The Entlebuch area of Canton Lucerne was designated Switzerland's first biosphere reserve in 2001 by UNESCO. Under UNESCO's criteria, such reserves have not only to conserve biodiversity, but also to meet the needs of the expanding human population. They consist of three parts: a core, buffer and transition zone. The transition zones are supposed to develop sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism.

Switzerland has drawn up an inventory of biotopes of various kinds, including dry grasslands, alluvial zones and mires. Biotopes are areas whose particular environmental conditions provide a habitat for a specific community of plant and animal species. They are added to the federal inventory if they are regarded as being of national importance. As such they are protected, and human activity there is subject to certain regulations.