Environment

• Wild neighbors

  location

  The whole of Switzerland

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  Many of the animals in local areas avoid people, live out of sight, in hiding or only coming out at night. The project Wilde Nachbarn (“Wild Neighbors”) aims to help us to see and experience these secret residents. To do this, we’re collecting wildlife observations with the help of members of the public. Over time, these chance encounters will give us a good idea of the presence and distribution of various species. According to the latest research, biodiversity in urban areas is astonishingly high, comparable to the diversity in an average forest or agricultural area. Those who take the time will discover an abundance of exciting and fascinating wildlife in their garden or on the way to work or school.

• Repair Café Lucerne: Fix it up, don't throw it out.

  location

  Luzern

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  Both the Neubad and Bourbaki Repair Cafés in Lucerne are booming. Volunteer repair teams are looking for people who are good with their hands, no matter if they're already employed or retired. Are you good at fixing broken things such as electrical devices, gadgets, textiles, mechanical appliances, toys, jewelry and the like? Are you a people person keen on promoting sustainability? Then you've come to the right place! Our dynamic repair café team needs your help. Here's how it works: Visitors bring in their broken items and get to work fixing it in the repair café with the help of an expert. Tools and material are on hand to repair all sorts of gizmos. And on top of that you can talk shop over some coffee and cake.

• Nature conservation in Neeracherried

  location

  Neerach

  calendar

  08.09.2026

  
  environment user 19 places are still free time 167 days remaining until

  With its 105 hectares, the Neeracherried is one of the last large lowland moors in Switzerland and is a nationally significant protected area. It provides valuable habitat for countless birds, plants, amphibians, reptiles, and small animals—and also serves as a resting place for migratory birds, a winter refuge, and a breeding ground for rare species. More than 450 plant species have been recorded here. However, these populations are threatened by problematic and invasive non-native plants. Without protective measures, these so-called neophytes, such as goldenrod, can completely wipe out less competitive species (e.g., orchids). Regular mowing of the meadows is not enough. Only pulling out these plants along with their roots is effective enough and makes a valuable contribution to preserving biodiversity. For this, we rely on active support.

• Saving wild bees together: Your commitment matters

  location

  The whole of Switzerland

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  Many people know the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) only as a honey provider, but it is much more than that. Originally native to our forests, it has adapted to natural environmental conditions over 10,000 years. Today it is highly endangered in the wild in Switzerland. The loss of old trees with natural cavities, diseases such as the Varroa mite and intensive beekeeping are among the factors that severely affect them. In order for honeybees to form stable populations again, they must be able to adapt naturally to environmental changes and require suitable habitats. They depend on our support. We must give them back the place in nature that is rightfully theirs. But their protection is currently still being subordinated to economic interests and ideologies. FREETHEBEES is committed to preserving the honeybee in the wild and therefore promotes its original habitat: the tree cavity. We are investigating whether honeybee colonies can survive for multiple years in the wild, what factors influence their increased mortality and what is needed for them to form stable populations again. This is not only about protecting honeybees themselves, but also about preserving natural biodiversity. Because tree cavities are not only a habitat for honeybees – many other animal species such as countless insects, birds and bats also depend on them. To achieve these goals, we work with two key projects: Swiss BeeMapping and the project ”Tree cavities – biodiversity for the forest”. For this, we rely on the support of volunteers.

• Making a difference in the mountains

  location

  The whole of Switzerland

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  The aim of the “bergversetzer” (“mountain volunteers”) organization is to support people in the mountain regions in Switzerland by arranging for individual volunteers to help them with projects. This includes tasks such as maintaining pastures and forests, ensuring the upkeep of paths as well as more complex tasks such as building dry stone walls or constructing sheds and stables.

• Textile material reuse in Geneva

  location

  Geneva

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  At Histoire sans chute (HSC), we believe that every material has infinite reuse potential, including textiles. Our team shares this vision by creating local systems for collecting, sorting, and reusing this valuable resource, as well as organizing events focused on repair and raising awareness about the world of textiles. The HSC arcade is a textile resource center in the heart of Geneva (the first of its kind!), serving as a second-hand haberdashery (materials for sale), a shared space (for machines and other tools), and a hub for promoting textile repair. In short, it’s a place for both material and human exchange.

• Nature conservation and promotion of biodiversity – active volunteering

  location

  La Ferrière / La Chaux d’Abel

  calendar

  12.07. - 19.07.2026

  
  environment user 20 places are still free time 66 days remaining until

  Experience a nature-packed week. The forest project week for adults is aimed at forest enthusiasts who want to lend a hand, actively shape the forest and learn a lot about the natural environment in the process. Under the expert guidance of forestry professionals, you will work in small groups at exciting locations that change every day. Whether it’s hand-felling with traditional tools such as a planer-tooth saw, building and maintaining paths, caring for the young forest or planting trees for the future – every task strengthens the forest in the long term and gives you a deeper understanding of its importance. There’s a special focus on species knowledge and biodiversity: You will learn about different plant and animal species, discover how diverse life in the forest is and how important it is to preserve this diversity for a stable ecosystem. Through targeted observations and practical activities, you will become aware of the importance of biodiversity and can apply your knowledge directly on site. This week offers authentic insight into forestry work, promotes an understanding of ecological relationships and raises awareness of the sustainable use of our environment. Together, we shape the forest and strengthen it for tomorrow.

• Nature conservation in Neeracherried

  location

  Neerach

  calendar

  21.05.2026

  
  environment user 3 places are still free time 60 days remaining until

  With its 105 hectares, the Neeracherried is one of the last large lowland moors in Switzerland and is a nationally significant protected area. It provides valuable habitat for countless birds, plants, amphibians, reptiles, and small animals—and also serves as a resting place for migratory birds, a winter refuge, and a breeding ground for rare species. More than 450 plant species have been recorded here. However, these populations are threatened by problematic and invasive non-native plants. Without protective measures, these so-called neophytes, such as goldenrod, can completely wipe out less competitive species (e.g., orchids). Regular mowing of the meadows is not enough. Only pulling out these plants along with their roots is effective enough and makes a valuable contribution to preserving biodiversity. For this, we rely on active support.

• A week of volunteering in nature – climate change and the forest

  location

  Aurigeno / TI

  calendar

  04.10. - 09.10.2026

  
  environment user 19 places are still free time 150 days remaining until

  A week of volunteering in nature – practical week on “Climate change and the forest” Experience a week full of nature, community and genuine engagement with our forest – and do something on its behalf. The practical week is aimed at forest enthusiasts who want to get involved, actively help shape the forest and learn a lot about it and the impact of climate change. Under the expert guidance of forestry professionals, you’ll work in small groups at exciting locations that change daily, all of which are related to climate change. Whether caring for young trees, building paths or preserving biodiversity, each task makes the forest stronger in the long term and provides a deeper understanding of its relevance to climate change. The week offers an authentic insight into forestry work and shows how we can meet the challenges of climate change. Together, we are working to create a resilient forest and strengthen it for the future.

• Nature conservation in Neeracherried

  location

  Neerach

  calendar

  18.08.2026

  
  environment user 18 places are still free time 151 days remaining until

  With its 105 hectares, the Neeracherried is one of the last large lowland moors in Switzerland and is a nationally significant protected area. It provides valuable habitat for countless birds, plants, amphibians, reptiles, and small animals—and also serves as a resting place for migratory birds, a winter refuge, and a breeding ground for rare species. More than 450 plant species have been recorded here. However, these populations are threatened by problematic and invasive non-native plants. Without protective measures, these so-called neophytes, such as goldenrod, can completely wipe out less competitive species (e.g., orchids). Regular mowing of the meadows is not enough. Only pulling out these plants along with their roots is effective enough and makes a valuable contribution to preserving biodiversity. For this, we rely on active support.

• Area sponsor against littering

  location

  The whole of Switzerland

  calendar

  Year-round

  
  environment user Free spaces available time Year-round recurring

  Do you want to help keep the environment clean? Then become an area sponsor and join the fight against littering! Area sponsorship is where individuals or groups (e.g., families, clubs) volunteer to help remove litter from an area of their choice. This plays an important role in keeping the environment clean and improves the quality of life in public spaces. It is an initiative which leads to noticeably less litter.