Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Research 23.06.2025
City trees provide cooling even in extreme heat
City trees provide cooling even in extreme heat

Urban trees transpire much more than expected at temperatures above 39°C. This questions previous assumptions about heat regulation.

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Platz im Genfer Vorort Lancy mit Bäumen, bepflanzten Behältern und einer Kirche mit rotem Turmspitzdach im Hintergrund
 
Research 29.05.2025
Save twice the ice by limiting global warming
Save twice the ice by limiting global warming

If global temperature rise can be limited to 1.5 °C, 54 per cent of glaciers could be preserved, according to a new study.

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Der Grosse Aletschgletscher ist mit ca. 20 km Länge derzeit der längste Gletscher der Europäischen Alpen. Foto: Lander Van Tricht (ETH Zurich / Vrije Universiteit Brussel).
 
Research 19.05.2025
Long-term research: 40 years of monitoring forest health
Long-term research: 40 years of monitoring forest health

40 years ago, the international cooperation programme ICP Forests was founded. It was a direct response to air pollution.

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Waldbeobachtungsfläche (Level-II) in Othmarsingen/Schweiz. Foto: WSL/Gottardo Pestalozzi
 
Research 14.04.2025
Historical Habitats of Switzerland - mapped
Historical Habitats of Switzerland - mapped

WSL researchers have developed a model that can identify different habitat types on aerial photographs from the post-war period.

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Schwarzweiß-Luftaufnahme von 1946 zeigt eine Küstenregion mit zahlreichen Obstbäumen, Feldern und verstreuten Häusern.
 

Research for people and the environment in a changing world

News

Research
06.06.2025
Felswand umgeben von Schnee und Eis

FAQ: Influence of permafrost on rock slope failure

The permafrost in the Alps is warming rapidly and affecting major rock slope instabilities. Answers to the most important questions.

Research
02.06.2025
Berglandschaft mit schneebedeckten Gipfeln und einem felsigen, schneefreien Hang im Vordergrund

Facts on the collapse of the Birch Glacier

In a factsheet reaserchers from WSL- and explain the background to the catastrophic collapse of the Birch Glacier - revised version.

Events
02.06.2025
Urte Reckowsky steht am Ufer eines Sees im Winter, trägt eine rote karierte Jacke und schwarze Hose, umgeben von kahlen Bäumen und Schnee.

Fairness, resilience and the psyche in polar ice

WSL Diversity Officer Urte Reckowsky on research in everyday life and under extreme conditions, 3.6.2025, 18.30, Kulturplatz Davos.

Services and products
28.05.2025
Bauarbeiten an einer beschädigten Eisenbahnstrecke entlang eines Flusses in einem engen Tal mit steilen Felswänden und Wald

Stop! Danger! Climate change and natural hazards

Bondo, Brienz, Blatten - natural hazards threaten life and infrastructure in the Alps. How WSL researchs the processes in the new Diagonal.

Research
20.05.2025

Rockfalls, rockslides and more: FAQ and dossier

Our experts answer the most frequently asked questions about mountain hazards.

Research
12.05.2025

How flooding under the ice contributes to ice melt

By drilling 500 meter deep, researchers from ETH and WSL have for the first time measured the water flows under the antarctic ice.

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Events

27 June 2025

Swiss Mycology Symposium 2025

From 2007 to 2022, mycologists of the Greater Zürich Area have met once a year in a one-day symposium termed 'Zürich Mycology Symposium'.…

17 July 2025

Landscapes, Cities, Architectures - Navigating Sustainability and Complexity en Route to Liveable Green Cities

Rapid urbanisation and construction assert significant negative impact on local environments, ecosystems and humans. This talk will…

21 to 22 August 2025

International Pfynwald Workshop

Internationaler Workshop zum Projekt VPDrought

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