Who we are ?
The Association for the Safeguard of Lake Geneva (ASL)
The Association for the Safeguard of Lake Geneva (ASL) is a joint French and Swiss non-profit organisation, founded in 1980 and officially recognised as being of public utility. We are not associated with any political party and our work is based on scientific research.
We currently have 4,000 members in France and Switzerland. Our main office is in Geneva.
How we came to be ?
The ASL was created in 1980 to safeguard the water quality and aquatic ecosystems of the area around the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), including both the lake itself and its many rivers.
If you love this magnificent region and if you want to change its lake and rivers for the better, then join the ASL!
The ASL in figures
Goals
- The ASL is a campaigning body which organises and carries out direct actions at grassroots level.
- We raise awareness among the general public of the region through information campaigns, conferences, and exhibitions
- We offer a wide range of educational programs and activities for children and teenagers
- We are involved in changing laws, most notably in lobbying to ban phosphates from laundry products.
- We encourage and organise practical anti-pollution measures.
Although the quality of the water in the Lake Geneva basin has definitely improved, it is vital that we continue our efforts. There is still work to be done: eliminating the sources of pollution, improving the treatment of waste water, and raising awareness of these issues in local communities through education and information campaigns, especially among young people.
History of the Association
Foundation of the Association for the Protection of Lake Geneva
The ASL was set up in 1980
An international conference on eutrophication and pollution organised by the ASL
The creation of the French section
In 1984, the logical step for a lake shared between two countries.
The use of phosphates in detergents banned in Switzerland
Campaign "Jump in and join us to save the lake!"
Launch of the ‘Lémaniques’ bulletin
First issue published in December 1989
Operation Clean Rivers no.1
A major campaign organised by ASL, Operation Clean River (ORP)
Organisation of a national campaign, ‘Water is Life’.
Operation ‘Clean Shores for Lake Geneva’
Our first internet site was set up
Organisation of the Lémano Study on the sustainable management of water-resources
Operation Clean Rivers no.2
The jury of the Swiss Environmental Foundation in Lucerne awarded a special prize to the ASL
The use of phosphates in detergents banned in France
Creation of the Ad’Eau program for young people
The ASL recognised the pressing need to raise awareness of environmental issues as early as possible among young people and created the Ad’Eau program for this purpose.
The ASL changed its logo
Launch of the campaign ‘Stop Knotweed’
The ASL identified a new threat to Lake Geneva - knotweed, an invasive plant originating in Japan.
First EAU’tour of the lake summer camp
Collaboration with Net’Léman for the sixth annual cleanup of the lake
Net’Léman was founded in 2005 to organise an annual cleanup: from 2012, the ASL took a leading role in organizing this and in 2014 the two organisations merged.
Operation Clean Rivers no.3
Creation of a educational program for schools
Organisation of a study on microplastics
Organisation of a workshop on microplastics
This brought together 65 specialists from the world of academia, infrastructure management, engineering and other stakeholders to exchange views and share knowledge in a series of workshops, with the aim of identifying the best solutions to implement.