Pilot canton of Grisons
Work Package 5 (WP5) aims to use the canton of Graubünden – which reflects a large part of Switzerland’s ecological and social diversity – as a pilot canton to test the design, implementation, dissemination and exchange of knowledge between the VegCHange project team and cantonal stakeholders, thereby creating a mutually beneficial situation. Marylaure de La Harpe and Matteo Gentilini have been working on the sub-project since November 2025.
One of the main tasks of Work Package 5 (WP5) is to establish cantonal stakeholder groups (T 5.1). Their needs and priorities regarding natural assets and their expert management will be identified, and solutions will be developed jointly, alongside the creation of practical outputs (T 5.2). At the heart of WP5 is dialogue on an equal footing between practitioners and researchers on the topic of changes in native flora and vegetation (see the explanation (PDF 80 kB)).
It is evident that flora and natural habitats are changing in ways that are not yet fully understood, due to the influence of human activities and above-average rates of warming in mountain regions. In Graubünden, for example, this affects meadows and fields, forests and forest edges, alpine grasslands and water-associated vegetation types (riparian zones, floodplains, moors). As a result, the values of nature conservation could undergo significant change, as could the process-dependent areas, which broadly include production systems, spatial planning and the economy.
Through the VegCHange project, the researchers are offering stakeholders from the field the opportunity to address these changes in vegetation and native flora in a practical manner, using state-of-the-art analytical methods, to gain a better understanding of the processes and to present trends and shortcomings in a clear and actionable way (T 5.3). These results could prove useful for processes and projects relevant to the canton, such as the SBS-GR, the Forest Biodiversity Strategy, ecological infrastructure, or compensation measures in the construction sector.
Close cooperation with the Flora Raetica consortium (T 5.4) is already underway. Further stakeholder groups are being formed, such as those comprising the relevant authorities and the Grisons parks.
Spread the word & a warm welcome! Any cantonal stakeholders holding flora and vegetation data – such as local authorities – or private-sector stakeholders, such as those in the construction or energy sectors, are warmly welcomed to join the project! – Anyone interested is welcome to contact the WP5 leaders directly, with no obligation (for contact details, see the ‘Project Team’ subpage).