# Landscapes and natural monuments of national importance (BLN)

A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map.

- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/landscapes-and-natural-monuments-of-national-importance-bln/
- Short title: Landscapes of national importance (BLN)
- Map id: 358
- Categories: Landscape and Space › Landscapes/Habitats › Protected areas
- Keywords: Leisure time, Nature conservation
- Published: 2016-05-27
- Last revised: 2022-02-02
- Content language: English
- Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/landschaften-und-naturdenkmaeler-von-nationaler-bedeutung-bln.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/paysages-sites-et-monuments-naturels-dimportance-nationale-ifp.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/paesaggi-e-monumenti-naturali-dimportanza-nazionale-ifp.md)

## Description

The federal inventory of landscapes and natural monuments (BLN) is the first inventory required by the Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage. This inventory is based above all on the inventory of landscapes and natural monuments of national importance (KLN inventory), which was developed between 1959 and 1988 by three private organisations – the Swiss Conservation Association (SBN, now Pro Natura), Swiss Heritage (SHS) and the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) – and was first published in1963. Swiss landscapes are mainly land exploited traditionally, and marked in different ways. Really natural landscapes are hardly to be found any more except in the high mountains. Therefore, the landscapes included in the inventory are mainly those that have changed little, or are exploited in a near-natural way. Settlements are only included in the inventory in cases where they cannot be dissociated from the landscape.

A landscape or a site is recognised as being of national importance if its form and contents are considered to be unique in Switzerland, or especially typical of part of Switzerland. In evaluating a site, the approach is based on an overall view, using evaluation criteria for landscape typology and scientific aspects. Geographical, geological, biological, historical and aesthetic points of view are particularly important.

## Sources

- BAFU/OFEV/UFAM/FOEN (2015): [Bundesinventar der Landschaften und Naturdenkmäler von nationaler Bedeutung (BLN)](http://www.bafu.admin.ch/landschaft/14534/15821/15837/index.html?lang=de). Bundesamt für Umwelt

## Data sources

- FOEN (2009): [Bundesinventar Landschaften von nationaler Bedeutung (BLN)](http://www.bafu.admin.ch/biodiversitaet/13690/13725/16022/index.html?lang=de)

## Data owners

- [Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](http://www.bafu.admin.ch/)

## Citation

The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as:

> Atlas of Switzerland (2022): Landscapes and natural monuments of national importance (BLN). ETH Zürich. Map data © FOEN. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/landscapes-and-natural-monuments-of-national-importance-bln/

## Links

The map opens at its full extent; a link cannot set the map position.

- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/landscapes-and-natural-monuments-of-national-importance-bln/
- Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/358/
- Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=358&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out}

Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible):

```html
<iframe src="https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/embed/?id=358&dm=e&ig=1" style="border:0;width:100%;height:600px;max-width:100%;" loading="lazy" title="Thematic map 'Landscapes of national importance (BLN)' in the Atlas of Switzerland" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" allow="geolocation" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>
```

In the embed URL, `dm` sets what is shown: `e` the map with its title bar (default), `p` also the values of an object clicked on the map, `m` only the map with a button that opens it in the atlas. `ig=1` (default) lets the map react to scrolling and dragging only after a click into it, `ig=0` right away. The size can be changed in `style`.

## Maps to compare with

- [Emerald sites: valuable habitats with a unique fauna and flora](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/emerald-sites-valuable-habitats-with-a-unique-fauna-and-flora.md) (id 271)

For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).