Author(s)

F. Herzog, M. Günter, G. Hofer, P. Jeanneret, L. Pfiffner, F. Schläpfer, B. Schüpbach & T. Walter

Abstract

In 1995 the Swiss people voted a constitutional article which tied agricultural subsidies to ecological requirements. Among other measures, farmers had to convert at least 7 % of their land to semi-natural biotopes (ecological compensa- tion areas - EGA). Major EGA are extensified grassland, traditional orchards, hedges, wild flower strips. The introduction of EGA throughout the country's agricultural area can be seen as a large scale landscape restoration experiment. Its biological effects are evaluated in a monitoring programme. Preliminary results show that endangered plant speci

Keywords