In the canton of Vaud, the popular initiative of the Greens to save Mormont collected more than 14,500 signatures, out of the 12,000 needed. With 12,985 initials validated, it was officially deposited on Friday at the cantonal chancellery in Lausanne.
The population of Vaud will therefore be called upon to vote on this initiative. Launched at the beginning of the year, the text “Save Mormont” aims to include the protection of the Mormont hill site in the Vaud Constitution and to encourage the authorities to emancipate themselves from concrete.
“Any exploitation of the soil is prohibited there, with the exception of an agricultural and forestry activity respectful of the environment and nature”, can we read there. It also asks that the canton and the municipalities promote “the use of construction materials that respect the environment and themselves favor the use of such materials instead of cement”.
The success of the collection of signatures “underlines the attachment of the Vaudoises and Vaudois to their landscape and biodiversity heritage, as well as the support for the transition towards more sustainable construction, with materials that are more respectful of health, the climate and of the environment”, rejoiced the initiators in a press release.
A famous hill thanks to the ZAD
The initiative committee is made up of the Greens, the Association for the Safeguarding of Mormont, ProNatura, alternative degrowth, Young Greens, the Socialist Party, Solidarity, the POP and the Socialist Youth. He claims to have combed the entire canton by obtaining signatures in 285 municipalities (out of 300).
Le Mormont, which overlooks the villages of Eclépens and La Sarraz, has been used since the 1950s as a quarry by the cement manufacturer Holcim. It has been affected by the successive extensions of this exploitation, which go so far as to threaten its summit.
The hill became famous, beyond the borders of Vaud, when it was occupied by the first Zone to be defended in Switzerland (ZAD), between October 2020 and March 2021.
Protected site
Political attempts have also been made to protect the site. A motion by the future State Councilor Vassilis Venizelos was, for example, refused at the end of March by the Grand Council.
The future of Mormont is also currently being played out before the Federal Court. The Birette project, at the top of the hill, is included in a cantonal land use plan (PAC) which has been appealed by environmental associations and individuals. In the event of a positive decision of the TF on the acceptance of the project, the next stages would be the following: clearing, archaeological excavations, stripping of the grounds then exploitation of the rock.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats