Sustainable development and targeted landscape management require extensive monitoring. WSL in collaboration with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) jointly run the Swiss Landscape Monitoring Program LABES with the purpose of recording the state and changes in physical and perceived qualities of Swiss landscapes.
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![[Translate to Englisch:] Die Qualitäten und Leistungen von alpinen Landschaften wie die Region Davos (GR) unterscheiden sich von jenen des Mittellands. Foto: Ulrich Wasem](/fileadmin/user_upload/WSL/Kernthemen/Landschaft/Landschaftsentwicklung_Monitoring/Landschaftsbeobachtung/Landschaftsbeobachtung_Davos_Wasem.jpg_copy.jpg)
Switzerland has an extremely diverse landscape across a very compact area. This is a major advantage for identity, tourism, everyday recreation and the protection of biodiversity. However, landscapes are characterized by constant change. As a result, changes such as settlement expansion and forest development alter landscapes – not only physically, but also in the way people perceive them. To ensure targeted management and sustainable development of Swiss landscapes, their characteristics must be monitored and compared on a regular basis.
The Swiss Landscape Monitoring Program LABES is a nationwide landscape observation programme run by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) that systematically collects data on landscape development using indicators that address both the physical characteristics of the landscapes and the way they are perceived by Swiss residents. The indicators are surveyed periodically.
Comprehensive landscape surveying ¶
WSL provides the scientific support for the program and continually develops the indicator set. Various scientific methods are used to study the landscape in all its aspects, qualities and services. Physical aspects — such as the development of settlements and forested areas and light emissions — are analysed using existing data from partner institutions (e.g., Federal Office for Statistics, Federal Office for Spatial Development) or through remote sensing data. Sociological methods, including online panel surveys, are used to study perceptions about landscape quality, structure, and character.
The first comprehensive monitoring within LABES (called LABES 1) began in 2010. Results were published in the reports titled Zustand der Landschaft in der Schweiz (2010), Neue Ansätze zur Erfassung der Landschaftsqualität (2013) and Wandel der Landschaft (2017). During the 2018-2020 period, the indicators were reviewed and further developed. The detailed methodological developments are presented in the WSL Report titled Programm Landschaftsbeobachtung Schweiz (LABES) Methodische und inhaltliche Weiterentwicklung 2018–2020.
In 2020/21 the second comprehensive landscape monitoring (LABES 2) was conducted with the findings presented in the report Landschaft im Wandel (2022). A WSL Report with a focus on regional parks was also published, titled Landschaftsqualität in Regionalen Naturpärken (2023).
Since 2023, further developments have been taking place within LABES. These include development of new indicators, improved alignment of physical and social indicators and stronger links to landscape-related policies, particularly the Swiss Landscape Concept. A third comprehensive landscape monitoring (LABES 3) is planned to be conducted in the future.
Findings from LABES are also included in the Environmental reports regularly produced by FOEN.
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Data ¶
Kienast, F., Hunziker, M. (2022). LABES 2 Indicators of the Swiss Landscape Monitoring Program. EnviDat. www.doi.org/10.16904/envidat.498
This dataset includes data (physical and social indicators) and methodological aspects of LABES 2.