Birds, bees and ballots: Swiss voters to decide on plan to bolster country's fragile biodiversity

abcnews.go.com:

Swiss voters have cast the final ballots on a proposal to increase protections for the Alpine country's cherished plant and animal life

GENEVA — GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland, known for natural beauty like pristine lakes and majestic Alpine peaks, ranks among the world's richest countries whose plant and animal life is under the greatest threat. Environmentalists were seeking better protections for the country's biodiversity in a nationwide vote that culminated Sunday.

The Swiss public broadcaster SSR, citing exit polls after the end of voting at noon, reported that the plan was rejected. Final official results were expected later Sunday.

The latest polls had suggested that initial enthusiasm had waned for the proposal to boost public funding to encourage farmers and others to set aside lands and waterways to let the wild develop more, and increase the total area allocated for green spaces that must remain untouched by human development.

The contest was decided by mail-in ballots followed by a morning of in-person voting Sunday. A poll by the respected agency gfs.bern for the Swiss public broadcaster published Sept. 11 showed support falling to 46% in early September from 51% in mid-August.

Factors behind the weakening biodiversity in the country of rivers, lakes, valleys and mountains include intensified agriculture, soil alteration, a fragmentation of the landscape — such as the building of roads and housing that cut through wildlife habitats — and pollution and climate change, proponents of the measure said.

The federal government — parliament and the executive branch — opposed the plan, as did many rural voters and the country's main right-wing party, according to polls. They called it too costly, saying 600 million