoke to Marc Mallet from the Department for the Environment of the Canton of Jura about the significance, implementation and impact of the project.
Mélanie Siegrist:Mr Mallet, why are the raised bogs in the La Gruère nature reserve so important – locally and globally?
Marc Mallet: Peatland has become extremely rare. In Switzerland, 90 per cent has disappeared, and only a tenth of the remaining area is still intact. Wetlands are home to about half of all endangered species. And in la Gruère, the peat is up to nine metres deep – that's a huge amount of CO₂ storage. The area is one of the largest and best preserved raised bogs in Switzerland and part of several national and European conservation programmes.
In the past, moorland was systematically drained. Has that changed?
Yes, since the Rothenthurm Initiative in 1987, the protection of moorland has been enshrined in the federal constitution. The cantons are obliged to protect moors and – if possible – restore them to their natural state. This is now widely accepted in agriculture and forestry. However, the speed and scope of projects often depends on the resources available locally.
How are the local people reacting?
The Gruère region is known nationwide and has a high level of support amongst the population. We provide regular updates through our media relations work. The regional economy also benefits – for example, through construction and planning contracts. Even the wooden panels used for the raised boardwalks are produced locally.
What role does myclimate play?
Without myclimate and other partners, we would not be able to carry out the project. 75 per cent of the funding comes from the federal government, with the rest primarily from partners such as myclimate. The exchange is very valuable from a professional point of view.
What are your hopes for the future of the Jura moors?
We will continue to restore and protect all nationally significant areas. It is important that people understand the effect of their actions. One simple step is to stop buying peat, as every bag comes from destroyed moorland. And anyone who visits the moors can contribute directly to their protection by behaving considerately.
Cover photo: Marc Mallet from the Jura Office for the Environment / Photo credits: Sebastian Eppler myclimate
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