27. February 2025

New nature protection projects

In the funding of individual projects, Somaha Foundation focuses primarily on organizations with new, innovative ideas. In the theme nature protection the following projects are being newly supported:

FAUNUS - Winter grazing

The FAUNUS association promotes biodiversity and preserves cultivated landscapes in Valais. It uses extensive grazing with traditional, adapted ProSpecieRara breeds of goats, sheep and pigs.

With the support of the Somaha Foundation, FAUNUS creates a new winter pasture that promotes biodiversity in the long term.

Winter grazing maintains structurally rich habitats during the winter dormancy period, prevents scrub encroachment and ensures that old grass is eaten away. This creates open soil patches of ground for specialized flowering plants, wild bees, digger wasps and birds such as the hoopoe and wryneck. The animals' droppings support biodiversity, and the animals benefit from improved well-being due to outdoor living. Winter grazing promotes the resilience of habitats and is able to protect many endangered species.

More information about the project can be found on the FAUNUS website.

Pro Natura Baselland - Class pond

Pro Natura Baselland strengthens biodiversity, preserves landscape and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources.

As part of the project to upgrade power lines, Somaha Foundation supports the class pond sub-project. Together with school classes, 50 ponds with associated habitats (e.g. dry stone walls, piles of branches and stones) are created, which can be spontaneously colonized by amphibians such as the critically endangered natterjack toad or the midwife toad. The project improves the networking of habitats and strengthens the student’s understanding of nature and commitment.
IWB (Industrielle Werke Basel) and Pro Natura will be responsible for maintaining the structures in the long term. Further power line projects are being planned.

More information about the project can be found on the Pro Natura Baselland website.

Lebendiger Bonden-See association - Microbiome formation

The Lebendiger Boden-See association promotes ecological, regenerative agriculture, forestry and water management in the Lake Constance region.

The project aims to build up a healthy and diverse microbiome in the soil in a targeted manner. This improves soil fertility, strengthens climate resilience and promotes biodiversity. Educational and pilot projects are being established to promote soil biodiversity on farms.

Knowledge about the promotion of soil biodiversity is disseminated through the creation of pioneer learning sites and awareness-raising events. In addition, the project also develops learning materials and a digital platform to train and connect agricultural practitioners. Further training courses focusing on soil biodiversity will be integrated into agricultural training programs to promote sustainable agriculture.

More information about the project can be found on the Lebendiger Bonden-See website.

Pro Terra Engiadina – Forest dormouse and Co. in the Engadine and Val Müstair

The Pro Terra Engiadina Foundation protects and promotes the natural and cultural landscape in the Lower Engadine.

The Forest dormouse and Co. project in the Terra Raetica aims to gain more knowledge about the biology of the forest dormouse and to implement cross-border protection measures for this endangered species. With the help of the population (citizen science), the occurrence of the forest dormouse in the Engadine and Münstertal will be documented.

Through knowledge transfers and a traveling exhibition, the public is informed about the forest dormouse and other small mammals (such as the garden dormouse, edible dormouse and hazel dormouse) and sensitized to nature protection. The protection measures developed will be continued after the end of the project.

More information about the project can be found on the Pro Terra Engiadina website.