The Federal Commission for the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage FCNC is an independent, extra-parliamentary body, comprising 15 experts in the fields of nature, landscape and cultural heritage protection.

• advises the Federal Council and the relevant Department on fundamental matters of nature and cultural heritage protection;
• contributes in an advisory capacity to the enforcement of the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (NHG);
• contributes to the preparation and updating of the inventories of sites of national importance;
• submits opinions on proposed projects to the federal and cantonal authorities in cases where implementation could have a substantial adverse impact on sites listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance (BLN) or the Federal Inventory of Valuable Sites of Local Character (ISOS);
• advises cantonal agencies on matters of nature and cultural heritage protection;
• prepares submissions to the Federal Supreme Court or cantonal administrative courts.