Why Does Switzerland Only Have One National Park?
In one of the world's most beautiful mountain countries, are we willing to leave enough space for nature to be truly wild?
Switzerland is famous for its spectacular mountains and outdoor culture. Yet despite our deep connection to nature, the country has only one national park. What does that tell us about our relationship with wild spaces, and what role should they play in the future of the Alps?
The morning will begin with an inspirational keynote from Sebastian Moos (Forum Wildnis Schweiz), followed by a conversation with Maren Kern (Mountain Wilderness Switzerland), Timo Rhyner (Greina Foundation), and Patagonia ambassador Sofie Paulus, who recently spent time in Cochamó, Chile, one of the world's most iconic wild mountain landscapes.
Together, we'll explore conservation, rewilding, tourism, and outdoor recreation, asking what Switzerland can learn from places where nature still comes first and how we can create more space for wilderness in the future.
The discussion will be complemented by selected clips from Patagonia's film Cochamó.
Join us for an inspiring morning of stories, ideas, and conversation about the future of wild nature in Switzerland.
Agenda:
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-Get in: 09.30amÂ
Coffee & croissants
-Start: 10.00am
Welcome round, introduction, panel & open Q&A session
-End: 11.30am
Networking, meet the experts
Sebastian Moos is a sustainability advocate, project leader, and communicator based in Switzerland.
He coordinates Forum Wildnis Schweiz, a national network promoting wilderness conservation, and is passionate about bringing people together to support nature, biodiversity, and positive environmental change.
Maren Kern is from Frauenfeld, Switzerland. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences and a Master's degree in Forest Ecology and Management. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Director of Mountain Wilderness Switzerland. When it comes to wilderness, she believes there is still significant potential for further development and protection in Switzerland.
Dr. Timo Rhyner is an environmental scientist and conservation advocate serving as Co-Managing Director of the Swiss Greina Foundation. Passionate about alpine rivers, he combines scientific expertise with practical conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and wild mountain landscapes across Switzerland.
Sofie Paulus is a sports ecologist, Patagonia Ambassador, and co-founder of Ecopoint Frankenjura. As a researcher at the University of Bayreuth, she focuses on the sustainable development of outdoor recreation and climbing. Through her work, she bridges scientific research with practical solutions for nature conservation and climate protection.
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Swiss Wilderness Forum is a grassroots organization. Through the Forum, we step in
where other organizations are not present, consistently bringing the topic of wilderness to relevant venues and discussions. We connect, bring people together, and continually inspire action and the realization of projects.Â
https://www.forum-wildnis.ch/
Mountain Wilderness Switzerland works to promote the value of wilderness in people's minds while advocating for its preservation and protection in mountain regions. Its work includes policy advocacy, campaigns against heli-skiing, alpine flea markets that encourage gear reuse, and a range of initiatives supporting environmentally responsible mountain sports.
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