The BLN is the first federal inventory issued by the Federal Council on the basis of the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (LPNH). It came into effect in four stages:

• 1st series in 1977, comprising 65 sites
• 2nd series in 1983, comprising 55 sites   
• 3rd series in 1996, comprising 33 sites 
• 4th series in 1998, comprising 9 sites

The BLN is based on the Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments to be Preserved (KLN Inventory), which was issued in 1963 by three associations - the Swiss Conservation Association (SBN, now Pro Natura), Swiss Heritage (SHS) and the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). Until the completion of the BLN, by which it has now been superseded, the KLN Inventory served as a set of binding guidelines for the authorities alongside the BLN.

"BLN enhancement" project

Despite some improvements in recent years, the goals specified for the protection of landscapes of national importance have only been partly attained. For this reason, a project is currently under way designed to improve the protection of landscapes and natural monuments of national importance, thereby enhancing these valuable sites.