Parc Ela
Encyclopedia
Parc Ela is a Nature Park
in the canton of Graubünden
, Switzerland
. It is intended to protect the regional biotope
, help promote its sustainable use
and give a boost to an area rich in scenery and national cultural assets, but weak economically.
Unlike Switzerland's only National Park
, which is reserved to nature alone, the Ela Nature Park covers the settled and cultivated territory around 21 Graubünden municipalities
, notably Tiefencastel
, Bergün
, Savognin
and Bivio
. The park takes its name from Piz Ela, the 3,338-metre mountain peak at its center.
The park is organised as a private association of local activists, supported financially by contributions from the local municipalities, the cantons of Graubünden and Zürich
and the conservation group Pro Natura, as well as by the goodwill of the Swiss federal government. Apart from road signs, visitors can see few actual indications that they are entering a protected area, as the park's activities focus on ecological, cultural, touristical and economical development and cooperation.
The park's legal recognition depends on a change in the Swiss law on the protection of nature and the countryside, which as of 2006 remains tied up in parliament due to disputes over whether federal financial support should be mandatory.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
in the canton of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is intended to protect the regional biotope
Biotope
Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. Biotope is almost synonymous with the term habitat, but while the subject of a habitat is a species or a population, the subject of a biotope is a biological community.It...
, help promote its sustainable use
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
and give a boost to an area rich in scenery and national cultural assets, but weak economically.
Unlike Switzerland's only National Park
Swiss National Park
The Swiss National Park is located in the canton of Graubünden in the east of Switzerland between Zernez, S-chanf, Scuol and the Fuorn Pass in the Engadin valley on the border with Italy....
, which is reserved to nature alone, the Ela Nature Park covers the settled and cultivated territory around 21 Graubünden municipalities
Municipalities of the canton of Graubünden
There are 180 municipalities in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland .-Mergers:January 1, 2002: Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus and Uors-Peiden merged to form the municipality of Suraua.January 1, 2003: Donath and Patzen-Fardün merged to form Donat...
, notably Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Tiefencastel is first mentioned in 831 as in Castello Impitinis. Starting around in the 14th Century it was known as Tüffenkasten.-Geography:Tiefencastel has an area, , of...
, Bergün
Bergün
Bergün/Bravuogn , is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The double name has been the official name since 1943.-Geography:...
, Savognin
Savognin
Savognin is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland....
and Bivio
Bivio
Bivio is a municipality in the district of Albula of the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Bivio is first mentioned about 840 as de stabulo Bivio. At one time it was known, in German, as Stallen and until 1895/1903 by its Italian name Stalla.-Geography:Bivio has an area, , of...
. The park takes its name from Piz Ela, the 3,338-metre mountain peak at its center.
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
and the conservation group Pro Natura, as well as by the goodwill of the Swiss federal government. Apart from road signs, visitors can see few actual indications that they are entering a protected area, as the park's activities focus on ecological, cultural, touristical and economical development and cooperation.
The park's legal recognition depends on a change in the Swiss law on the protection of nature and the countryside, which as of 2006 remains tied up in parliament due to disputes over whether federal financial support should be mandatory.