A biosphere park should, according to national criteria, be at least 15,000 ha in size. In accordance with the UNESCO regulations three zones must be defined:

• Core zone:
  The core zones are the heart of the biosphere park. In these areas ecosystems can develop (almost) without human influence. In the valley Grosses Walsertal all core zone areas enjoyed protected status even before the declaration of the biosphere park; the zoning has not therefore given rise to additional new requirements. In total, the core zones make up 20 percent of the total area of the valley and are thus considerably larger than the national requirement of at least 5 % of the total area. The core zone of the Grosses Walsertal includes the Gadental (nature conservation area), Faludriga-Nova (nature conservation area), Hochmoor-Tiefenwald (high moorland conservation), the upper reaches of the Lutz (waterways conservation), Kirschwald-Ischkarnei and the Rote Wand (conservation of the Alpine region). 
  
  The core zone poster contains more information. 
• Buffer zone:
  Between the core zone and the development zone is the buffer zone, with inhabited areas close to nature. In the valley Grosses Walsertal these are mostly alpine meadows, traditionally managed mountain pastures and mountain forests which together account for around 65 percent of the total area. According to national criteria the buffer zone together with the core zone should make up at least 20 percent of the total area.
  
  The buffer zone poster contains more information. 
• Development zone:
  The development zone is the living, working and recreation space for the population. The goal is the development of an economic system which meets the demands of people and nature in equal measure. Socially acceptable production and marketing of environmentally friendly products contribute to sustainable development. In the development zone the typical natural landscape is characterised by particularly sustainable forms of exploitation. Here, there are possibilities for the development of an environmentally and socially acceptable tourism but also for trades and services orientated towards environmental and social acceptability. The size of the development zone must, according to national criteria, follow appropriate conservation and planning controls. In the valley Grosses Walsertal all permanently settled spaces belong to the development zone.
  
  The development zone poster contains more information. 
• Regeneration zone:
  Regeneration zones are not absolutely necessary. The goal here is to reinstate ecological functionality. In the valley Grosses Walsertal, the River Lutz below the dammed lake is designated a regeneration zone. The development aim is to achieve sufficient flow of water in the extraction stretch of the Lutz.

Download the zoning map here.