The measure is based on new findings from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). According to these findings, the average weight of cows and cattle has risen to a level over the last two decades that is tipping the fragile balance of Alpine agriculture. The damage caused by cows in alpine terrain is now greater than their benefit. For this reason, the canton of Bern has decided to ban the summering of cows with immediate effect. This was announced by the State Chancellery in a press release. In the Bernese Oberland, it is now forbidden to keep cows and cattle above the tree line.

Excuse to mountain bikers

At the same time, the canton of Bern is heralding a U-turn in its mountain bike strategy. According to the WSL research results, the damage caused by mountain bikers is almost marginal compared to agriculture. Director of Economic and Environmental Affairs Christoph Ammann apologized to mountain bikers on Twitter for the fact that they had been portrayed in a bad light by the authorities of the Canton of Bern for years. With the summering ban, proportionality has now been restored.
 
According to the WSL studies, the cows cause enormous damage to the trails, particularly in wet conditions, especially as they (understandably) prefer to ride on paved trails rather than on slippery pastureland in such conditions. The wet periods in the mountains will become even more intense due to climate change and more frequent heavy rainfall. The canton of Bern is feeling the effects of this damage in its coffers: the renovation costs for paths damaged by cows have so far amounted to CHF 5.32 million per year - and that's just in the Bernese Oberland. This saved renovation amount is now to flow into the promotion of mountain bike tourism and mountain bike infrastructure in the form of symbolic compensation for three years. The canton of Bern has recognized that sustainable mountain bike tourism has a much greater impact on the Alpine region than traditional agriculture.
 
The ban on summering will come into force on 1 April 2021. The cantonal government has therefore also decreed that the canton's mountain communes must convert all bike ban signs into cow ban signs within three months.

This article was published on April 1, 2021.