The Plateforme Nature Vaudoise brings together players committed to biodiversity in the canton of Vaud. Its aim is to strengthen coordination, the sharing of experience and synergy between public institutions, NGOs and land managers. The platform makes it possible to identify joint actions, optimise resources and develop concerted projects to preserve nature. Its members meet several times a year to work together towards a shared vision of nature.
The agglomeration forum is the forum for consultation of cross-border civil society in the Greater Geneva area. It is a key player in the construction of the France-Vaud-Geneva conurbation and the social, cultural and geographical cohesion of its territories.
The agglomeration forum is the forum for consultation of cross-border civil society in the Greater Geneva area. It is a key player in the construction of the France-Vaud-Geneva conurbation and the social, cultural and geographical cohesion of its territories.
The Commission de la Pêche is a consultative body that works as a group of experts to help and advise the Département du territoire and in particular the Service du Lac, de la Renaturation des cours d'eau et de la Pêche (SLRP) on the management of fishing in Geneva.
Members are elected by the Council of State.
The Commission's task is to give its opinion, in an advisory capacity, on technical issues concerning the roadstead and port facilities in Geneva waters. In the case of building permits processed under the fast-track procedure, with certain exceptions, the Commission's opinion is expressed, by delegation, by the specialist department concerned. If necessary, exceptions are defined by the aforementioned committee.
In addition, the committee may, in particular, put forward any suggestions relating to desirable improvements and port maintenance, taking into account the wishes of the population of the groups represented.
The members are elected by the Council of State on the basis of a dossier.
The biological diversity of the canton of Geneva and the quality of its landscapes are remarkable. But the expansion of the conurbation in recent decades and the pressure it has exerted on many natural resources (flora and fauna) and landscapes have led to a significant decline in many of them.
Faced with the challenge of conserving Geneva's biodiversity, a number of organisations active at cantonal level have come together to form the "Plateforme Nature et Paysage Genève" (PNPGE).
To give concrete expression to its demands in the field of nature and the landscape, and in particular to highlight 21 priority measures for the coming years, the PNPGE has drawn up a Manifesto, a document which appeals to Geneva's elected representatives and which should also serve to strengthen the links between all those involved in the ecological transition.
On 4 March 2024, the ASL submitted a reasoned opinion following the public enquiry into a quarry project in St-Gingolph that would have an impact on the Lake Geneva region in terms of 1) the St-Gingolph and Locum sites (quarry and coastal installations), 2) the D1005 road (transit of materials by lorry) and 3) the "Sagradranse" site in Amphion (coastal installation used to transport some of the materials by lake to Switzerland).
The ASL's questions focused in particular on water protection, damage to the coastline and aesthetic impacts. CHB Carrière, the project owner, has responded to the ASL's questions in a detailed report. The ASL is monitoring the project.
Read the ASL's reasoned opinion sent to the Mairie de St-Gingolph
On 13 August 2024, the ASL sent a letter to Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA concerning their plans to install a landing stage and boat house encroaching on Lake Geneva at Bellevue. The purpose of the letter is to ask the bank to send the ASL the impact notice for the planned infrastructure, so that the ASL can, if necessary, submit its observations concerning any impact on biodiversity and the quality of the lake's water. As no response was received by the end of 2024, a reminder is planned.
Following the public enquiry into a project to develop a hydroelectric power station at Vongy in the municipality of Thonon-les-Bains, the ASL sent a reasoned opinion to the commissioners in charge of the enquiry on 21 August, after reading the dossier. The ASL's questions concerned in particular the potential impact on lake trout and the Dranse. No news by the end of 2024.
Read the ASL's reasoned opinion sent to the Commune of Thonon
The State of Geneva, in collaboration with the City of Geneva, has carried out a test study with a view to obtaining a master plan for part of the Rade de Genève (police station, bathing area and renaturation near the jet d'eau). In this context, the ASL took part in two meetings at the end of 2024, at which it noted that the potential impact on the sea grass beds had been properly taken into account. It issued recommendations on the potential influence of uses and the importance of preserving the ecological quality of this environment.
In September 2024, the ASL responded to the consultation questionnaire on the revision of the Canton of Geneva's Water Act. It noted several positive points, in particular the desire to retain rainwater at source, but expressed doubts about the merits of the disappearance of the renaturation fund.
In September 2024, the ASL responded to the consultation questionnaire on the revision of the water law in the canton of Geneva. It identified a number of positive and negative points, which it passed on to the canton.
The State of Geneva, in collaboration with the City of Geneva, has carried out a test study with a view to obtaining a master plan for part of the Rade de Genève (police station, bathing area and renaturation near the jet d'eau). In this context, the ASL took part in two meetings at the end of 2024, at which it noted that the potential impact on the sea grass beds had been properly taken into account. It issued recommendations on the potential influence of uses and the importance of preserving the ecological quality of this environment.
As part of its participation in the Greater Geneva Agglomeration Forum, the ASL, in collaboration with the UNIGE and the WWF, has submitted a detailed report on the analysis of the "Water, Soil and Biodiversity" components of the Charter of Greater Geneva in Transition. This document of almost 100 pages proposes actions to be implemented following an in-depth study of the Charter and consultation with numerous stakeholders in the Lake Geneva region.
Le report was made public in October 2024.
During the traditional clean-up of the Grangettes reedbed organised by Pro Natura in March 2024, our two associations worked together to carry out a more thorough collection of plastic waste in the reserve.
Following the alarming discovery of the mass of plastic found, the ASL and Pro Natura Vaud sent a letter to the DJES of the canton of Vaud to alert him to the situation and to find out whether any measures are planned or have already been implemented to curb the pollution. No less than 830 kg of plastic have been removed from the site, representing around 200,000 items of this material, which has no place in nature. Most of the waste collected is already highly fragmented, suggesting that it has been present in the environment for some time.
GEODE's response shifts the responsibility to a number of other players: municipalities, project owners and the canton of Valais. However, it mentions possible improvements with the revision of the cantonal law on waste, which should be completed in 2025.
Read the letter from the ASL and Pro Natura to the Canton of Vaud
The project Pla'stock has identified a new source of plastic waste: fibres incorporated into shotcrete used in special structures, particularly tunnels. As a result, in May 2023 the ASL organised a meeting with the cantonal offices (in Valais, Vaud and Geneva) to alert them to the problem and examine what could be done to prevent this type of waste from polluting the waters of Lake Geneva. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the subject, and the bodies present announced that they had undertaken to investigate the possible reasons for these "losses" and the extent to which these fibres are dispersed in the environment.
With no news since this announcement, the ASL contacted the authorities again at the end of 2023 and in October 2024, with no results to date.
Read the ASL's letter to the cantons
Read the ASL reminder sent to the Cantons
The ASL sent a letter to the municipality following the observation, in early September 2023, of the disappearance of aquatic grass beds (composed of submerged aquatic plants), downstream of the Abériaux port, although it had still observed them during its last visit in the summer of 2021. The Commune replied that this was linked to the sudden cooling of the water at the beginning of August. The ASL is astonished that an event of this type could lead to the disappearance of seagrass beds and will monitor the development of this area in the future.
An article in SIG's magazine Vive la Vie on the fight against Quagga mussels on the strainers installed in Lake Geneva mentions the use of a new antifouling. The ASL asked SIG for details of the composition of the product used and whether tests of its potential impact on the ecosystem had been carried out. SIG replied that the antifouling used is VC17 and that monthly monitoring is carried out on the coated area using an underwater drone and that periodic water quality analyses are carried out. LASL has not been informed of the results.
LASL is surprised by this response, particularly as regards the choice of VC17 antifouling, which has been banned from sale since 2023 due to the toxicity of its components.
As part of the ≪ Plastock ≫ study, numerous plastic supports (biomedia) for biological control in WWTPs were found on several beaches around Lake Geneva. In view of the press articles, the last accidents linked to these biomedia appear to date back several years.
Some of the items found, however, appear to have suffered very little damage, and the ASL is wondering whether they may have recently entered the environment. It has therefore contacted the authorities.
The Canton of Vaud Water Protection Department replied that, following losses in 2012 and 2013, additional measures had been taken to increase the level of safety.
According to the Valais Environment Department (SEN), no incidents have occurred since 2014. The department will be contacting wastewater treatment plants and industries that use this type of medium to assess the measures in place to prevent this type of accident.
The ASL has also contacted the VSA (Swiss Association of Water Protection Professionals), which has no explanation at this stage. The ASL continues to find biomedia on a regular basis during its clean-ups; it will continue its investigations.
In November 2022, the ASL attended the presentation session on the Tattes-de-Bogis (VD) excavation materials landfill project organised by the Canton of Vaud's DGE and expressed its concern about the possible pollution of La Versoix. As a reminder, this project is located in the immediate vicinity of the "Grand Bataillard" alluvial zone, which is listed in the inventory of natural sites and monuments of national importance, as well as in three other federal inventories. The main concerns that the impact study will have to address concern the treatment of run-off water in contact with slightly polluted Type B materials, as well as the functionality of the wildlife link between the Bois de Portes and the Versoix marshes. The project is not expected to be put to the public before the end of 2025.
In 2022, the ASL observed that during renovation and maintenance work in Lake Geneva harbours, no form of sorting or sieving is carried out during dredging, transport and sediment release procedures. In December 2022, it asked the Office Cantonal de l'Environnement du Canton de Genève (OCEV) what could be done to prevent the waste accumulated in the sediment from being discharged further into the lake. The management of the OCEV quickly organised a test during the dredging of Port Wilson to determine the actual quantity of waste found, for which we are grateful. These tests were carried out in October 2023 and a report on the work was provided by the harbour master's office in April 2024. After reading this report, the ASL made a number of comments and queries, but to date has not received any answers to its questions.
The ASL has been monitoring the Venoge renaturation project and the relocation of boats in the port since 2022. In this context, in February 2024 it called on the canton of Vaud following the publication of a SIMAP call for tenders, which stated that: "The relocation of mooring places is an imperative condition for the renaturation of the river mouth. The relevant players in the project depend on perimeter 2 of the Venoge corridor (inside and just outside). The possibility of creating a port to the south of the Laviau sports fields is currently being studied by the municipality of Saint-Sulpice and is not the subject of this call for tenders". The ASL therefore asked for clarification of the interactions between the "renaturation" and "new port" projects. Following the response given by the Directorate-General for the Environment (DGE-EAU), the ASL concluded that the renaturation project could not proceed without finding a solution for man-made needs (boat mooring). As a result, the ASL has indicated to the Canton that it will pay particular attention to the port project, to ensure that it also brings benefits in terms of biodiversity.
The ASL is opposed to proposals for greater public access to the banks of the lake and rivers. In 2022, it was heard in Geneva by the cantonal planning committee responsible for studying draft legislation PL 13024 of the Geneva Grand Council, and in Vaud by the Vaud Grand Council committee responsible for initiative 21 INI 6.
In Geneva, the project was rejected by the Grand Council in February 2023.
The motion was also rejected by the Vaud Grand Council in May 2023.
The ASL is delighted with this positive outcome, given the risks to biodiversity that would have been posed by the creation of a continuous, landscaped, two-metre-wide footpath along the bank.
The ASL's arguments had already been presented in the Lémaniques N°104 in 2017.
In April 2022, the ASL was heard by the Environment Committee of the Grand Council of the Canton of Geneva on the draft law on waste. The ASL mainly supported the proposed articles 16 and 17, which aim to reduce plastic pollution by banning the availability of single-use plastics (bags, food packaging, takeaway food and drink containers, etc.), which we find in large quantities when cleaning up in and on the banks of aquatic environments.
Indeed, the ASL has been supporting alternatives to disposable containers for many years and had already met with GESDEC in 2017 to promote reusable containers in takeaway catering, such as the ReCircle system already in place in many community and takeaway restaurants
More info on https://www.recircle.ch/fr/
Given the uncertain electricity supply situation during the winter of 2022-2023, and the proverbial "better safe than sorry", a letter has been sent to the Prefect of Haute-Savoie, asking him about the measures to be put in place in the event of power cuts, particularly with regard to water purification systems and the potential impact of a malfunction on the waters of the lake and its tributaries.
Read the letter sent to the Prefect of Haute-Savoie
During the 2022 edition of Net'Léman, the major clean-up of the lake organised by the ASL, divers from the Mora Mora club discovered two new types of waste on the seabed bordering the quay at Cologny (GE) that are causing concern to the ASL. They are disposable electronic cigarettes and cylinders of nitrous oxide used as laughing gas. The ASL has reported their presence to the geology, soil and waste service of the canton of Geneva (GESDEC) so that it can assess the potential impact of these discharges and agree on any measures to be taken. We are awaiting a response.
What is an electronic cigarette?
The disposable electronic cigarette, also known as the Puff, is a stick about ten centimetres long, often coloured and topped with a mouthpiece shaped like a recorder.
Made up of a protective tube, a lithium battery, electronic circuits and flavoured liquid, Puffs are particularly harmful to the environment. Given their composition, they should be taken to a waste collection centre to be treated as special waste. The sale of single-use lithium batteries is nonsense in itself, given their impact on the environment and the fact that they are designed to be recharged many times.
In addition to their environmental impact, these cigarettes are a public health hazard. Considered as foodstuffs in Switzerland, they are not affected by regulations on tobacco advertising. Only a few cantons prohibit their sale to minors. What's more, while some of them contain no nicotine, the heaviest cigarettes contain the nicotine equivalent of 215 cigarettes.
The "On the water with respect" campaign provides information on the relationship between nature sports and the disturbance caused to wildlife and its habitats. It shows those involved in recreational activities and sports, particularly canoeing and paddling, how they can get around on the water in a way that respects nature.
All the information on the website: https://nature-loisirs.ch/eau
Several associations working to protect the environment in France, including the ASL, have written to the Haute-Savoie authorities to express their astonishment at the practice of motocross on the banks of Lake Geneva.
On 21 October, the ASL was informed of an accidental oil spill in Amphion (F) which required the intervention of the fire brigade. The ASL contacted the Publier town hall to obtain more information on the causes and consequences of this pollution. This was done by Monique Gasnier, who was delegated by the ASL to meet and question those responsible and to express our concerns. Her report states that she met with Mr Eynard-Machet, the deputy mayor, who told her that the pollution came from a sinking speedboat, that the boat had been removed from the water and that the small slick had been removed by the fire brigade. Two hours later, there was no visible trace of pollutant, and the return of the fish (fry) to the site was proof that the incident was over. The ASL would like to thank Monique for her efficiency and the Deputy Mayor for his availability and vigilance.
It is likely that the residual hydrocarbons have dispersed to the point where they are no longer visible. The pollution of Amphion is in itself isolated, without serious consequences, but the multiplication of these accidental pollutions creates an accumulation of residues which constitutes a permanent stress for the life of the lake. It's a recurring problem, which we'll be talking about again.
The proposed inert waste storage facility (ISDI) at Chauvilly (F), about which the ASL expressed its concerns in a letter to the Prefect of the Ain département in October 2021, and which we also reported on in Lémaniques no. 121, is also on hold. The Lyon Administrative Court has ordered that the Ain Prefect's order be temporarily suspended, ruling that the lack of an impact study was illegal and that the results of the analyses carried out by the associations and the Commune of Cessy were credible.
Read the letter sent by the ASL to the Préfète de l'Ain.
17 May 2023: Victory! The Lyon Administrative Court has overturned Chauvilly's decision.
Ribbons - Potential pollution by microplastics
Read the letter sent to the communes and municipalities of the Lake Geneva region
The "Open" project, a vast 49,000 m² shopping centre in Saint-Genis-Pouilly (F) against which the ASL wrote to the Préfète de l'Ain in December 2020, and which we reported on in Lémaniques No 121, has been halted. On 2 November, the administrative judge ruled in favour of France Nature Environnement's (FNE Ain) appeal, which we congratulate. The appeal cited the destruction of the habitat of protected species such as the woodlark, yellowhammer sparrow and common pipistrelle. To obtain an exemption, the developers of the Open project will have to demonstrate that the construction of their shopping centre is in the public interest over and above the conservation of protected species.
Following the publication in the press of new images showing ammunition boxes covered in mussels and not protected by sediment - contrary to what the authorities had claimed in the past - the ASL had written an open letter to the Federal Council in December 2019, asking it to draw up an inventory of these munitions, to assess the condition of the depots and the environmental risk, and to take protective measures that were commensurate with the risks involved.
In Geneva, the Département du territoire (DT) announced at a press conference in May that the study, carried out over an area of 1.5km2 between December 2021 and April 2022, had identified 682 magnetic points or sonar signals ranging from parasols to ammunition boxes and fish traps.
In a second phase, the searches carried out by an underwater camera robot (ROV) focused on 14 areas likely to provide quality samples. Among these areas of interest, two sectors were observed by professional divers who recovered ammunition of various calibres, some possibly dating from 1962.
According to the DT, these munitions present an extremely low risk of spontaneous explosion. The scenario of a chain reaction also seems very unlikely. Whether or not they are covered in sediment, intact or corroded, the munitions submerged in the test area would be harmless as long as they remain at a constant depth and are not subjected to excessive voluntary stress or percussion.
Further research is planned to provide a register of these munitions and tangible evidence as to whether the military equipment should be withdrawn. A clean-up project will then be designed and implemented.
It should be noted that the Petit lac is the place where the largest quantity of material is believed to have been submerged.
Project to extend the port of Amphion, including the creation of a "port village
Following a ruling by the Lyon Court of Appeal invalidating a ban on jet-skiing on Lake Geneva imposed by the Prefect of Haute-Savoie in 1989, new navigation regulations are being drawn up for the French part of Lake Geneva. This has been entrusted to the Haute-Savoie Departmental Directorate of Territories, which is carrying out a wide-ranging consultation of lake users (professionals, environmental protection associations).
In view of the numerous problems likely to be generated by the practice of this sport (noise pollution, conflicts of use, lack of safety, danger, etc.), the French group of the ASL has joined forces with the "Le Léman sans jet-ski" collective to oppose its authorisation on Lake Geneva.
First detected in Switzerland in 2011, the Quagga mussel has rapidly made itself at home in most of the country's large lakes, and its invasion is set to cause considerable economic and ecological costs. In order to halt its spread and prevent the arrival of new invaders, the Canton of Vaud is conducting an information campaign on the various vectors of contamination and the methods of combating it, aimed at the fishing, boating and diving communities.
Rue des Cordiers 2
1207 Geneva
Espace Léman opening times
Nature centre dedicated to the lake
Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm
Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman - All rights reserved - 2025
Directed by Roguestudio
