info fauna - CSCF & karch

What info fauna - CSCF & karch does

info fauna — Centre national de données et d'informations sur la faune de Suisse — operates Switzerland's official national wildlife data and information center, headquartered in Neuchâtel. The organization coordinates 10 national species-specific centers covering amphibians, reptiles, beaver, otter, small mammals, insects, mollusks, and exotic species, and serves as the federally mandated partner of OFEV (BAFU) for Red List assessments and national biodiversity monitoring. Its user base spans citizens and amateur naturalists, university students, professional researchers, conservation NGOs, and federal/cantonal authorities.

The core technology stack consists of the Webfauna platform and mobile app for citizen-submitted wildlife observations (with expert validation), electronic species identification keys for mammals, amphibians, dragonflies, and reptiles, the species portrait database (species.infofauna.ch), interactive distribution maps (lepus.infofauna.ch), and species checklists. The database holds over 1.2 million validated observation records, supporting scientific publications such as the 2026 nationwide insect-decline study. Supporting products include the Fauna Helvetica publication series (atlases, identification guides) and field training courses in herpetology and related taxa, delivered across Swiss cantons in partnership with regional museums and natural history societies.

As a non-profit, info fauna generates revenue primarily through federal mandate funding, with ancillary streams from course fees (CHF 240–450 per participant), publication sales through its Odoo-powered online shop, and on-request data services for researchers and government agencies. Pricing for primary data platforms and identification tools is free, while specialized publications and educational courses are paid. The organization is part of the broader InfoSpecies network connecting Swiss biodiversity data centers (InfoFlora, Swissbryophytes, Vogelwarte, SwissFungi, SwissLichens) and maintains partnerships with BirdLife Schweiz, WWF Schweiz, Pro Natura, WSL, Agroscope, and KORA.

Name

info fauna - CSCF & karch

Legal name

info fauna - Centre national de données et d'informations sur la faune de Suisse

Website

https://infofauna.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

info fauna is Switzerland's federally mandated national wildlife data and information center, coordinating species monitoring across 10 groups and serving citizens, researchers, and government agencies through observation platforms, identification tools, scientific publications, and training courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biodiversity Data Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs (EUAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Surveys & Movement/Connectivity Studies (e.g., Avian/Bat, Telemetry) (EUAHAHAH), Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Wildlife data center
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Species identification
• Citizen science
• Fauna conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuchâtel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Sales of Publications: Sale of Fauna Helvetica publications (books, identification guides, atlases), notices, and identification literature through the online shop (infofauna.odoo.com). Major publications include Pisces Atlas, amphibian and reptile guides.
2. Course Fees: Revenue from introduction courses on amphibians, reptiles, and field herpetology. Courses offered across various Swiss cantons with fees ranging from CHF 240-450 for participants, with reduced rates for students.
3. Data Services: Providing fauna data to researchers, government agencies, and conservation organizations upon request. Data flow and database services support national biodiversity monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

info fauna operates Switzerland's national wildlife data and information centre, coordinating fauna observation data collection across all cantons. The organization provides the Webfauna platform and mobile app for citizen science observation reporting, electronic species identification keys, distribution maps, and a species portrait database. It also publishes the Fauna Helvetica scientific series and runs field training courses on amphibians, reptiles, and other fauna groups.

Product overview

info fauna is a national wildlife data and information center for Switzerland, operating as a unified platform with multiple interconnected tools. The core offerings include Webfauna (observation reporting platform and mobile app), species identification keys, species portraits, distribution maps, and species lists. Supporting services include Fauna Helvetica scientific publications (atlases and identification guides) and training courses on Swiss wildlife identification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Webfauna & App Online platform and mobile application for reporting wildlife observations in Switzerland. Users can submit species sightings, photographs, and location data through the Webfauna portal for expert validation.
• Species Identification Keys Interactive determination keys for identifying wildlife species including mammals, amphibians, dragonflies, and reptiles, available as web-based tools and mobile application features.
• Species Portraits Database Online species profiles providing detailed information about Swiss wildlife species including characteristics, habitats, distribution, and conservation status.
• Observation Distribution Maps Interactive distribution maps showing species observation locations across Switzerland, enabling spatial analysis of wildlife populations and exploration of distribution patterns.
• Species Lists Database Comprehensive species checklists for Swiss fauna organized by taxonomic groups, covering vertebrates, insects, and other invertebrates.
• Fauna Helvetica Publications Series of scientific publications including atlases and identification guides for Swiss wildlife species, such as the Pisces Atlas, amphibian and reptile guides, sold through the online shop.
• Training Courses Educational courses on wildlife identification and observation covering amphibians, reptiles, and field herpetology, offered across Swiss cantons with fees ranging from CHF 240-450.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.2 million observation records analyzed to document insect decline in Switzerland
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InfoSpeciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerinfo fauna is part of the InfoSpecies network - the Swiss Information Center for Species. This network coordinates all Swiss biodiversity data centers including InfoFlora, Swissbryophytes, Vogelwarte, SwissFungi, and SwissLichens to provide comprehensive species information.
• OFEV (Federal Office for the Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for national biodiversity monitoring. info fauna collaborates with OFEV (BAFU) on red list assessments for Swiss fauna species, including the 2024 Red List of Bees, Red List of Fish, and Red List of Reptiles.
• SEG (Swiss Entomological Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of Fauna Helvetica series. SEG provides scientific expertise and editorial collaboration for insect identification guides and publications.
• Birdlife SchweizminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservation organization partner. Joint promotion of wildlife observation activities and citizen science initiatives.
• WWF SchweizminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservation organization partner collaborating on biodiversity awareness campaigns and species protection programs.
• Pro Natura SchweizminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Swiss nature conservation organization partner for joint conservation initiatives and public education.
• AgroscopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss research institution for agriculture, food, and environment. Collaboration on biodiversity research related to agricultural landscapes.
• WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research institute partner for biodiversity research and ecological studies in Swiss landscapes.
• KORAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge carnivore monitoring network. Collaboration on data collection and conservation of predators including lynx.
• InfoFloracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational data and information center for Swiss flora. Partner in the broader InfoSpecies biodiversity network.
• Vogelwarte (Swiss Ornithological Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation for bird study and protection. Partner in the national biodiversity data network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN): France's national natural history museum, operating national fauna/flora inventories (INPN) and citizen-science platforms. Comparable function as a national biodiversity data steward, but serving France rather than Switzerland.
• Naturgucker / NABU: German nature observation platform associated with NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland). Comparable citizen-science wildlife reporting model operating in Germany; informs cross-border user expectations and competitive overlap.

Others

• InfoSpecies: Umbrella network of Swiss national biodiversity data centers (InfoFlora, Swissbryophytes, SwissFungi, SwissLichens, Vogelwarte, info fauna). info fauna is a member node; comparable as the parent coordination framework rather than a competing entity.

Direct peers

• Vogelwarte / Swiss Ornithological Institute: Swiss foundation for bird study and protection; a core InfoSpecies partner of info fauna. Operates analogous national observation and monitoring infrastructure for birds, providing a directly comparable Swiss wildlife data model.
• iNaturalist: Global citizen-science platform for reporting and identifying wildlife observations with photos. Direct competitor to info fauna's Webfauna platform, with significantly larger user base and AI-assisted identification, but no official national mandate.
• Observation.org: European citizen-science wildlife observation platform (including the former waarneming.nl and waarnemingen.be networks). Comparable function to Webfauna across multiple countries with overlapping features for observation reporting and validation.
• Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF): Finland's national biodiversity information infrastructure, providing species occurrence data, identification tools and distribution maps. Closely comparable to info fauna in operating a multi-tool national portal (Laji.fi) with citizen-science contributions.
• NBN Atlas (National Biodiversity Network, UK): UK national biodiversity data portal aggregating wildlife observation records for research and conservation. Most structurally comparable peer to info fauna as a single-country coordination hub for validated fauna data.
• Swedish Species Information Centre (ArtDatabanken / SLU): Sweden's national center for species information at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, coordinating biodiversity data and red list assessments. Highly comparable mandate and structure to info fauna's national coordination role.

Broad incumbents

• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Intergovernmental network aggregating biodiversity occurrence data globally, including data contributed by info fauna. Comparable as a higher-level biodiversity data aggregator, but operating internationally rather than as a single national center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/www.karch.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/infofauna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about info fauna - CSCF & karch