The Swiss forest belongs to many different owners – around 246,000 of whom are private and 3,400 public. The private owners are split between individuals and companies, while the public ones include the Swiss federal government, individual cantons, political municipalities, civic communities and corporations. The private owners combined account for around 31% of the forest, while the remaining 69% is under public ownership. There are significant regional differences in the ownership structure, as the graphic “Ownership of the Swiss Forest” shows.
However, owning forest in Switzerland does not mean that the owners can do whatever they like with their section. The law on forests is relatively strict, so even private owners are subject to clear rules on forest management. The forest is also freely accessible at all times, regardless of who owns it, as long as there is no danger of “excessive” use.
The Swiss forest extends over 1.32 million hectares, thus covering almost a third of the country’s territory. It fulfils various important functions, including offering protection against landslides, mudslides, rockfalls and avalanches, producing wood as a renewable raw material, keeping drinking water clean, providing a habitat for many plant and animal species, and giving us humans space for leisure and recreation.
To continuously monitor this vital ecosystem, Switzerland has set up the National Forest Inventory (NFI). The NFI, a periodic survey carried out by the Swiss federal government in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) to assess the state and development of the Swiss forest, is designed to serve as a long-term tool for forest observation. The NFI has been regularly recording the state of the forest and any changes that occur for almost 40 years, making it possible to identify and analyse trends in development at an early stage. It reflects the forest ecosystem in terms of all the functions it fulfils and the services it provides for society.
Carrying out the inventory involves interpreting aerial photographs based on a 500 metre-spaced grid. Field surveys conducted in the forest itself and surveys of the forestry service are carried out based on a 1.0 km-spaced grid (NFI1) or a 1.4 km-spaced grid (NFI2, NFI3). Since the fourth inventory (NFI4), data has been collected continuously rather than periodically.
The grid information on the proportions of tree species is based on NFI1 sampling areas measuring five ares (500 m²) in size and takes into account all sample trees with a diameter of 12 cm or more, measured at a height of 1.3 metres.
In the NFI maps, symbols are used to show the data collected at each sampling point. However, it is important to note that values collected at local level cannot be used to draw conclusions about the surrounding region, although regional differences can clearly be seen.
Landscape and Space, Landscapes/Habitats, Forest and trees
Landscape and Space, Landscapes/Habitats, Forest and trees
Landscape and Space, Landscapes/Habitats, Forest and trees
Landscape and Space / Landscapes/Habitats / Forest and trees
August 31, 2022
August 31, 2022
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