News - River Pearl PLUS

13. July 2026 Dr. Timo Rhyner, Swiss Greina Foundation

Streams as a climate archive: what alpine watercourses tell us about our climate

Streams and rivers do more than just carry water. They are a barometer of how carbon is stored in the landscape or released. Alpine river pearls play a particular role, capturing CO2 and thereby helping to affect the climate far beyond their catchment area. That makes their protection not just an ecological necessity, but also an issue of climate policy.

29. June 2026 River Pearl PLUS

The spark has lit a fire across the border: river pearls in Germany

The very first four river pearl candidates have been nominated in Germany. The four streams and rivers are located in southern Germany. The Swiss River Pearls Association was in Kempten in the Allgäu for the ceremony on 19 May 2026.

15. June 2026 River Pearl PLUS

Certified: The Morge becomes the seventh River Pearl PLUS

On 11 June a seventh river was awarded the quality label. It is sponsored by the two Central Valais municipalities of Savièse and Conthey, which have committed themselves to a five-year action plan for maintaining and improving their river.

08. June 2026 River Pearl PLUS

Off to the Aubonne

A look back in pictures on the first excursion to river pearls in Romandy, French-speaking Switzerland. At the start of spring we went on a fascinating trip to the banks of the Aubonne.

26. May 2026 Tino Stäheli, WWF Switzerland

From river network to life network – why riverbank vegetation is vital for living water bodies

Anyone walking along many of Switzerland’s streams and rivers today will see open, well-maintained banks – free of bushes and trees. No shade, no rustling leaves, no twittering birds. What looks neat and tidy is often a sign of ecological poverty, though. That's because flowing waterways are more than just clean water flowing through a channel: they are diverse habitats embedded in overgrown, structurally rich riverbanks.

13. May 2026 River Pearl PLUS

The groundwork has been laid for the Rein da Sumvitg as a River Pearl PLUS

On 1 May, the municipality of Sumvitg received the nomination trophy for the Rein da Sumvitg. That paves the way for the awarding of the River Pearl PLUS label – which would be the first certification in the Surselva region.

29. April 2026 River Pearl PLUS

First experience-sharing event on the River Pearls PLUS label

The first event aimed at sharing experience of the River Pearls PLUS quality label was held in Aarau on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. Representatives of sponsors, prospective applicants for the label and project staff from right across the country – a total of 26 people – met up at the Roggenhausenbach river pearl and shared their experience in Aarau’s town hall. It was a most useful occasion with some stimulating discussion.

22. April 2026 River Pearl PLUS

Inconspicuous, yet indispensable: the minnow

For a long time the minnow has played very little part in research and the public eye. Recent findings, though, reveal just how diverse this species actually is. At the same time, its decline highlights how much pressure our water bodies are coming under – and how important even minor species are to the ecological equilibrium.

24. March 2026 River Pearl PLUS

A secret return: How the otter is reconquering Swiss water bodies

For almost two decades otters were thought to have died out in Switzerland. Thanks to their adaptability, however, they are now making a slow return in and on our rivers – particularly in the Upper Engadine. As a shy loner, though, the aquatic form of marten faces a number of challenges in its return.

25. February 2026 River Pearl PLUS

Stoneworts: ecosystem engineers for water bodies

Anyone standing on the banks of an untouched watercourse and looking into its depths will, with a little luck, discover what appears to be a delicate green carpet on the bottom. These are not ordinary aquatic plants, however, but stoneworts (Characeae). Not only is this often overlooked species group fascinatingly beautiful, it also plays a critical role in the health of our water bodies – and it is more under threat than almost any other species group.

16. February 2026 River Pearl PLUS

Home to more than 680 species: nomination for the Rì di Lodano

There is an impressive diversity of life over a distance of just a few kilometres above Lodano in the Maggia valley. The Rì di Lodano has now been officially nominated for the River Pearls PLUS label – recognition of its extraordinary ecological value.

26. January 2026 River Pearl PLUS

The kingfisher: An ambassador for natural watercourses

The kingfisher is a skilled, magnificently coloured hunter that lives by clear rivers and watercourses. The habitat and breeding grounds of this striking bird are coming under increasing pressure from human activity, however. This portrait of the 2026 bird of the year illustrates how protecting rivers also protects birds.

15. December 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Hidden canyons and untamed nature: The Menthue is nominated for the River Pearls PLUS label

In the heart of the Canton of Vaud lies a hidden ecological jewel of untamed beauty: the Menthue. Its unspoilt gorges and its importance as one the last refuges of endangered fish species have led to a 3.5 km-long section of the river being nominated for the River Pearls PLUS label. The symbolic nomination trophy was recently handed over to representatives of the municipalities of Cronay, Donneloye and Yvonand.

11. December 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Pioneering Grimsel dialogue: A win for our river pearls and the energy transition

That the expansion of renewable energies and the protection of nature need not be in conflict is now being demonstrated impressively by the outcome of what is called the Grimsel dialogue. The River Pearls Association is delighted by the positive developments for the protection of our valuable watercourses. At the same time, however, we still have a long way to go when it comes to protecting our rivers.

10. November 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Gäbelbach nominated for the “Rivers Oscar”

Located just a stone's throw from the city of Berne, the Gäbelbach flows largely undisturbed through the idyllic Gäbelbach valley. Its unusual, natural course and the valuable habitat it provides for beavers, fire salamanders and the like led to it being nominated for the River Pearls PLUS quality label. The nomination trophy was handed over in a ceremony on 3 November.

06. October 2025 River Pearl PLUS

The Laggina is an official candidate for the River Pearl PLUS quality label

Wild and natural: That’s the Laggina in the Laggintal valley in Upper Valais. As the untamed stream flows freely for several kilometres, and in particular offers valuable habitats for rare butterfly species, the Laggina was nominated for the River Pearl PLUS quality label. The nomination trophy was handed to representatives of Simplon municipality immediately beside this river pearl on 3 October 2025.

03. October 2025 River Pearl PLUS

The Littebach, a jewel of nature, has been nominated for the River Pearls PLUS label

The next nomination trophy for the River Pearls PLUS label was awarded in Endingen on 27 September 2025. The trophy ceremony also recognises the ecological and agricultural value of the Littebach.

30. September 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Small but perfectly formed: Ibach nominated for the River Pearl PLUS label

On Thursday, 18 September 2025, the WWF and the River Pearls Association handed the Ibach nomination trophy over to the municipalities of Himmelried, Zullwil, Nunningen and Fehren and the Picus Bird and Nature Conservation Association.

21. May 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Valuable streams and rivers: These nine Swiss river pearls honoured

Living streams and rivers are of inestimable importance for people and nature alike. That’s why the River Pearls Association and the WWF are honouring those municipalities that are committed to preserving them at the annual River Gala.

03. March 2025 River Pearl PLUS

Save the date! Next nominations on 21 May 2025

This year’s River Party, at which the next candidates for the “River Pearl PLUS” quality label are to be nominated, will be held in the Alte Cigarettenfabrik in Zurich from 4 to 7pm on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.

23. January 2025 River Pearl PLUS

The first certified stream in Mittelland

On 23 January 2025, the Roggenhausenbach at Aarau became the first watercourse in Mittelland to receive the “River Pearl PLUS” quality label.

18. December 2024 River Peal PLUS

New jury member

The River Pearls jury has gained another celebrity member in FDP National Councillor Jacqueline de Quattro.

09. November 2024 River Pearl PLUS

Breggia receives “River Pearl PLUS” label

The Breggia is the first river in Ticino to receive the “River Pearl PLUS” label.

31. October 2024 River Pearl PLUS

The Buron, a candidate for the River Pearl PLUS label

The Buron, a small, wild river on a molasse bed, is a candidate for the Water Pearl PLUS label!

03. October 2024 River Pearl PLUS

A major award for the Lower Lorze

Natural bodies of water are indispensable for people and nature alike. That’s why the River Pearl Association and WWF honoured the communities on the Lower Lorze and their commitment to the river with a stone sculpture on 3 October.

26. September 2024 River Pearl PLUS

Presentation of the nomination trophy for the Tièche

On Thursday, 26 September 2024, the WWF handed the stone sculpture for the nominated Tièche to the representative of the Crans-Montana municipality in Valais.

21. September 2024 River Pearl PLUS

Mässerbach certified as the fourth River Pearl PLUS

On Saturday, 21 September 2024, the Mässerbach in Binntal became the fourth watercourse in Switzerland to receive the "River Pearl PLUS" quality label.

20. September 2024 River Pearl PLUS

The ‘Rivers Oscar’ goes to the Chiene

The Chiene, the dominant feature of the Kiental valley in the Bernese Oberland, is one of eight Swiss watercourses to be honoured this year by the River Pearls Association and the WWF. Its mystical alluvial plains and gorges make it particularly valuable, which is why it was nominated for the ‘River Pearl PLUS’ label. The ‘Rivers Oscar’, a stone trophy specially made for the occasion, was presented to the representatives of the municipality of Reichenbach i.K. and the local ‘Schützt das Kiental’ conservation association in a ceremony on the Griesalp.

22. August 2024 River Pearl PLUS

The ‘Rivers Oscar’ goes to the Brancla

The Brancla was nominated as a “River Pearl PLUS”, receiving the stone trophy on 22 August 2024. In awarding the honour, the River Pearls Aassociation and the WWF have paid tribute to the municipalities of Scuol and Valsot for the wild and free-flowing Brancla.

20. August 2024 River Pearl PLUS

Presenting the nomination trophy to the Zulg

The Zulg River Pearl receives its nomination sculpture.