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The monitoring program offers citizens, the opportunity to volunteer on Swiss mountain pastures to support farmers and wildlife.

Become a VolunteerLearn more

A concrete help

OPPAL's monitoring program proposes that watchmen relieve shepherds on the summering areas in order to ensure a continuous surveillance of the flock during the night.

These additional “eyes” on the summer pastures are intended to prevent attacks by large carnivores (wolves, lynx) on livestock. This support is offered to livestock farmers and helps raise awareness about the challenges associated with the return of large carnivores to our regions. This program is a first in Switzerland. It offers an additional solution for agriculture and promotes peaceful coexistence between large carnivores and human activities.

Program ObjectivesBecome a Volunteer

What are you committing to?

Supporting Livestock and Wildlife

Volunteers:

  1. Increase the human presence near the herds
  2. Form teams to collaborate with the shepherds
  3. Create spaces for dialogue between the various stakeholders
  4. Participate in the conservation of our heritage
  5. Improve their knowledge and participate in scientific work

Monitoring

The program in a few words

Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and in good physical condition.

Duration: Volunteers commit to assignments lasting 1 to 5 days. A break of at least two days is then required before undertaking the next assignment.

Mindset: Maintain an open mind regarding the wolf/pastoralism issue in Switzerland.

Training Before their field assignments, volunteers undergo training provided by experts from the agricultural and mountain sectors, as well as biologists specializing in large carnivores.

Knowledge: Be able to cope with mountain conditions (cold, inclement weather), understand the dangers involved, and know the precautions to take.

Neuchâtel , Valais, and Vaud Regions

What does field monitoring look like?

Find out now

Our intentions and objectives

  • Optimized Monitoring

    Strengthen surveillance in areas of high wolf presence.

  • Impacts on the Ground

    To bring concrete solutions for the breeders and to support them during highly critical periods.

  • Improved Communication

    To promote dialogue and foster collaboration among people from different backgrounds who have differing perspectives on the issue of large carnivores.

  • In the field

    Your future camp

    OPPAL takes care of your comfort during your missions. Basic equipment is available at the campsites. Each camp varies according to the location of the mountain pasture. All this information will be specified when you register.

  • In the field

    Your future monitoring equipment

    During surveillance missions, you will be equipped with professional equipment to be used according to a certain protocol. Some tools (thermal binoculars) are subject to regulations and we obtain special authorizations for their use. You will be trained beforehand to be comfortable with this equipment during your watches.

Support Oppal by participating in the monitoring program

Would you like to join us and help improve coexistence between pastoral activities and large carnivores?

Make a DonationBecome a volunteer

FAQs

Some frequently asked questions

Before each mission, OPPAL provides volunteers with an explanatory booklet containing all the information necessary for the smooth running of their experience.

  1. Fill out the form, and the staff will contact you a few days after receiving it.
  2. You're taking a one-day or weekend course.
  3. Please let the supervisory team know when you are available so they can enter it into the schedules.
  4. You'll go out into the field for one or more nights with another volunteer.

You are the first to complete the questionnaire submitted when you enroll in the monitoring program.

You will then follow a training course in the form of modules:
  • Surveillance missions
  • Use of Monitoring Equipment and Behavior Toward Wildlife
  • Additional modules are offered depending on the courses you are enrolled in

At the end of this training, the organization confirms or not the aptitude of the participants to go on mission during the season.

The association will offer training dates throughout the season.

However, if none of them match your skills, we can arrange a personal interview and you will carry out your first mission with a volunteer who has undergone the training and who has already carried out watches in the field

  • Training fees: 30.- or 50.- depending on the course (student rate: 20.- or 30.-)
  • The training sessions are free for members of the association. Become a Member
  • Transportation in the Alpine pastures
  • The organization provides volunteers with basic food items; volunteers are responsible for purchasing all fresh produce. 
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