New nature parks get green light
The Federal Environment Office has approved nine applications for new nature parks of national significance across the country.
The government has pledged a total of SFr7.4 million ($6.7 million) for the protected areas, which cover almost 3,000m2 or seven per cent of Switzerland’s territory.
All projects had been examined and could start their planning phase, officials said on Tuesday.
The parks are located in the high Alps, including the Valais and the Graubünden regions, pre-alpine areas as well as in the Jura hills.
A tenth park, in the Entlebuch region in central Switzerland, has been approved as a Unesco biosphere reserve.
While certain formalities remain in designating the areas as official parks, tourism experts plan to market the regions as part of a 2009 campaign to promote nature holidays in Switzerland.
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