The mowing date of ecological compensation areas: influence on the fauna

The earliest cut of meadows, which are implemented as ecological compensation areas, nowadays is June 15(th), first July or July 15(th) depending on the agricultural zone. An earlier cut is only possible with the permission of the cantonal authorities of nature conservation. Within the process of the agricultural law revision a liberalisation of these earliest cut dates are discussed. A liberalisation would induce an earlier first cut in the year. Based on the life cycles of the birds and butterflies we estimated the effect of the earlier cut on birds and butterflies. Both, birds and butterflies would be affected negatively by the liberalisation of the cut. In particular threatened species would be very dangerously exposed. Thus an earlier cut should remain being exceptional.