Le Fanel, Ramsar protected area on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Le Fanel is a 485-hectare wetland on the northeastern shore of Lake Neuchâtel, at 430 meters elevation, where the Broye canal marks the southern boundary. It lies within the Grande Cariçaie, Switzerland's largest continuous reed bed. A tower maintained by the Bernese Ala stands by the lagoon for birdwatching. The reserve is divided into a core zone of water, islands, marsh and reed; a buffer zone with unrestricted farming and forestry; and a state forest strip with limited recreation.

The site became a cantonal nature reserve in 1967 and was designated as Switzerland's first Ramsar wetland in 1976. This international recognition reflected the area's importance for protecting bird habitats and migratory corridors.

The reserve's name comes from the Fanel marshland, and its birdlife has drawn researchers since 1910, when naturalist Alfred Richard highlighted the site's biological value. He co-founded the Société romande pour l'étude et la protection des oiseaux in 1913, and in 1932 that society built an observation post here that still stands. In 1962 Archibald Quartier reintroduced the European beaver to the area.

The reserve is split into three zones: the core zone A with water, islands, marsh and reed is closed to visitors, while zone C allows limited recreation such as camping and play areas. A Berner Ala observation tower stands by the lagoon for birdwatching. The TCS campsite in Gampelen, run since the 1950s, closed in October 2024 for renaturation, with dismantling delayed by a missing building permit.

The site consists of three distinct protection zones: a core water area, an agricultural buffer zone, and a recreational forest zone. This arrangement balances habitat conservation with sustainable land use and visitor access throughout the year.