Butterfly conservation at Zurich airport
Environment
| Project | Butterfly conservation at Zurich airport |
| Participant(s) | Min. 8 / Max. 30 |
| Project language | German, English |
Assignment options
| City | Rohrholzstrasse 67 8152 Opfikon |
| Date | Possible from 20.09.2025 |
| Duration of assignment | Lasts one day |
| Time | 09:00 – 16:00 |
The rare Black Hairstreak and the Lesser Purple Emperor butterflies can be found near Zurich Airport. During this assignment, you will work in a newly reforested area, where measures have already been implemented to promote the two butterflies.
The females of these butterflies lay their eggs individually on Prunus and Populus species. These plants were replanted last spring, but as part of this operation they must be freed from overgrown plants such as blackberries.
Under the guidance of our experienced guides, you will carry out this meaningful and satisfying activity. The maintenance and improvement of habitats often requires labor-intensive measures that would not be manageable without the helping hands of volunteers. Help create invaluable added value for biodiversity and habitat conservation.
Duration:
- One-day assignment
- Assignment time from around 9:00 a.m. to around 4:00 p.m.
Location:
Rohrholzstrasse 67 in 8152 Opfikon (ZH)
How it will work:
- The day begins with a welcome at the assignment area. After a short round of introductions, the instructor presents an overview of the program and explains why the planned conservation work is important for the natural habitat.
- Participants then learn the basics of the respective work steps and how to use the tools safely. Under expert guidance, techniques are demonstrated and practiced so that the work can be carried out efficiently and gently.
- Then it’s off to the field, where everyone puts what they have learned into practice.
- The day ends with a short feedback session where volunteers can share their impressions and experiences.
Introduction:
The introduction is carried out by conservation professionals directly on site.
Support:
- You will be accompanied by experienced conservation professionals who – with their expertise, enthusiasm, and keen eye for nature and biodiversity – will ensure that your on-site work is meaningful and effective. They will show you what is important, explain the ecological context and give you practical tips so that you can quickly find your way around and can tackle the work with pleasure.
- Whether you need help with handling tools, working techniques, recognizing plants and animals or protecting sensitive habitats: our experts will assist you throughout the entire assignment, providing individual support and answering any questions you may have.
Tasks:
Practical nature conservation tasks in the young forest
What you’ll need:
- No special prior experience required.
- Above all, it is important that you enjoy being active in nature, are open to new things and are willing to take part in practical work.
- Since we stay on our feet all day, you should have a certain basic level of fitness for physical activities.
Assignment:
Possible seasonally from February to November.
Team assignment:
Working in nature not only gives you the opportunity to actively contribute to preserving biodiversity, but is also a personally enriching experience. Experience a day away from the day-to-day, in the fresh air and an inspiring environment. You can tackle the work with others, strengthen team spirit and be proud of the visible results of your efforts at the end of the day.
Food and drink:
On request, you can book a catering offer through the association.
The Nature Network is a charitable organization and one of the largest community service organizations in Switzerland. For many years, we have dedicated ourselves with passion and expertise to the protection and conservation of nature. Arbeitseinsatz.ch is a division of the Nature Network that organizes volunteer efforts in nature conservation. Our years of experience enable us to create safe, well-structured and effective assignments, where volunteers actively help to preserve and improve habitats for rare plants and animals.