Article

populations of rare and endangered plant species in Switzerland. Nature conservation falls principally within the responsil lity of the cantons. The legal measures of biodiversity preservation in Switzerland are good. However, the execution is often unsatisfactory. Offices for Nature Conservancy at federal, cantonal and communal levels try to perform and supervise the legal requirements, but are often overloaded both in terms of personnel and finance. Private institutions that own many conservation areas play an important part in the management of endangered species’ populations. The creation of ‘ccological compensation arcas’ is financially promoted by the Confederation. These agricultural areas are managed without pesticides and fertilizers in order to obtain vegetation with higher diversity. The Swiss Committee for the Preservation of Wild Plants is a private institution supported by the Confederation to initiate, coordinate and survey all actions in Switzerland dealing with the preservation of rare and endangered plants. It publishes guidelines and information about the optimal management of the various species’ populations. Extensive inventories of the most endangered plant species are performed and the results, together with instructions for successful management of the populations, are forwarded to the Conservancy’s institutions.