Living valley revival: rewilding the Emme, Switzerland

Roots of the Emme: Restoring a Living Valley

In the Bernese pre-Alps, a small valley lies in decline—its pastures exhausted, wetlands drained, hedgerows vanishing. A coalition of farmers, ecologists, and local neighbours has spent two years mapping every spring, soil layer, and surviving hedge. Now comes the hard part: bringing it back to life.

We're transforming 42 hectares of working farmland into a regenerative landscape. Picture rotational grazing on revived soil, 8 kilometres of restored hedgerows, three rewetted wetlands teeming with life, and a wildlife corridor stretching from forest to river. Every native tree—hornbeam, field maple, hazel, wild service—is climate-adapted and locally sourced.

Why this matters: Switzerland has lost 90% of its lowland wetlands and most of its hedgerow networks. Soils are depleted. Water cycles are broken. Pollinators and farmland birds are disappearing. But the land can heal. With stewardship, a single valley can hold water again, support life again, and feed its people sustainably.

Your support funds seedlings, fencing, soil testing, and three years of monitoring. We work transparently: quarterly reports, public biodiversity data, and seasonal farm walks where you can witness the transformation firsthand.

This isn't a distant dream. The plan is complete. The team is ready. The community is mobilized. Join us in restoring one valley—and proving it can be done.