Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The federal government in Bern has given the green light to plans for nine new national parks and one regional nature reserve. The parks cover 3,000m2, or 7% of Switzerland – an area the size of canton Ticino. The stamp of approval means the parks will now receive CHF7.4 million in federal funding, allowing their development to move ahead.

The projects are:

Landschaftspark Binntal (Valais)
Projet Parc régional Chasseral (Bern/Neuchatel)
Projet Regionaler Naturpark Diemtigtal (Bern)
Projet Parc Ela (Graubuenden)
Projet Regionaler Naturpark Gantrisch (Bern/Fribourg)
Projet Regionaler Naturpark Thal (Solothurn)
Projet Naturpark Thunersee-Hohgant (Bern)
Projet Val Müstair (Grisons)

Sihlwald, in canton Zurich, is the new regional nature reserve. In July another, already approved regional nature reserve, Entlebuch in canton Lucerne, was awarded the label of Unesco biosphere park, which it will celebrate on Switzerland’s national parks day 6 Setember. It is considered to be a pioneer park project for Switzerland.

Ed.note: the web pages, in English, about Entlebuch, do a good job of explaining the idea behind a biosphere, where efforts are made to preserve a landscape and nature, while encouraging sustainable development, with an emphasis on planning participation by the population.

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