SUMMER PASTURE IN SWITZERLAND

What we are talking about Summer pastures in the mountain areas (Alps and Jura), are between 1000 and 2500 meters about sea level, no permanent settlements are used for different livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses and also some exotic species like llamas, alpacas) are also partially used for hay making the duration of grazing is between 80 and 130 days (average 100 days) summer pasture land covers about 600’000 ha (6´000 km² only productive pasture - 15% the extension of Switzerland) November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 2

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National Legal Frame for Summer Pasture Federal Law of Agriculture SR 910.1: The government has to determine the management measures for pasture land. Decree for subsidies in agriculture SR : To follow good practice for the use of pasture and stock farming; maintenance of infrastructure and buildings; restrictions for the use of fertilizer and herbicide application; supply of additional feeding stuff. Federal Law of Rural Land Rights SR : Legislation concerning corporations for pasture use is transferred to the Cantons. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 4

Public ownership of pasture land by municipalities Management system OwnershipUser of pasture land Legal base Self management through the municipality MunicipalityLivestock owners of the municipality Pasture rules and regulations of the municipality Cooperative under public law MunicipalityCooperative of livestock owners of the municipality or abroad Lease agreement and charter of the cooperative Private management system MunicipalityIndividual livestock owner from the municipality or abroad Lease agreement November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 5

Private ownership: Cooperatives under private law or individuals Management system OwnershipUser of pasture land Legal base By cooperative under public law Cooperative under private law Charter of the cooperative and leasing agreement By cooperative under private law Cooperative under private law Individual owner of rights for pasture use Leasing agreement and civil codes law Individual person (leasing agreement), federal and regional law November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 6

Legal Situation – Conclusions Switzerland has no federal register of cooperatives or associations – the number of institutions involved in pasture use is unknown. Most rules and regulations for pasture management, leasing of pasture land, animal sanitation, fees, administration and monitoring are established on the local level and adapted to local conditions. Self government of the stock holders and owners of pasture land is very simple and costs are very low. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 7

Stocking rates for summer pasture For each pasture unit, the number of animals which can be estivated is known (since centuries). This rate has to be updated from time to time (the size of animals is increasing, new cattle breeds, loss of pasture land due to natural hazards, cattle stock is decreasing in Switzerland). New stocking rates have been fixed in the last 20 years. The new rates are always the average from the past 3 years. Summer pasture in Switzerland have no problems of overgrazing. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 8

Multi-level pasture management Village 1000 m about sea level Level m about sea level Level m about sea level Level m about sea level Family house, winter feeding for livestock October to April Livestock for grazing May Livestock for grazing June/July Livestock for grazing July/ August Hay cutting May to September Hay cutting July Livestock for grazing October Livestock for grazing September Livestock for grazing August/September November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 9

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Cooperatives under private or public law Under public law: –A municipality or a Canton (public entity) cedes the whole management of pasture land to a cooperative. –The cooperative under public law has the authority to collect taxes (related with the pasture land) or to apply sanction against pasture land users. Under private law: –Pasture land users decide to organize the management of pasture land in a cooperative according to the civil codes (could also be an association). –The organization can be owner of pasture land or lease it. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 11

Charter of the cooperative under public law (ex. Grisons) Objectives: maintain the pasture land (of the municipality, Canton or district) with the infrastructure as an economical potential and to serve the local farmers. Membership: Each stock farmer (according to the Federal Law of Agriculture), living in the municipality (district, Canton) is member of the cooperative Only stock farmers making use of the pasture land can be member of the cooperative. If the grazing potential of the summer pasture is high, stock farmers from outside may become members (decided by the GA) November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 12

General Assembly of the Cooperative… has to elect the management and the monitoring committee can modify the charter, decrees, accept or reject it admits or excludes members accepts or rejects the budget and special credits decides entrance fees, annual fees and penalties accepts or rejects annual activity and financial reports and financial balance decides about liquidation of the cooperative November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 13

Management Committee/Board of Directors The MC is composed by not less than 3 persons. It convokes the GA and prepares all the needed documents. It ensures the sustainable management of pasture land. It monitors the use of pasture land by the stock holders. It accepts or refuses the estivation of external stock. It fixes the date for start and end of the pasture season. The MC regularly informs the members about new instructions and technologies. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 14

Tasks of the Monitoring/Audit Committee To verify all the records and written documents To audit the financial report and balance, invoices and proofs To check the list of members To monitor if the decisions of the GA are correctly implemented by the MC November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 15

Final Clause Violation of decisions made by the GA, of the charter and decrees, will be punished by a penalty up to CHF (about US$ 600). The MC decides about penalties. The local authority (municipality) and the administrative court of the Canton may be appealed by the punished stock holder. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 16

A Cooperative under Public Law in a Canton (OAK Schwyz) The perimeter of the cooperative OAK is much larger and covers several municipalities and villages. The pasture land is divided in an important number of pasture units. So decrees for the management of forests, water and tourism is needed. This non-farming activities need infrastructure as buildings, roads, water reservoir or small settlements. For these needs, the land can be leased (building lease), in some cases also sold. November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 17

Some Facts about Summer Pasture Surface of summer pasture in ha Year 1892/ ‘066 ha Year 1979/ ‘627 ha Number of summer pasture establishment Year 1892/ ‘756 units Year ‘187 units Standard stocking rates* 1 ssr = livestock unit/100 days Year ‘678 Year ‘849 Dairy cows Cheese Year ‘887 Year ‘602 Cheese prod./season 3000 t November 17th, 2014Conference on Advancement of Sustainable Pasture Management 18

Thank you