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New national park is a step closer

The Federal Environment Office has given its approval to a project to create a second National Park in southeastern Switzerland.

It has granted financial aid to help in the setting up of the Adula Park straddling the border of cantons Graubünden and Ticino, it said in a statement.

Switzerland already has a national park in Graubünden, in the Engadine, which dates from 1914. This second one would be 1,000km² in size and include the breathtaking Greina Plateau, designated a natural monument of national importance.

The park has been given SFr686,000 ($669,000) for the period 2010-2011. It would be the first national park under a new law which only grants park status to projects that come from a regional initiative and have local community backing.

Overall, the Environment Office wants to raise the profile of its parks of national importance. It is planning a label “Swiss Parks” which focuses on tourism and special local qualities.

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