Switzerland has eighteen official natural parks (and three candidate parks) classified in three categories (national parks, regional nature parks and nature experience parks).[1]
Categories
The three categories of natural "parks of national importance" established by the Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (section 3b) are national parks, regional nature parks and nature experience parks.[2]
National parks and nature experience parks have very strict protected areas, something which does not exist in regional nature parks.[3] The latter focus much more on striking a balance in the level of support between nature conservation and the regional economy.
List of nature parks in Switzerland
As of 2016, the eighteen official nature "parks of national importance" in Switzerland are:[1]