Environmental organizations and parliamentary groups in Switzerland have launched a popular initiative to have bees protected by the federal constitution. The proposal, presented on Tuesday, needs to gather 100,000 signatures within 18 months for the issue to go to a referendum, following the country's direct democracy process, where popular consultations occur three to four times a year.
Green parliamentarian Delphine Klopfenstein, one of those responsible for the initiative, emphasized that protecting bees and pollination is essential for the production of fruits, vegetables, and cereals, and is vital for food security. The committee leading the proposal also warned that about 60 species of wild bees have already gone extinct in Switzerland, while half of the approximately 600 remaining species are threatened. The population of these insects has declined by more than 75% over the past 30 years in the country.
The initiative has support from representatives of the Radical Liberal Party (FDP) and The Centre (formerly Christian Democrats). The proposal text does not establish concrete measures for protecting bees and pollination but determines that this responsibility will fall to the state and the cantons.