New nature protection projects
In the funding of individual projects, Somaha Foundation focuses on organizations that implement innovative ideas for practical nature protection or wish to carry out projects that require start-up financing. In the theme nature protection the following projects are being newly supported:
Wild & Beautiful – Butterfly corridor
The Wild & Beautiful association promotes biodiversity in urban, semi-urban and countryside areas. The Butterfly Corridor project aims to create a continuous ecological corridor around the lake of Biel within ten years. The aim of the project is to transform private gardens into natural gardens and to connect them with other nearby natural areas (public and agricultural spaces).
Somaha Foundation supports the sub-project Butterfly Corridor in the municipality of Ins 2025, which aims to evaluate 30-50 private gardens and advise garden owners, raise public awareness of biodiversity in gardens, and connect key stakeholders such as villages, schools, associations, and SMEs.
Thanks to the natural gardens, new habitats for butterflies and other insects are being created. The population is actively involved through participative events. The overall project covers 20 municipalities and aims to connect 1001 natural gardens, 10% of agricultural land as well as 30% of public land, by 2033. The project approach is already being replicated in another region (Waadtland) and can be transferred to other ones.
More information about the project can be found on the Wild & Beautiful website.
WWF Switzerland – Nature Connects
WWF Switzerland protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable agriculture. The Nature Connects project enhances the ecological value of agricultural land by creating or maintaining hedges, orchards, ponds, and small structures. Volunteers and businesses work hand in hand to secure nature corridors and strengthen biodiversity.
The project has two main objectives. First, it aims to create and connect habitats in order to increase biodiversity on farmland and woodlands. Second, it seeks to spread knowledge by raising awareness among volunteers and agricultural and forestry businesses about the importance of biodiversity and sustainable production methods.
By June 2026, around 2,500 volunteers will have carried out some 250 conservation missions aimed at creating new habitats. This includes maintaining or restoring 90 hectares of ecologically valuable land, planting or improving 12 km of hedges and forest edges, constructing 30 ponds and natural pools, and planting 1,000 trees. These measures strengthen ecological connectivity and support the restoration of degraded ecosystems.
More information about the project can be found on the WWF Switzerland website.
Bild: ©Archiv Wild & Beautiful
Bild: ©WWF Switzerland – Ullmann Photography
