FOEN

The mission of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources including soil, water, air, quietness and forests in Switzerland. It is responsible for the protection against natural hazards, safeguarding the environment and human health against excessive impacts, and conserving biodiversity and landscape quality. It is also responsible for international environmental policy.

accordance with policy requirements, it pursues the following goals:

• Long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (soil, water, forest, air, climate, biological and landscape diversity) and the rectification of existing impairments
• Protection of human life against excessive environmental impacts, in particular arising from noise, harmful organisms and substances, non-ionising radiation, waste and major accidents
• Protection of human life and material assets against hydrological and geological natural hazards, specifically the risks posed by floods, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, erosion and rockfall