Koni is Co-Managing Director at BirdLife Zurich and specialises in nature conservation and biodiversity. He has been supporting us as an expert with his broad expertise since July 2024 and makes a significant contribution to our projects in the areas of species conservation and biodiversity. Find out more about Koni in the following interview.
Tell us about yourself and your field of expertise.
I am an environmental scientist and have been Co-Managing Director of BirdLife Zurich since 2016. We run a large number of projects in the areas of species promotion, nature conservation and biodiversity. Working for biodiversity requires a lot: it needs suitable areas, open ownership, a lot of specialist knowledge about species and their ecology as well as staying power. Because every square metre of land is under pressure from many interests, strong representation of the species is extremely important. That’s what I try to do.
What motivated you to stand up for your area of expertise?
Biodiversity is under great pressure worldwide. The loss of species has accelerated at an unprecedented rate over the last 50 years. Yet the diversity of plants, animals and habitats is our foundation. I want to work to ensure that it is preserved and promoted, and in doing so, to protect the basis of life for future generations.
What key challenges in your field do you think need to be addressed?
The economic pressure in a world with a growing population is becoming ever greater. In order to protect our livelihoods, efforts are therefore needed at all levels: locally, nationally and globally. Only if we succeed in implementing good concepts for the protection of nature at all levels will we be able to maintain a high level of biodiversity.
What makes you feel positive about our future? What are developments that we and our community should be aware of?
BirdLife Zurich brings together people in the canton of Zurich who are committed to protecting and promoting biodiversity out of their own free will and with a great deal of passion. In social dialogue, too, I repeatedly experience a great willingness to take concrete action in favour of biodiversity. In principle, this makes me feel positive. I take a critical view of the timeframe. Our actions must accelerate quickly, because once a species is extinct, it is gone forever.