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Forest Resources and Management

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Our mission is: "Building knowledge on Swiss forests for science, sustainable management, and people". Our ultimate goal is to promote sustainable use and climate-smart forest management of the Swiss forests in the 21^st Century.

Our activity is directed to:

Advance our understanding on condition, response and feedbacks of Swiss forests to global change drivers, by long-term, large-scale monitoring and experiments, analysis, modeling and predictions.
Develop science-driven solutions for sustainable management and forestry options in a changing climate, toensure regeneration and sustainable provision of forests products and services, and protect biodiversity.
Connect the science and the applied forest management, bynovel methods, approaches, Decision Support Systems and transfer to managers, administrations and people.

Our strengths stay into:

Long-term data: tradition and innovation. Look at our growth and yield network on managed forests (since 1885), at the network on forest reserves, (since 1948), or at our role within the Swiss National Forest Inventory LFI. Look also at our recent initiative SwissAIMto advance the monitoring of Swiss forest.
A balanced blend of expertise, methods, information science and technology. Our expertise goes from inventorying and monitoring to statistics and modeling, from sylviculture to forestry and bioenergy, from data management to geo-spatial information systems and science, and from field methods to close range remote sensing, data visualization and computer vision.
Swiss focus, international perspective. While our focus is on the Swiss national scale, we are active from local to international scale. Our collaborators have important roles in international activities and programs, like the UNECE ICP Forests, the ENFIN, the FAO ToS.

FURTHER INFORMATION

News

26.01.2023

Do alien forest tree species threaten biodiversity or soil quality? A new WSL study summarises Europe-wide results.

07.12.2022

The OptFORESTS project aims to promote resilient forests to mitigate the impacts of climate change. 3 WSL groups are involved.

16.11.2022

A synthesis of palynological and archeological data shows the how the Romans helped to spread the chestnut and walnut culture in Europe.

18.07.2022

WSL researchers are distributing seeds to foresters across Europe to test them in their forests: an unusual experiment.

16.06.2022

Where do the five main species of wood ants in Switzerland potentially live? New maps provide information.

14.06.2022

Why do Scots pines keep dying en masse in dry Alpine valleys, even without extreme drought? WSL researchers have now solved the mystery.

31.05.2022

At Stillberg near Davos, the SLF is investigating whether spruce and larch seedlings can establish above the current forest line.

25.04.2022

A WSL laboratory study has found that forest trees absorb tiny pieces of plastic. This could have implications for forest ecosystems.

22.02.2022

WSL research team developed software to optimize the use of cable cranes in forestry work.

26.01.2022

Our researchers are developing a method to precisely calculate the biomass of forest trees.

Projects

TradeES

To better inform forest practitioners, the TradeES project examines trade-offs among drought impact on forest growth, ecological functions and ecosystem services in thinned and unthinned Norway spruce-dominated stands in Switzerland.

Harnessing forest genetic resources

OptFORESTS is an European funded project that aims to support the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.

SeedOpt – Genetischen Diversität der Samenernte

Mit molekulargenetischen Analysen in Samenerntebeständen der Traubeneiche wollen wir zeigen, wie sich die Ausführung der Samenernte (Anzahl beernteter Mutterbäume, räumliches Design) auf die genetische Diversität und Repräsentativität des Saatgutes auswirkt.

Verbisseinflussmonitoring in Buchenwäldern

Eine Abschätzung des Verbisseinflusses erfolgt in Buchwäldern des Forstreviers Kirchberg. Infolge der Laubbaumarten, welche oft Johannistriebe machen oder auf den Verbiss im selben Jahr reagieren können wird eine Herbstinventur der nächsten zwei Bäumchen pro Höhenklasse und Baumart gemacht.

Digiforest

The mission of DIGIFOREST is to develop the technology needed to achieve sustainable digital forestry. It includes fundamental science for mobile robotic navigation (multi-sensor motion tracking, 3D mission planning etc.) and data-driven semantic mapping.

SOLID - SOiL Information for species Distribution modelling

In this project, we are investigating the extent to which the spatial predictability of forest plant species and fungi can be improved by using high-resolution soil maps. In addition, we analyse how climate change affects the distribution of different species and what role soil plays in this.

GenDiB

Intraspecific genetic diversity is a component of biodiversity that is often overlooked. Therefore, GenDiB sets out to compile the basic principles for establishing a new database comprising data on genetic diversity in populations of wild species in Switzerland.

Doku Zukunftsbaumarten

Im Projekt "Doku-Tool Zukunftsbaumarten" wird eine web-basierte Datenbank entwickelt, die Informationen zu bemerkenswerten Pflanzungen und natürlichen Vorkommen zukunftsfähiger Baumarten in der Schweiz bereitstellt. Die Datenbank dient dem Informationsaustausch unter Waldfachleuten.

MountEx

The MountEx project, part of the WSL research program Extremes, aims to develop guidance and tools for managing spruce-dominated mountain forests under the influence of previously unthinkable, extreme disturbances.

ProtoAIM - Enhanced Plot Design for Advanced Inventorying and Monitoring

We will enhance the design of the Swiss NFI plots to accomodate an augmented series of measurements, sampling and analysis needed to respond to pressing research question on status and change of the Swiss forest.

Wildschäden: LFI2-LFI4-Vergleich für die Region des Kantons Waadt

Auswertung der Daten des Schweizerischen Landesforstinventars von 1993 bis 1995 und 2009 bis 2017 für den Kanton Waadt bezüglich Verbiss, Fegen und Schälen. Es werden statistische Auswertungen zur Häufigkeit und zur Verteilung sowie zur Entwicklung zwischen den beiden Inventaren durchgeführt. Die Auswertungen werden für den gesamten Kanton und auch auf regionaler Ebene (Jura - Mittelland-Voralpen - Aplen) vorgenommen.

ONEforest

ONEforest develops a multi-criteria planning system for strategic decision makers from forestry, politics and industry and provides information regarding potential social, ecologic and ecologic and economic impacts of alternative forest management options in a medium to long-term perspective.

Virtual Forest

In this project, realistic digital twins of existing forests are created. By connecting these with forest growth simulators, long-term effects of different forest management strategies and climate scenarios can be explored visually.

SWEET-EDGE

The aim of SWEET-EDGE (2021-2027) is to investigate and demonstrate pathways to promote decentralized renewable energy generation in Switzerland. In this context, we will investigate the availability and mobilization of woody and non-woody biomass as a central resource in the midlands and the Alps.

Regeneration assessment in open forest areas

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV equipped with a LiDAR sensor will be used to test its potential for regeneration structure assessments in mountain forests. The project aims to combine terrestrial regeneration mapping with LiDAR-based information to assess size, density and location of regeneration.

New basics for the forest management planning of staged forests

Based on forest roads, forest structures and ecosystem services to be provided, this project will develop new basics for the separation of management and operation units as a planning basis for mountain and permanent forests.

Partitioning of resources between beech trees during drought

We will examine whether recent drought events shifted the partitioning of growth among tree size classes of beech trees and use this information to develop thinning strategies for mitigating drought impacts in lowland and montane Swiss beech forests

DigiSeil

The project aims to establish the digital cable road design. Among others, a guideline for digital cable road design and calculation as well as further training documents will be produced.

N-DEPEND - Is there a "Nitrogen Deposition Penalty" for Forests under Drought?

This project intends to test the "N-penalty" hypothesis for the Swiss forests. By statistical modeling and quasi-experimental analyses based on N deposition estimates, drought indices and NFI data, we assess interacting effects of N deposition and drought on forest health and productivity.

Gebirgswaldverjüngung

In diesem Langfristprojekt starten wir in 10 Versuchsflächen in Fichten- und Fichten-Tannenwäldern waldbauliche Langzeit-Experimente. Wir erfassen die Naturverjüngung wiederholt, um die Demografie der Bäume zu verstehen und abzuleiten, wie die Verjüngung gefördert werden kann.

Impacts of climate change induced extreme windthrow events on forest management and economy of European forest enterprises (ExWiFE)

An increase of extreme environmental disturbances is expected, which is for different reasons a big challenge for forest stakeholders on the operating-, strategic-, financial- and environmental level. Using diverse methods, we aim to describe the complexity of the current problem.

Pre-study soil inventory

In the years 2021 - 2025, the forest soil survey of 1993 on the 8 x 8 km will be repeated. This grid does not cover all combinations of soil formation and environmental factors that potentially occur in Switzerland. This project evaluates the most efficient way to close these gaps.

Nutzbarmachung der LFI-Ergebnisdaten mit Linked Data

Das Projekt LD-LFI hat zum Ziel den Transformationsprozess als Prototypen zu entwerfen, um die Ergebnisse des Schweizerischen Landesforstinventars in Linked Data zu transformieren und in die Infrastruktur des Bundes zu integrieren.

Global blue-green richness differences

This project contributes to the Blue Green Biodiversity Research Initiative - an Eawag-WSL collaboration focusing on Biodiversity at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Nutrient Sustainability in Swiss Wood Extraction

The project aims to determine the nutrient balance of various Swiss sites by means of comprehensive soil analyses and to develop nutrient balances aiming to maintain and promote soil fertility and biodiversity.

Quantifizierung von Totverbiss an verschiedenen Standorten

Von welchen Faktoren hängt die Häufigkeit der durch Verbiss bedingten Mortalität ab? Einzelbäumchen werden in gezäunten und ungezäunten Vergleichsflächen über Jahre individuell beobachtet. Zudem erfolgt eine Auswertung bestehender Vergleichsflächenpaare aus verschiedensten Regionen der Schweiz.

Bioenergy and circular economy: the biogas plant as a hub

In this transdisciplinary study, the bioenergy system is assessed from the perspective of the circular economy. The focus is on wet biomass, whereby the current cycle of the most important elements is investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. The anaerobic digestion serves as the central hub.

Strategies and concepts for tapping the sustainable, energetic potential of manure in Switzerland

The project "NETZ" develops strategies and concepts for tapping the sustainable, energetic potential of substrates of agricultural origin, in particular farmyard manure in Switzerland.

Waldwahrnehmung mit allen Sinnen

Attraktivität von Wäldern wird meistens anhand von visuellen Merkmalen bestimmt. Waldwahrnehmung basiert aber nicht nur auf visuellen Eindrücken - alle Sinne spielen eine Rolle. In diesem Projekt wird die Waldwahrnehmung von Waldbesuchenden mit allen Sinnen, insbesondere des Gehörsinns, erfasst.

Integration of biodiversity conservation and forest management

The publication "How to balance biodiversity conservation and forest management - a tour across Europe" written by more than 70 scientific and professional experts from 50 Institutions and 20 different countries explores how to best integrate biodiversity conservation in forest management

Climate-smart forestry directions based on national Forest Inventory data

In this project we use the data of the Swiss national forest inventory to develop an assessment system that accounts for the three aspects of climate-smart forestry: mitigation, adaptation and the sustainable provision of forest ecosystem services.

Modelling forest growth using 3-PG

Testing 3-PG in uneven-aged forests, comparing predictions with an empirical model and developing a 3-PG R package.

DivScaling

The main objective of this project is to elaborate how different diversity components in Swiss forest change with increasing area and how they depend on changing heterogeneity.

Swiss Biomass

The aim of the project is to determine the biomass of individual trees more precisely using non-destructive measurement methods. Such estimates are central for the greenhouse gas inventory, Kyoto reporting and for the estimation of wood resources and bioenergy potentials.

High-resolution soil maps for the Swiss forest

In this project we model high-resolution soil maps with different soil properties such as pH or texture for the entire Swiss forest.

Biomass transport for energy in Switzerland

The aim of this project is to explore the transport chains of biomass for energy in Switzerland and assess their economic and ecological impacts. Costs, energy inputs, and CO2 balances are calculated for the major paths travelled by forest wood and manure.

European Forest Research Initiative (EuFoRIa)

This is a working group with members from all over Europe carrying out research in primeval forest and forest reserves. The main goal of the group is to explore possibilities to join forces, enhance the visibility and exploit the potential of the existing long-term monitoring plots in primeval forests and forest reserves of Europe.

Optimized forest planning

An optimization model will be developed in the frame of this project to determine the optimal segregation of management strategies that can best fulfill the diverse services.

Tree species map of Switzerland

Despite the technical developments in the remote sensing sector that have emerged recently, data collection, efficient processing and especially storage of big data, and classifications over large areas are still insufficient.

Optimised cable line planning

The transport of timber with cable yarders is of great importance in the Swiss forestry. Planning a cable line is a complex and demanding task. Together with selected forest contractors and forest enterprises, it is evaluated how scientific findings in cable mechanics, developments in remote sensing and mathematical optimization algorithms can contribute to more efficient cable road planning.

Baumartenempfehlungen im Klimawandel

Die Tree App liefert für jeden Punkt im Schweizer Wald eine Baumartenempfehlung für das heutige Klima und für zwei Klimazukünfte, einen mässigen und einen starken Klimawandel. Sie unterstützt die Waldbewirtschafter dabei, Baumarten zu wählen, die in einem wärmeren und trockeneren Klima gedeihen.

Waldlabor Zürich

Das Waldlabor Zürich ist ein erlebnisorientierter Bildungs- und Forschungsort, es ist das erste Waldlabor der Schweiz. Im Zentrum steht der vom Menschen beeinflusste Wald, der "Kulturwald" mit verschiedenen Formen der Waldpflege und -bewirtschaftung, der Leistungen der Waldeigentümer und der Bedeutu

FORClimateS

The project aims to aggregate and synthesize existing information on different spatial and temporal scales to provide decision-makers with relevant and robust information on short- and long-term risks for forests and forest functions and on adaptation strategies under different climate futures

Preserving 100+ years of growth plot data

This project will digitise the 100+ years worth of data that is stored in field note books, plot maps, hand-drawn root structures and crown maps etc.

Datengrundlage für Biomassefunktionen

Joint models in biodiversity modeling

This project aims to evaluate advantages and potential pitfalls of JSDMs in biodiversity modeling

JuWaPfl - IT-basierte Modelle für Produktivität und Kosten von Bestandesbegründung und Jungwaldpflege

Modelle zur Schätzung von Leistung und Kosten für Arbeiten der Bestandesbegründung und der Jungwaldpflege

Power Density Switzerland

"Power Density" describes the relationship between energy carrier, area and time. Renewable energies and particularly biomass require much larger area to produce energy compared to fossil fuels. This study helps identify where and to what extent which type of bioenergy could be used.

Ungulate browsing on tree regeneration in Swiss forests

The temporal development of the influence of wild ungulate species on tree regeneration in Swiss forests is estimated using data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory and density estimates of roe deer, chamois and red deer.

Ecosystem services in forests

We are studying the impacts of forest management on a variety of forest services. Using two models and a range of indicators we are simulating forest development and services with a variety of management and climate scenarios.

MoGLI – modelling woody species in NFI

The main goal of MoGLI is to project the potential distribution of the most common Swiss woody species across the entire forested area of Switzerland.

EnviDat: the Environmental Data Portal

EnviDat is the WSL data portal providing unified and managed access to environmental monitoring and research data. Through the sharing of unique and high-value data sets worldwide, EnviDat fosters research and contributes to advancing environmental science.

DEForScen

Current plastic response of plants to climate change may be reflected by tree health. We investigate tree health data collected on ca. 6000 plots across Europe since the 1980s to figure out whether changes and trends in defoliation permit to identify species-specific response to climate change.

Carbon storage and ungulate browsing

The joint effects of drought tolerance and herbivory is determined by analysing the extent to which water use efficiency and C storage of Abies alba saplings are influenced by genetic factors and ungulate browsing.

Experimental plantations of tree species

With a network of 57 experimental plantations we investigate which tree species and seed provenances will grow well in the Swiss forest under the climatic conditions in 50 - 100 years.

Redevelopment of the single tree growth model Massimo

Massimo ist ein Distanz- und Positions- unabhängiges Einzelbaum Wachstumsmodell, basierend auf dem Netz des Schweizerischen Landesforstinventars. Die Module für Wachstum, Mortalität, Störungen und Bewirtschaftung basieren auf empirische Modelle die mit Daten des LFI angepasst wurden.

Sumforest - ForRISK

Risk resilient forest management - Adapting forest management regimes, including risk assessment related to potential climate change impacts.

Anbauversuch mit Gastbaumarten im Bois de Forel

Ein 1970 angelegter Versuch mit gebietsfremden Baumarten wurde als ertragskundliche Fläche eingerichtet. Der trocken-warme Standort entspricht Verhältnissen, die im Mittelland im Zuge des Klimawandels häufiger werden. Am besten wuchsen innert 47 Jahren Douglasien und Atlaszedern.

Predictive Analytics in Big Data

Predictive analytics deals with extracting patterns from series of data, such as observational, in order to better understand and predict the evolvement of spatio-temporal phenomena.

Change inventory Uholka

A partial repetition of the sample plot inventory of 2010, where 314 plots were measured, will allow representative conclusions about the temporal change of the forest structure, the regeneration, the tree composition and the deadwood in the primeval beech forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh.

Remote sensing Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh

In order to quantify the vegetation in its 3D structure and to be able to model the topography of the surveyed area, a LiDAR aerial survey will be carried out during spring of 2017.

Structure and management of secondary spruce forests

On the basis of a field experiment started in 2005 where various silvicultural interventions are being tested, this project examines how pure secondary spruce forests can be converted into mixed mountain forests.

Beech dominance

Beech forests provide important ecosystem services. In the primeval forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh, 97% of the tree layer is composed of beech. The reasons for this extremely pronounced dominance are examined in this project.

Forest structure in the spruce-fir-beech primeval forest of Chornohora

In order to invest in the infrastructure and basis for future research in the area of forest dynamics, new permanent plots will be established in mountainous mixed primeval forests with spruce, fir and beech.

Indikatoren zur Prognose der Ökosystemleistungen des Schweizer Waldes mit LFI-Daten

Mit diesem Projekt werden Methoden entwickelt um Ökosystemleistungen des schweizer Waldes auf regionaler und nationaler Ebene abzuschätzen. Dazu berechnen wir eine Reihe von bekannten Indikatoren zur Waldnutzung, Biodiversität, Schutzleistung und CO2-Speicherung aufgrund von im schweizerischen Lande

Forstliches Vermehrungsgut im Klimawandel

Anhand von Literaturrecherchen, Experteninterviews und Workshops wird der Status quo im Umgang mit forstlichem Vermehrungsgut in der Schweiz charakterisiert, Handlungsbedarf aufgezeigt und Handlungsoptionen skizziert. Im Fokus steht dabei der Klimawandel.

Tea bag decomposition study

Decomposition of plant litter is a key process for the transfer of carbon and nutrients in ecosystems. Carbon contained in the decaying biomass is released to the atmosphere as respired CO2, and may contribute to global warming. Litterbag studies have been used to improve our knowledge of the drivers of litter decomposition, but they lack comparability because litter quality is plant species-specific. The use of commercial tea bags as a standard substrate was suggested in order to harmonize studies, where green tea and rooibos represent more labile and more recalcitrant C compounds as surrogates of local litter.

Herb layer biomass in Swiss forests

The Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) provides comprehensive information on the state of forests in Switzerland. The purpose of this project was to develop a model to estimate herb layer biomass and carbon stock based on the categorical cover estimate on each NFI sample plot.

Vegetation height model NFI

For Switzerland, a national vegetation elevation model was calculated and updated on an ongoing basis. The ADS80 images routinely captured by swisstopo form the basis for the image matching workflow for deriving a 3D model of the landscape.

Countrywide Tree Type Mapping from Remote Sensing Surveys

Regularly updated information on the state, change and distribution of tree types (broadleaved and coniferous tree) is essential for forest related studies. The first data set consists of ADS80 aerial imagery. The follow-up product is currently being optimized using Sentinel satellite data.

Assessing tree stem structures using terrestrial LiDAR

The objective of this project is to develop an approach for assessing the ecological value of a tree stem using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS).

Holznutzungspotentiale und Klimaschutzleistungen im Schweizer Wald

Simulationen mit dem Waldwachstumsmodell Massimo ermöglichen es zukünftige Holzerntepotentiale abzuschätzen und darauf basierend Klimaschutzleistungen der Schweizer Wald- und Holzwirtschaft abzuleiten

Economic valuation of growing stock

The aim of the project is the economic valutation of the current growing stock and its changes.

Integrating Species Mixtures in Tree Growth Functions for Forest Development Models in Switzerland

The project advances the understanding of the effects of species mixtures on tree growth under a broad range of environmental conditions in Switzerland, and it prepares this knowledge for further development of forest scenario models.

Beurteilung von Schutzwäldern mittels Fernerkundung

Ziel dieses LFI-Projektes ist es, Methoden der Fernerkundung zur Beurteilung der aktuellen Schutzwirkung und Verjüngung von Schutzwäldern zu entwickeln. Im Fokus stehen die Möglichkeiten von terrestrischem (TLS) und flugzeuggestütztem Lasesscanning (ALS).

Species Mixture Effects on Tree Growth

Clipping Experiment

In an genecological common garden experiment, we investigate quantitative genetic variation within and among Swiss provenances of Abies alba, Picea abies, and Fagus sylvatica, before and after clipping. Growth, resilience after simulated browsing and provenance differences are related to environmental variables of seed sources.

Characteristics of game impact

The relationship between the brwosing intensity and structure of the tree regeneration is complex. In this project, knowlege gaps in the characteristics to evaluate the influence of game will be explored by means of further investigations in indicator areas in the canton of St. Gallen and the potential additional features will be tested form foresters for their practicality in the region Calanda. The aim is to approach a scientifically sound and at the same simple monitoring for game influence on forest regeneration.

Multi-Criteria Decision Support System

Multifunctional forest management today presents a major challenge for forest enterprises. The diverse demanded goods and services of the forest lead to a complicated forest planning and decision making. Appropriate concepts and tools are required to support this.

Biomass potentials Switzerland

SCCER-BIOSWEET aims to increase the energetic use of biomass in Switzerland. WSL determines resource potentials, examines availabilities and future developments of different biomass categories.

Terrestrial laserscanning for forest inventories

We evaluate the applicability of terrestrial Laserscanning for forest inventories. For an efficient and detailed analysis we use simulations of forests and LiDAR systems.

Ressourcenverfügbarkeit im Schweizer Wald

[Translate] Um eine effiziente und zeitgemässe Waldbewirtschaftung zu gewährleisten, ist eine ausreichende Strassen-Infrastruktur und darauf angepasste Holzernteverfahren unabdingbar.

Harvesting intensity

An optimal management of mountain forests is economically viable, maintains and ensures the protection against natural hazards, creates good conditions for regeneration and maintains stand increment in the long-term at high levels. These requirements pose complex optimization tasks for managers.

GTREE

We investigate seedling emergence and survival of Norway spruce and European larch at treeline in an experiment at Stillberg near Davos.

Forest inventory on enterprise level

With a smart combination of data collected with terrestrial methods and remote sensing forest inventories shall become more efficient and practice oriented to serve the needs of a multifunctional forest management.

Fahrversuch in Rückegassen mit halber Ladung

In einem Befahrungsexperiment mit einem Forwarder im Forstbetrieb Wagenrain in Bremgarten AG wurde untersucht, wie sich das Befahren bestehender Rückegassen mit voller und mit halber Zuladung auf die Tiefenwirkung der Verdichtung und auf die Spurbildung auswirken.

Agent-based Modelling

Agent-based modelling enables to model all actors on the wood market individually. Simulating the model then provides insights into the market processes. With the simulation of various scenarios, the effects of structural and institutional changes on the wood market should be explored. The project is part of the WSL-project “An economic analysis of Swiss wood markets”, which is connected to the NRP 66 program “resource wood”.

An Economic Analysis of Swiss Wood Markets

In this project, researchers analyse the workings of the Swiss wood markets on the basis of case studies and explain them with the help of economic theories. The results will be used to develop an agent-based model. This should make it possible to develop scenarios for future wood availability and present options for influencing it through economic instruments.

Sortimentsimulator SorSim

SorSim ist ein Computer-basiertes Modell, um einzelne Bäume oder ganze Bestände in Sortimente einzuteilen. Die Schaftformen werden modelliert, Rinde und Zumasse werden abgezogen und aufgrund von Sortimentsvorgaben in die entsprechenden Klassen eingeteilt.

Forest and climate

An expansion of forested zones could bring about a warming of the atmosphere at higher altitudes.

Update HeProMo

The productivity models "HeProMo", realized in 2003, are partially going to be outdated and several models for new modern harvesting processes are missing yet. The aims of the project are to renew some of the existing models based on new data sets and to create new models for current harvesting processes, such as logging and chipping of energy wood, transport of chips and logging of full trees by cable-crane.

Impact of browsing

Tree regeneration is part of the normal diet of ungulates species such as roe and red deer and chamois. Silver fir and sycamore maple are particularly preferred tree species for ungulate browsing, but also silvicultural important tree species. Analyses of data from long-term surveys in indicator areas are used to determine whether and how ungulate browsing affect the structure of regeneration in the long term, i.e. the size distribution of the tree species.

Greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI)

Assessment of changes in carbon stocks in the Swiss forest

Exotic tree species

Exotic tree species, which are adapted to a warmer and dryer climate, could contribute to coping with climate change. Six such species are tested in a long-term field experiment near Mutrux (Canton of Vaud).

Nadelbäume und Trockenheit

Sehr starke waldbauliche Eingriffe im Gebirgswald können kurzfristig ökonomisch vorteilhaft sein. Langfristig könnten sie aber die Waldverjüngung verzögern und den Holzuwachs vermindern. Ob solche nachteiligen Auswirkungen auftreten und wie gross sie allenfalls sind, wird mit retrospektiven ertragskundlichen und dendroökologischen Erhebungen in Gebirgswäldern abgeschätzt.

Genetic Variation

Die Klimerwärmung dürfte den Wald auf vielen Standorten unter Stress setzen. Wir untersuchen, ob die genetische Variation der Waldbäume es ihnen erlaubt, sich an den Klimawandel anzupassen. Wir fokussieren dabei auf die drei häufigsten Baumarten in Schweizer Wäldern, die Fichte, die Tanne und die Buche.

Dynamics of dead wood and saproxylic insects

Dead wood is a vital prerequisite for a quarter of all organisms living in a forest. The future intensification of forest management will pose a threat to many wood inhabiting (saproxylic) insect species. In forest reserves the formation and decay process of dead wood is quantified and the importance of micro-habitats for saproxylic beetles is investigated.

Auswertungssoftware NAFIDAS

Die NAFIDAS Auswertungssoftware ermöglicht konsistente und verlässliche Berichte mittels Daten des Schweizerischen Landesforstinventars LFI in Form von Tabellen und Karten.

The data analysis system NAFIDAS

The national forest inventory data analysis system (NAFIDAS) allows producing reliable tabular reports using data of the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) and involved cantons.

Physical soil protection

Soils fulfill various functions. As a consequence of land cultivation and of the emission of harmful substances from various sources, the soil functions are endangered. In the research topic “soil protection” the main threats and their effects on the soil functions and hence on soil fertility are investigated.

Young growth tending

Each year, about 50 Millions CHF are invested in tending interventions in Swiss forestry. In a field experiment of 7.3 ha size, we study how four tending variants affect tree species richness and stem quality in the long term. Particular interest is given to the question how minority species present in mixed stands can be maintained against the highly competitive beech.

Trupppflanzung

Nach flächigen Sturmschäden samen sich innert gewünschter Frist nicht immer genügend Jungbäume an. Fehlt eine ausreichende Verjüngung, ist eine Pflanzung zu rechtfertigen. Wie sich solche Pflanzungen kostengünstig anlegen lassen, zeigt dieses Projekt. Hauptaugenmerk legten die Forschenden auf die Trupppflanzung.

Trupppflanzung

Regional inventories using the NFI method

The WSL offers support of regional (cantonal) inventories based on the Swiss NFI method as a service in collaboration with the cantons.

Datacenter DNL

The purpose of the project DNL is to integrate existing national biotope inventories (bogs, flood plains, meadows, etc.) into a database and connect it to further datasources of the FOEN. Particularly the lineage of the data with all scientific and political processes shall be documented.

The group selection system

The effects of selective thinning and group selection cuts on stand growth and stability are studied in this long-term project. The aim is to derive silvicultural recommendations for risk reduction in mountain forests.

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Publications

Abegg, M.; Bösch, R.; Kükenbrink, D.; Morsdorf, F., 2023: Tree volume estimation with terrestrial laser scanning - Testing for bias in a 3D virtual environment. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 331: 109348 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109348

Frey, B.; Moser, B.; Tytgat, B.; Zimmermann, S.; Alberti, J.; Biederman, L.A.; Borer, E.T.; Broadbent, A.A.D.; Caldeira, M.C.; Davies, K.F.; Eisenhauer, N.; Eskelinen, A.; Fay, P.A.; Hagedorn, F.; Hautier, Y.; MacDougall, A.S.; McCulley, R.L.; Moore, J.L.; Nepel, M.; ... Risch, A.C., 2023: Long-term N-addition alters the community structure of functionally important N-cycling soil microorganisms across global grasslands. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 176: 108887 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108887

Janssen, S.; Pretzsch, H.; Bürgi, A.; Ramstein, L.; Bont, L.G., 2023: Improving the accuracy of timber volume and basal area prediction in heterogeneously structured and mixed forests by automated co-registration of forest inventory plots and remote sensing data. Forest Ecology and Management, 532: 120795 (23 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120795

Thrippleton, T.; Temperli, C.; Krumm, F.; Mey, R.; Zell, J.; Stroheker, S.; Gossner, M.M.; Bebi, P.; Thürig, E.; Schweier, J., 2023: Balancing disturbance risk and ecosystem service provisioning in Swiss mountain forests: an increasing challenge under climate change. Regional Environmental Change, 23: 29 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1007/s10113-022-02015-w

Mayer, M.; Rusch, S.; Didion, M.; Baltensweiler, A.; Walthert, L.; Ranft, F.; Rigling, A.; Zimmermann, S.; Hagedorn, F., 2023: Elevation dependent response of soil organic carbon stocks to forest windthrow. Science of the Total Environment, 857: 159694 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159694

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