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SWITZERLAND EXPLAINED

EXPLAINED: 8 rules nature lovers should follow in the Swiss countryside

Many people living in Switzerland enjoy taking a trip to the countryside in the warmer months - but not everyone leaves forests how they found them and some even damage nature. Here’s everything you should pay attention to when exploring Switzerland's natural wonders.

Published: 17 April 2023 14:49 CEST
EXPLAINED: 8 rules nature lovers should follow in the Swiss countryside
Don't disturb the cows. The outdoor rules you need to follow in Switzerland. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Pay attention to signs

Whether you’re going for a casual stroll or a more challenging hike, in Switzerland you should always pay close attention to and follow the hiking trail signs as they indicate what (difficulty level) awaits you on your chosen path and help keep you safe.

Adventurers should also make sure to keep out of so-called quiet zones, or wildlife sanctuaries, which function as designated retreat areas for wild animals to avoid them being disturbed by humans. It is also vital to keep your dogs on a leash near the quiet zones as well as during hunting season. The latter takes place at different times depending on the canton.

Shhhhh….be quiet

It may not come as a surprise that the Swiss love their quiet time – and so do their animals. It is therefore recommended to be mindful of wildlife when out on hikes or busy enjoying a barbeque.

It’s generally recommended to refrain from blasting loud music, shouting or conversing in a loud manner so as not to disturb the animals and other hikers who may have ventured into the forest seeking peace and solitude.

Stay on your path

Both hikers and bikers should stay on their designated paths for several reasons. While it can be dangerous to choose an off-the-beaten track and Switzerland’s diverse nature should not be underestimated – there are signs for a reason – it can also be harmful to vegetation and the animals residing forests whose habitat we should protect.

Don’t disturb the cows

As wholesome as these herbivores may look – and you will meet many as you journey through Switzerland – you should always keep your distance from cows and walk around them calmly even if they are used to people. This is essential as any sudden moves on your part could make you come off as a threat to them.

Though these large animals do not usually attack unprovoked, they may choose to do so (at a speed of 40 kilometres per hour) if they think you’re eyeing up their offspring for a portion of the popular Zurich dish Zürcher Geschnetzeltes that’s made with veal. 

Bag your trash

While you are more than welcome to enjoy a sandwich or even grill a whole pack of Cervelat in designated forest spots, trash, meaning all material that does not belong in a forest, should always be disposed of elsewhere – or else the forest owners will have to do this in your stead.

If you happen to leave a large chunk of trash behind, however, the forest owner will contact the police and you may be liable to pay a fine – if the cows don’t get you first.

READ ALSO: Cervelat: What is the Swiss sausage that creates a ‘sense of identity’?

Don’t start a fire

If you’ve ventured into your local forest for a get together with friends and family, be sure to remember that fires in the forest must always be kindled with the necessary caution, even if there is only a low or moderate risk of a forest fire.

In Switzerland, you may only burn completely dried, natural forest wood if only little smoke is produced. You may under no circumstances burn old and residual wood as well as any material (waste) you may be eager to get rid of in a haste.

On that note…don’t smoke

In Switzerland, you may only smoke in so-called settlement areas which are areas designated for respite and barbeques. However, if you step outside of those areas remember that it is illegal to smoke in Swiss forests and you will be fined, or worse, could cause a fire.

No motor vehicles

According to Switzerland’s Forest Act – yes, that’s a thing – driving motor vehicles in its forests, whether the latter belong to the municipality or a (wealthy) private individual, is not permitted unless you’re on official forestry business.

Still, a canton may grant you an exception, for instance for motocross courses and the like, though this is rare.

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PROTESTS

How free are people to protest in Switzerland?

As a centre of international diplomacy and cooperation and with its unique system of direct democracy, Switzerland enjoys a reputation for upholding fundamental human rights—but how free are the Swiss to express their opposition to power?

Published: 24 April 2024 15:25 CEST
How free are people to protest in Switzerland?

In its recently released 2024 report, Amnesty International criticised Switzerland for imposing restrictions on the right to protest and for dispersing protests violently. 

So what’s the problem? 

While not an explicit ban on protest, Amnesty International considers the obligation in some Swiss cantons for protest organisers to gain official approval and shoulder potential costs to be a repressive measure—essentially a ‘workaround’ in cooling dissent.

Amnesty International’s criticism comes on the heels of other concerns.   

In 2024, Amnesty International joined with the United Nations in criticizing moves by some Swiss cantons and cities to ban protests regarding the Middle East conflict as ‘disproportionate’. 

Read More: How ordinary citizens can try to change the law in Switzerland

The organization has also highlighted the continued use of rubber bullets by Swiss police in dispersing protests as a serious area of concern. 

Furthermore, any changes to protests are controlled or permitted in Switzerland must be made through individual cantons due to the country’s devolution of specific powers – a process that could take years. 

So what restrictions have been introduced in Switzerland?

In early March, the ‘Anti-Chaoten’ initiative put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) youth wing, which would have placed significant legal and financial burdens on protesters, was rejected in a Zurich cantonal referendum. However, a counterproposal by cantonal authorities was accepted at the polls.

The successful counterproposal requires explicit permission from authorities to hold a protest or rally, as well as passing on the cost of the police operation, as well as any intentional damage, to protest organizers. Failure to gain approval for protests can result in charges being laid. 

Following the success of the Zurich measure, the Basel SVP intends to introduce a similar proposal to be voted on in August – with the same likely result.

Which protests have been dispersed violently in Switzerland? 

Due to global events, protests have become increasingly common in Switzerland over the last five years. Most have been peaceful, but there have been exceptions.

Measures introduced to limit the spread of the coronavirus between 2020 and 2022 led to violent protests being dispersed in Bern, Zurich and Lucerne. 

Read More: Switzerland to impose tougher penalties for violent protesters

Climate change protests have also been violently dispersed by police, using pepper spray and rubber bullets – such as in Basel in February 2023.

Amnesty International has also raised serious concerns regarding the police dispersal of an International Women’s Day protest in Basel on March 17th of this year, in which rubber bullets were also used. 

Most recently, opponents of the Eritrean regime were dispersed with tear gas and water cannons at a demonstration in Gerlafingen, Aargau, on March 31st. 

What right do the Swiss have to protest? 

The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Swiss federal constitution—Article 16 provides for freedom of expression, while Article 23 protects the right to free association. 

Indeed, in 2020, the country successfully introduced a resolution to the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for world governments to protect the right to protest and not use the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to curtail freedoms. 

Read More: What foreigners should know about the Swiss constitution

Furthermore, the country is a signatory to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, which could have some bearing on how protests are dispersed.  

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