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M1: Size of Protected Areas
 

Designated areas bindingly protected by law are important nature conservation tools generating long-term impact. Such areas promote biodiversity by protecting the habitats of endangered species, allowing wilderness to return on a permanent basis, or sustaining types of land use adapted to nature.

Monitoring alluvial zones, raised bogs, fenlands, amphibian spawning areas, dry grasslands, waterbird and migratory bird reserves, federal game reserves and the Swiss National Park, the M1 indicator records changes in the legally defined boundaries of protected areas.

The total size of protected areas increased from 29,449 hectares in 1991 to 256,891 hectares in 2010, which currently corresponds to 6.2% of the country’s expanse. Strictly protected areas—including alluvial zones, raised bogs, fenlands, amphibian spawning areas, dry grasslands and the Swiss National Park—were extended as well during that period of time, increasing from 18,155 hectares to 90,329 hectares. In other words, they amount to 2.2% of Switzerland.
 
 
Size of protected areas of national importance in Switzerland
 

Figure 1 below illustrates the total size of all areas protected by federal inventories, complemented by the size of the Swiss National Park. These include federal game reserves (FGRs) and waterbird and migratory bird reserves (WMBRs). In contrast, figure 2 reflects the development observed regarding the size of strictly protected areas, which essentially covers all areas listed in federal habitat inventories (also monitored by the Z10 indicator), the Federal Inventory of Amphibian Spawning Areas, and the Swiss National Park.

Fig. 1: Size of protected areas of national importance in Switzerland in hectares

Size of protected areas of national importance in Switzerland


Fig. 2: Size of strictly protected areas of national importance in Switzerland in hectares

Size of strictly protected areas of national importance in Switzerland
 
 
Complete Data Sheet
 

> Complete M1 Data Sheet (1,2 MB)
 
 
Further Information
 

In charge of this indicator
Meinrad Küttel, meinrad.kuettel@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 322 93 24
FOEN expert contact: Jürg Schenker, juerg.schenker@bafu.admin.ch, +41 (0)31 322 80 05

Related indicators
> M2 Size of Secure Protected Areas
> Z10 (=E1) Size of Valuable Habitats
> Z11 Quality of Valuable Habitats

Weblinks
> www.ecogis.ch: GIS maps for locating nature reserves (text in French and German only
> www.bafu.admin.ch/org/index.html?lang=en: FOEN website
> www.bafu.admin.ch/schutzgebiete-inventare/index.html: FOEN list of federal inventories (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c451_31.html: Ordinance on Alluvial zones (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c451_32.html: Ordinance on Raised Bogs (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c451_33.html: Ordinance on Fenlands (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c451_37.html: Ordinance on Dry Grasslands (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c451_34.html: Ordinance on Amphibian Spawning Areas (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c922_32.html: Ordinance on Waterbird and Migratory Bird Reserves (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c922_31.html: Ordinance on Federal Game Reserves (not available in English)
> www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c454.html Federal Law on the Swiss National Park (not available in English)
> www.iucn.org: IUCN website (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)
 
 
 
 
     
       
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