The mission of LWF is to improve our understanding of the natural and anthropogenic stresses that affect forests in the long term, and of the related risks for humans. This requires deep knowledge about the processes and cause-effect relationships in forest ecosystems. The aims of LWF are:

• to monitor external anthropogenic and natural stresses

  such as atmospheric deposition and climate

• to monitor changes of relevant components of forest ecosystems
• to investigate the effects of external stresses on forest ecosystems
• to develop indicators of forest health
• to assess the risks under different stress scenarios

For this purpose the long-term response of forest ecosystems to the most relevant processes is monitored on a network of selected study sites.

The focus of the investigations is on atmospheric deposition, on biogeochemical cycles, ozone effects, climate, soil, ground vegetation and trees.

Fig. 1: Forest scheme (Graphic: Peter Waldner, WSL) - Link to high resolution image

The LWF programme is the contribution of Switzerland to the ICP-Forests level II network. The methods used in LWF fulfill the requirements of the ICP-Forests Manual.  >>

The LWF is together with the Sanasilva Inventory, and the National Forest Inventory (LFI), and the Forest Protection (PBMD) part of the Swiss Forest Observation Programm that is complemented by Observation Programmes of the Cantons.

The research objectives as well as organisational issues are described in detail here >>