Wilderness is very subjective and opinions on wilderness vary greatly. Here we consider wilderness as areas without any notable infrastructure and with little human influence, where nature can develop freely and natural processes are not disturbed. Wilderness is vitally important, yet it continues to decline on a global scale.
Pressure on wilderness is increasing: Infrastructure for tourism and energy production in particular is a major threat to the last remaining pristine, untouched areas in Switzerland. Wilderness is not specifically protected in Switzerland; however, some valleys contain areas with the potential to return to wilderness following abandonment and discontinued land-use. The goal of this study was to identify areas of high wilderness quality in Switzerland. Additionally, the local population's arguments for and against wilderness and views of experts in Cantons with high wilderness potential were explored.
Interviews with the local population of Maderanertal show a close bond between inhabitants and their natural environment, affecting their attitude towards wilderness. The interviews show seven different lines of argumentation regarding the free, undisturbed development of nature. Wilderness was often not understood to exclude human land and resource use. Most cantonal experts share the opinion that there is a need for untouched areas in Switzerland. However, when referring to their «own» Canton, this opinion is far less distinct.
Wilderness quality in Switzerland was quantified using four geographically measurable criteria (naturalness, human influence, remoteness and ruggedness) which were combined to form a wilderness quality map. The potential for future wilderness development was approximated using a value of «extensification» to identify areas of successively less intensive land-use. Around 17 percent of Switzerland's landmass was identified to have high wilderness quality. These areas are mostly located in high alpine and glacial regions. Areas with high wilderness development potential, following land-use extensification over several decades were mainly concentrated in the Alps and the foothills of the Alps.
The ecological potential for wilderness in the Alps is high; the attitude of the local population towards the free development of nature, however, is often sceptical. Wilderness has a chance, where both the ecological potential (wilderness quality and extensification) and the societal potential (acceptance, legal and political bases) overlap. Broad awareness of the value of wilderness, alongside the inclusion and active participation of the local population are crucial to achieve long-term wilderness protection in Switzerland. Areas of high wilderness quality and wilderness development potential need to be preserved. Protection measures which enable natural processes to develop freely e.g. forest reserves, should be extended to conserve these valuable areas.