MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
Source: Swiss Canton of Vaud – news in French
Press release
Published on October 4, 2024
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In order to limit the proliferation of Asian hornets in the cantonal territory, the General Directorate of the Environment has mandated Professor Daniel Cherix, an expert in the field, to conduct operations with the support of Civil Protection. New detection techniques have been tested and some 80 nests have been destroyed since this summer.
In order to step up the fight against the Asian hornet, the Vaud Civil Protection (PCi) was engaged this summer to support the teams in the search for nests under the leadership of Daniel Cherix, Honorary Professor at the University of Lausanne, mandated by the General Directorate for the Environment (DGE). This collaboration is a Swiss first in the fight against this invasive species.
After receiving training and carrying out reconnaissance, the members of the PCi intervened in August in the Prangins/Nyon sector, in September in the Mies/Tannay and Gland sector, then in Cheseaux-Noréaz. Two night drone flights for a thermal reconnaissance test of nests were also held at the end of August under the leadership of the cantonal command, and in mid-September with on-call personnel from the cantonal detachment. In total, 35 members of the PCi were involved in these various operations.
Identification and destruction of nests
In addition, a new nest identification technique, made available by HEIG-VD and co-financed by the Nyon Region, was tested for the first time in the Gland sector. A certain number of hornets were equipped with chips, in order to carry out surveys to identify the location of the nests more precisely.
Professor Cherix’s teams of volunteer beekeepers then proceeded to destroy the nests, identified with the help of trained specialists. Some 80 nests have been destroyed since the beginning of this year. This detection and destruction work contributes to the preservation of the local ecosystem and to limiting the proliferation of invasive exotic species on the cantonal territory.
Particularly invasive species
Originating from Asia, the Asian hornet is a particularly invasive species, capable of reproducing very quickly, which attacks orchards and bees, impacting local biodiversity and the agricultural economy. It can represent a risk for people suffering from allergies or disturbing a nest. There were 4 nests in the canton of Vaud in 2022, 40 in 2023 and around a hundred this year, while the Asian hornet season has not yet ended.
Anyone can report the presence of this species on the platform asianfrelon.ch.
Information and Communication Office of the State of Vaud
Press information only
Daniel Cherix, Honorary Professor, representative of the General Directorate of the Environment, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 079 324 54 47
DJES, Frédéric Hofmann, head of the hunting, fishing and species section, General Directorate for the Environment, 021 557 86 49
DJES, Louis-Henri Delarageaz, commander of the Vaud Civil Protection, 021 316 51 26
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.