Geneva: plants, this target prized: This article explores the topic in depth.
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Geneva: plants. Meanwhile, this target prized:
ThoseCrimes in Geneva
Plants, this target prized by thieves – Geneva: plants, this target prized
In Geneva, plant flights are increasing on several sites. Nevertheless, Sometimes stolen by simple individuals, but also by real collectors, against a background of traffic.
The botanical garden experienced an upsurge in flights.
Laurent Guiraud/Tamedia
- The Geneva Botanical Garden undergoes ten monthly flights from rare species.
- The succulents are the subject geneva: plants, this target prized of rapidly growing international traffic.
- The Geneva municipalities report an increase in thefts in their floral massifs.
- The OSV annually controls five thousand imports of plants to Switzerland.
Cactus, orchids or simple perennials. Consequently, THE Geneva botanical garden has been the target of repeated flights in recent weeks. Furthermore, But the case is not isolated: several cities in the canton deplore disappearances in their massifs, increasing in some. Similarly, If plants are often stolen by individuals, they are also the target of collectors. Meanwhile, Certain rare plants are in fact teaching at gold prices and are the subject of international traffic, in full expansion.
At the Conservatoire et Jardin Botanique. Furthermore, the resurgence of flights has been observed since the beginning of spring, as the RTS recently revealed. Nevertheless, A dozen whole plants per month are stolen, in greenhouses geneva: plants, this target prized and the rockery sector. Therefore, Among the species, some are rare and precious. Consequently, A Brazilian cactus, Himalayas orchids Or an anthurium of Costa Rica.
The problem is the same on the side of Lausanne: fifteen flights took place in 2024 at Natureespecially orchids. In addition, carnivorous species and very specific rare plants. In addition, Mainly cuttings. Additionally, In addition, more rarely whole plants, in the tropical and temperate greenhouse, whose schedules have been reduced to avoid these lacins.
Another site receiving many species, the Meyrin alpine garden has already been affected by flights, but has no figures available. However, The center of Lullier A, he was spared, indicates the Department of Public Instruction (DIP).
The botanical garden has installed platelets to report flights.
Laurent Guiraud/Tamedia
Geneva: plants, this target prized
For traffic?
For managers of the botanical garden, thieves were well informed, since stolen plants are not in the trade. Moreover, Few, they may have been sold in traffic. In Lausanne too, it is believed that plants were “probably targeted by collectors”.
Because the illegal market is very real: the succulents are among the most sought after plants. The demand for geneva: plants, this target prized these small plants has exploded from the Covid, in particular through their exhibition on social networks. Flights can thus be the result of traffickers or collectors directly.
Among the producing countries of these sought -after plants. South Africa, where traffic seizures have increased by 250% per year in the past three years, according to a survey of theONG Traffic published at the end of 2024. Many succulents are actually collected illegally, which threatens the survival of these species. They are then transported by plane and boat, with false papers, especially in Europe. Chile and Mexico are also concerned.
Does this type of traffic exist in Switzerland? The Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (OSAV) does not know. Above all, he notes a legal business. Possible offenses rather relate to administrative errors. However, the Office geneva: plants, this target prized confirms that cacti and orchids are most sought after by specialists.
The process in place within the botanical garden shows how precious these plants are. “Each plant is thus identified. labeled and listed with a unique identification number, guaranteeing its provenance and compliance with international standards on the exchange of plant material for non -commercial purposes,” the institution indicates. All information about it is also saved in a database. ”
Simple lambdas
But the authors of these flights are also simple lambdas. In the botanical garden. professionals also deplore fruit samples – such as citrus fruits, cocoa pods or vanilla -, picking flowers or aromatic herbs.
In the nature of Lausanne, there are “also frequently thefts of utility plants, including papaya, lemon and aromatic herbs. During the summer of geneva: plants, this target prized 2024. we also underwent theft of 15 pots of utility plants in one of our repotting greenhouses, normally inaccessible to the public. ” In addition to the restriction of schedules. the call for a private security company, the site is thinking about the installation of cameras.
Flights are also increasing in certain municipalities. In ONEX. in recent years have experienced an increase in disappearances, in particular during the plantations of summer floral decorations, indicates the town hall. “In 2025. thefts were higher than usual with around 120 plants, including several perennials that we have been treating for several years-therefore irreplaceable,” regrets Jean-Pierre Pasquier, mayor.
The damage is several hundred francs. Until now. floral decorations have been replaced, but “given the unprecedented scale of flights this year, we have replaced with a sign of awareness of the locations concerned”.
In Bernex, a seventy plants disappear each year. Especially seasons, annual or biennial plants, but also perennials. “Some people cut the flowers of the bulbs to make bouquets. Finally, a very small number of shrubs are also stolen every year in our new plantations. ”
For the rare thieves caught up in the fact. these are rather aged people, between 65 and 75 years old, and most often women, indicates the town. Twice a year, in Veyrier, there are flights on the floral massifs, probably also committed by individuals. In Carouge, flights are also identified, more particularly in the city center.
A protective framework
Customs do not have figures on plant traffic as such, but only on sending offenses (Read opposite). Some plants are actually protected by the Washington geneva: plants, this target prized Convention (CITES). and their import is only authorized under certain conditions, or prohibited.
In 2024. 820 cases related to the protection of animal and protected plants were discovered and transmitted to OSAV, an increased figure for two years. Some 140 decisions were made in connection with living plants. “In most cases, these were administrative errors (for example, missing import documents) and not illegal imports,” says Yasmine Matthys, spokesperson.
Last year. customs also counted 2459 cases of fruits, vegetables, cut flowers as well as leaves or seeds from illegally imported third countries. All the plants protected by the CITES are controlled by the OSAV, whether private or commercial shipments. Some 5,000 plant import checks take place each year.
Rare plants have been torn apart from greenhouses.
Laurent Guiraud/Tamedia
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