Réserve naturelle de la Grande Cariçaie

Réserve naturelle de la Grande Cariçaie © Benoît Renevey La Grande Cariçaie The diversity of natural surroundings and species, as well as the number of animal and plant populations have earned la Grande Cariçaie an international reputation. The reserve is part of the Council of Europe’s Emerald network and also a Ramsar site. This is the name of the Iranian town where the international convention for the protection of worldwide migratory bird sites was signed. On a Swiss level, La Grande Cariçaie represents seven cantonal nature reserves put into place on the decision of the Vaud and Fribourg state councils between October 2001 and March 2002.

Covering a lakeside area of 2,500 ha, 700 ha of marshlands and 1,100 ha of forests, Grande Cariçaie represents the largest marshland area in Switzerland. It covers 20% of nationally important marshlands inventoried on the Swiss plateau, and 40% of those in the Cantons of Vaud and Fribourg together.