List of alluvial sites in Switzerland

In Switzerland, riparian areas are of national importance since 1992, protected by a federal regulation. The aim of the Regulation is to receive the most important riparian areas undiminished.

The regulation was written based on a recommendation of the Council of Europe from 1982 to protect the remaining wetlands. Underlying law is Article 18a, paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Federal Act of 1 July 1961 on the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection, the Natural and Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Responsible is the Federal Office for Environmental Protection.

Currently, are protected by a total of 226 km ² by this Regulation 282 objects, which is about half a percent the size of Switzerland.

Geographical classification

The riparian areas are divided into:

  • Alpine alluvial plains (15 )
  • Subalpine rivers and streams from 1320 to 2020 m (21 natural, 3 corrected )
  • Montane rivers and streams 560-1420 m (59 natural, 11 corrected )
  • Collinear flows 280-660 m Plateau (24 natural, 27 corrected )
  • Southern Alps and Canton of Geneva (13 natural, 7 corrected )
  • Central Alps (6 )
  • Lakeshore Kollin and montane (13 )
  • Reservoir shore Kollin and montane ( 5)

Vegetation types

The protected areas have the following vegetation types ( figures in percent of the protected area):

  • Water (8 %)
  • Naked or little covered alluvial sediments (3%)
  • Auenfläche with herbaceous vegetation (7%)
  • Softwood (8%)
  • Hartholzaue (9%)
  • Other forests (17%)
  • Alpine meadows (42%)
  • Other areas (6%)

Examples

The alluvial areas of national importance include all or part of

  • Engstligenalp, alpine floodplain, 2003 ( No. 1352)
  • The Engstligental above Frutigen, natural montane river, 1992 ( No. 78 )
  • The Gasterental, natural montane river, 1992 (No. 325)
  • The plateau, alpine floodplain, 1992 ( No. 1320)
  • Klingnauer reservoir, kollines reservoir shore, 1992 ( No. 36)
  • Morteratschgletscher, glacier foreland, 2001 ( No 1238 )
  • The Magadinoebene, Delta, 1992 ( No. 169)
  • The Pfynwald, Kolliner River Central Alps, 1992 ( No. 133)
  • Rhone glacier, glacier foreland, 1992 ( No. 1215)
  • Rosenlaui, glacier foreland, 2001 ( No 1216 )
  • The moated castle Brugg- Stilli, meadow landscape ( No. 37)
  • Wildstrubel glacier, glacier foreland, 2001 ( No 1129 )
  • Zinalgletscher, glacier foreland, 2001 ( No 1038 )
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