2023-06-28 06:03:00
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Climate change is leading to water shortages in some Alps. Water supply projects worth millions are needed.
Organic farmer Paulin Pfister stands on a completely dried out summer pasture in Waltensburg, canton Graubünden. The area is always quite dry. “But this year is extreme. If it rained, it would be greener,” says Paulin Pfister. And: “Drought has increased quite a bit in recent years”.
Under pressure because of climate change
Overall, summers in Switzerland have tended to become drier over the past thirty years as a result of climate change. Very dry summers are becoming more frequent. This is shown by data from Meteo Switzerland.
But not only that: because there is less snow and the glaciers are melting, there is no water reservoir in spring and early summer. The sources dry up.
There is no water for the cattle
This means that there is no drinking water for the cattle. A cow happily drinks 100 liters of water on a hot day. Not to mention the water that is used for milk processing and by the people themselves.
“We still have other problems, but I see the big problem with water,” says Paulin Pfister’s colleague, farmer Sven Seeli.
water by helicopter
Due to the lack of water, water had to be repeatedly flown by helicopter to particularly dry Alps in recent years. Only the Swiss Air Force flew over 4,300 tons of water to Alpine farms throughout Switzerland in over 700 flight hours in the last three hot summers. There are no figures from the private helicopter companies, which may have flown the much larger part.
«Pay more attention»
Even in traditionally high-rainfall areas – such as around Kandersteg – the hot summer of 2022 was a challenge that gives cause for concern. Hans Rösti, brother of Federal Councilor Albert Rösti, confirms this: “I was a bit worried all winter because there was no snow”.
Luckily there was still a lot of rain this spring. “But we don’t know how it will be in the next few years. You definitely have to pay more attention to that.”
Elaborate water supply projects
Elaborate water supply projects are intended to ensure that dry alpine pastures can continue to be cultivated. The number of such projects is increasing throughout Switzerland. This is shown by figures calculated by the Federal Office for Agriculture for the Rundschau.
Legend: Federal Office for Agriculture
Whereas ten years ago there were ten, last year 40 were approved. The costs, which are borne by the federal government, the cantons, other bodies and, to a small extent, by the owners and operators of the alps, are constantly increasing. It was 22 million francs last year.
More safety
Investments were also made in a new spring tapping system on Hans Rösti’s alp. “That probably saved us a bit last year. We don’t know what it would have been like without it, but it definitely brought security.”
The problem of water shortages is not yet evident everywhere. But traditional alpine farming – part of the Swiss identity – is coming under pressure. And thus a whole third of Swiss agricultural land.
The soil is so dry at the moment
«Rundschau»
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More on the topic in the «Rundschau” at 8:05 p.m. on SRF 1.
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