Forestry

Forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services that are relevant for the people at the local, regional and global scale.

Roughly a third of Switzerland is covered by forest, which provides important services, such as wood, a recreational spaces or protection - about half our forests protect us against natural hazards, including avalanches, rockfalls and erosion. Furthermore, forests are important biodiversity hotspots (view of Domat/Ems, photo: Andreas Rigling, WSL).

Forests cover roughly 30% percent of the global land surface area. Forests store large quantities of carbon and are currently our planet's largest land-based (terrestrial) carbon sink. They regulate the local, regional and global climate, provide timber and fibres and are also major biodiversity hotspots. In addition, Switzerland's forests play an important role in landscape aesthetics, recreation and tourism and in protecting settlements and other infrastructure against natural hazards. On top of this, forests are one of Switzerland's few sources of renewable energy and as such could make a major contribution to so-called bioeconomies, i.e. economic systems that function without fossil fuels.

Impacts, risks and opportunities

Last modification 15.11.2021