The Biosfera Val Müstair
The Starting Point
Since January 1, 2009, the six former municipalities of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Sta. Maria, and Müstair have formed the municipality of Val Müstair — a valley covering 198.65 km², located in the easternmost part of Switzerland and bordering Italy. The valley is connected to the rest of Switzerland via the Ofen Pass. The neighboring region of Italy (South Tyrol) can be reached from Müstair to Taufers or via the Umbrail Pass (towards Bormio). Val Müstair has around 1,600 inhabitants, and the main language spoken is Romansh, specifically the local dialect “Jauer.” Due to its border location, the majority of the population is trilingual. The settlements in Val Müstair have largely preserved their traditional village character. The local population views the Biosfera Val Müstair project as an opportunity for the sustainable development of their living environment and social structures in the future.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission statement is an important tool for guiding the development of our biosphere project. It serves to clarify the key focus of our efforts and how we operate within the project. The mission statement reflects the core principles and goals of sustainable development within the Biosfera Val Müstair.
The Concept
The Biosfera project aims to demonstrate that the Val Müstair, together with the Swiss National Park, forms a region that meets the requirements of a regional nature park and subsequently a biosphere reserve, while also successfully undergoing UNESCO evaluation for international recognition. Our central goal is to preserve and further develop the existing biosphere-compatible structures and conditions within the Biosfera region—including those related to nature and landscape, society and culture, as well as education and research. At the same time, we aim to establish and implement these principles in other areas such as the economy and tourism to ensure long-term sustainability.