Historique – Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman

History

1980

Foundation of the Association for the Protection of Lake Geneva

ASL was founded in 1980

1983

Organisation of an international scientific symposium on eutrophication and pollution

1984

Creation of the French group

In 1984, it was only logical that a French group should exist.

1985

Organisation of the first municipal conference in the Lake Geneva region

Held in Montreux, they were designed to raise awareness of water pollution problems among local authorities and encourage them to clean up their wastewater.

1986

Phosphates banned in Swiss detergents

1986

Resumption of the "NOUS N'AVONS QU'UN LÉMAN" exhibition in Lugrin

1987

Organisation of the second municipal conference in the Lake Geneva region in Yvoire

1987

1987

To save Lake Geneva, get wet!" campaign

1989

Launch of the "Lémaniques" newsletter

The first issue of the "Lémaniques" newsletter was published in December 1989.

1989

Study of 27 detergent products, published in the French magazine "Que choisir".

1989 - 1996

1989 - 1996

National "H2O, l'EAU, C'EST LA VIE" - "Wasser ist Leben" awareness campaigns

A campaign carried out on millions of sugar sachets and cream cups illustrated by the artist Exem

1990

Le Léman, guest of honour at the Comptoir suisse in Lausanne with the exhibition "LE LEMAN, UN LAC PROPRE POUR L'AN 2000?

The stand was voted best stand of the event.

1990 - 2000

Operation Clean Rivers n°1

The ASL is launching a major initiative called Operation Clean River.

1994

The French group is proposed as the representative of users' interests on the committees set up to implement the Water Act.

1996

National "Water is life" campaign

1997 - 2008

Clean Lake Geneva operation

1998

Creation of the first website

2002 - 2004

Lémano study

A study on the sustainability of water resource management.

2002 - 2010

Operation Clean Rivers n°2

2004

The ASL receives the special jury prize from the Schweizerische Umweltstiftung in Lucerne

2007

Phosphates banned from washing detergents in France

2010

Participation by ASL-France in meetings to draw up and monitor river contracts for the south-western Lake Geneva region, the Dranses and eastern Lake Geneva regions and the Pays de Gex/Léman region.

2010

Stand and conference at the SHANGHAI WORLD EXHIBITION with the City of Geneva

2012

Creation of the ad'eau programme

The ASL has a duty to raise awareness in civil society from an early age. The ad'eau programme was created.

2012

New logo

2013

Setting up the "Stop knotweed" initiative

The ASL has noticed a new scourge affecting Lake Geneva. Invasive plants from Japan: knotweed.

2014

1st EAU'tour du Léman

2014

Co-organisation of the 6th edition of Net'Léman

Net'Léman has existed independently since 2005. After co-organising the event in 2012, the ASL has taken over the entire organisation of Net'Léman.

2015 - 2017

Operation Clean Rivers n°3

2016

Creation of an educational programme for schools

2017

Ban on jet-skiing in France (already in place in Switzerland)

2018

Study on microplastics

Modelling of annual plastic flows in Lake Geneva, estimated at around 50 tonnes.

2019

Workshop on microplastics

65 specialists from the worlds of academia, infrastructure management, engineering and the Lake Geneva region took part in workshops designed to share knowledge and identify possible solutions.

2019

2019

First edition of "COULEURS DU LAC

an event organised by the ASL and the commune of Nernier with the support of the Chablais Geopark

2019

Launch of the Net'Léman App

With the new Net'Léman application, the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman (ASL) wants to involve civil society in collecting data on litter in order to better understand where it comes from and find solutions to curb this scourge.

2019

Co-organisation of the pleadings on Lake Geneva, on the theme "Is Lake Geneva a toy?

2020

Launch of the Trash Quiz project

Aware that changes in behaviour are brought about by a number of factors, the ASL is seeking to introduce environmentally-friendly practices by informing the general public and proposing solutions to prevent waste from polluting the environment.

2020

Creation of identification sheets

A booklet of 12 water-safe cards for identifying 40 aquatic organisms that can be easily observed from the shore or by diving with a mask and snorkel.

2020

Net'Léman celebrates its 10th birthday

10th annual lake clean-up.

2020

40 years of ASL

2021

Launch of the Pla'stock Léman project

Study to count and characterise micro and macroplastics on the beaches of Lake Geneva.

2022

New chairman!

After 42 years at the head of the ASL, Jean-Bernard Lachavanne, a founding member of the ASL, is handing over the reins to one of his former students, Pascal Mulattieri, a biologist and connoisseur of Lake Geneva.

2023

Stop Knotweed

10 years of fighting in the field and raising awareness among the general public and the authorities

2023

Exhibition - Beyond Water

The ASL hosts an art exhibition as part of the biennial event reconnecting earth

2024

2024

Inauguration of Espace Léman

The first nature centre dedicated to Lake Geneva, this space lets you dive into the world of the lake, observe the flora and fauna under a microscope and test your knowledge.
On the programme: reception of the public, exhibitions, workshops for schools and the general public

2024

Publication of the Pla'stock Léman final report

Study to count and characterise micro and macroplastics on the beaches of Lake Geneva.

2024

2024

Sublacustrine forests

First exhibition created by ASL

2024

2024

Léman plastic action

Publication of the study Léman plastic action which models the plastic inputs into Lake Geneva and the improvement trajectories up to 2040.

2024

Participatory science project to measure the colour and transparency of water. A project initiated by EPFL in partnership with the University of Lausanne and EAWAG.

2025

2025

Public conference "Plastiques dans le Léman, overdose ?

In order to inform the public, the authorities and companies, and to suggest ways of reducing emissions, the ASL, in conjunction with the University of Geneva, organised a free public conference at the Campus Biotech on 18 March 2025. The replay is available on the dedicated page.

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History

Foundation of the Association for the Protection of Lake Geneva

Organisation of an international scientific symposium on eutrophication and pollution

Creation of the French group

Organisation of the first municipal conference in the Lake Geneva region

Phosphates banned in Swiss detergents

Resumption of the "NOUS N'AVONS QU'UN LÉMAN" exhibition in Lugrin

Organisation of the second municipal conference in the Lake Geneva region in Yvoire

To save Lake Geneva, get wet!" campaign

Launch of the "Lémaniques" newsletter

Study of 27 detergent products, published in the French magazine "Que choisir".

National "H2O, l'EAU, C'EST LA VIE" - "Wasser ist Leben" awareness campaigns

Le Léman, guest of honour at the Comptoir suisse in Lausanne with the exhibition "LE LEMAN, UN LAC PROPRE POUR L'AN 2000?

Operation Clean Rivers n°1

The French group is proposed as the representative of users' interests on the committees set up to implement the Water Act.

National "Water is life" campaign

Clean Lake Geneva operation

Creation of the first website

Lémano study

Operation Clean Rivers n°2

The ASL receives the special jury prize from the Schweizerische Umweltstiftung in Lucerne

Phosphates banned from washing detergents in France

Participation by ASL-France in meetings to draw up and monitor river contracts for the south-western Lake Geneva region, the Dranses and eastern Lake Geneva regions and the Pays de Gex/Léman region.

Stand and conference at the SHANGHAI WORLD EXHIBITION with the City of Geneva

Creation of the ad'eau programme

New logo

Setting up the "Stop knotweed" initiative

1st EAU'tour du Léman

Co-organisation of the 6th edition of Net'Léman

Operation Clean Rivers n°3

Creation of an educational programme for schools

Ban on jet-skiing in France (already in place in Switzerland)

Study on microplastics

Workshop on microplastics

First edition of "COULEURS DU LAC

Launch of the Net'Léman App

Co-organisation of the pleadings on Lake Geneva, on the theme "Is Lake Geneva a toy?

Launch of the Trash Quiz project

Creation of identification sheets

Net'Léman celebrates its 10th birthday

40 years of ASL

Launch of the Pla'stock Léman project

New chairman!

Stop Knotweed

Exhibition - Beyond Water

Inauguration of Espace Léman

Publication of the Pla'stock Léman final report

Sublacustrine forests

Léman plastic action

Public conference "Plastiques dans le Léman, overdose ?

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