Legal foundations
Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act (NHG)
The Federal Parliament approved the legal basis for creating new parks in Switzerland in 2007. On December 01, 2007 the revised Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act (NHG) came into force. It gives the legal framework in nine new articles (NHG 23e to 23m) for the “parks of national importance”.
According to NHG parks are areas with high nature and landscape values. There are three categories (national park, regional nature park, nature discovery park). The cantons support efforts to create parks and ensure the participation of the population of the communities concerned. The federal government awards the park with a park label. The park sponsorship can display its products and services with a product label. The federal government guarantees financial support to the cantons in establishing, operating and for the quality assurance of parks of national importance.
Park Ordinance
The “Ordinance on Parks of National Importance” of November 07, 2007 (in short Park Ordinance) governs the general regulations of the NHG in detail.
The guidelines, recommendations and reference books of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) provide even more detail and information. They help to plan, establish and to operate parks of national importance and to ensure their long-term quality.