Overview of Parks and Park Projects

The Swiss National Park in the Engadine has existed since 1914. It has a long history and its own legislative basis.

The new parks that have been established since 2008 in Switzerland are based on the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act (NHG). The legislation differentiates between three categories of parks:

• National park
• Regional Nature Park
• Nature Discovery Park

The park projects are in varying stages of progress:

In 2008 the “UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch” received the label “Park of national significance” from the Federal Government, in 2009 the parks Thal and Wildnispark Zürich and 2010 the Biosfera Val Müstair followed its path. These parks are now in the operational phase.

Since autumn 2008 the following fifteen parks possess the “Candidate” label: Jura park Aargau, Beverin, Binntal, Chasseral, Diemtigtal, Doubs, Ela, Gantrisch, Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut, Jura Vaudois, Pfyn-Finges, Thunersee-Hohgant, Val d'Hérens. Since 2010 Urschweiz and Adula got the Candidate label as well. They are now in the establishment phase.

In January 2011 probably more requests for the creation of a park of national importance will be handed in.