New Habitats created

Biodiversity is the abundance that we live off every day. Without diverse ecosystems, we would lack everything: healthy food, clean drinking water and even clean air. To heighten awareness, the UN declared 2010 to be the international year of biodiversity. Migros took the appeal as an opportunity to increase its efforts towards nature last year.

Fruit trees and bushes thanks to TerraSuisse

TerraSuisse, the Migros label for animal-friendly Swiss agriculture that is close to nature, was at the heart of the activities. For this label, farmers not only farm extensively with little fertilisation and no pesticides, they also take regular specific measures in support of biodiversity. Last year farmers of IP-Suisse, who produce for TerraSuisse, added new habitats to the cultural landscape of Switzerland with the financial support of their buyers.
•    11'288 standard fruit trees on 685 farms
•    7'507 metres of bushes on 59 farms
•    201 hectares of wildflower strips on 228 farms
•    260 hectares of flower lawns on 332 farms
These structures act as nesting places, hide-outs, sources of food and connecting routes for insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small mammals. And they create locations, for rare plants to grow.

Biodiversity campaign with WWF

To raise public awareness, the WWF conducted a participation campaign for biodiversity, in which Migros was greatly involved as a partner. The result: 1'300 projects for more diversity in Switzerland — implemented by private individuals, farmers, schools, communities and businesses. The Migros magazine regularly informs on biodiversity and held a joint drawing competition with the WWF, in which 5'000 children participated. The best drawings were printed on multiple-use shopping bags. Migros donated CHF 40'000 of the proceeds to the environmental protection organisation for the implementation of biodiversity projects throughout the country. The WWF also organised event days for adolescents on farms and assignments in the nature at Alpine farms for employees and apprentices with the help of Migros.

Company premises for nature

To make a contribution to biodiversity in settlement areas, Migros had already designed suitable areas in a natural way in previous years. The Natur & Wirtschaft foundation honoured this commitment with certificates for four model areas of Migros. In the year of biodiversity 2010, various companies made a special effort and designed four further premises, resulting in them obtaining the foundation's certificate. On the flat roofs of the Rheinpark St. Margrethen and the Länderpark shopping centre, which each measure significantly more than 10'000 square metres, rare pioneer plants can grow and species live that require dry habitats. The Chocolat Frey Migros enterprise and the Neuendorf Migros distribution centre also won awards. Migros has a total of eight model premises, which not only serve business purposes, but are also home to rare animals and plants. The premises in Neuendorf, in particular, is an example of how animals and plants can find refuge in a highly industrialised area around the Egerkingen motorway interchange.