Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Avalanche bulletin and snow situation
Edition: Mon 6.4., 17:00
Avalanche Bulletin
Research 07.04.2026
When trees get ‘sunburn’
When trees get ‘sunburn’

Young trees are able to withstand high temperatures, but only if there is enough water available in the ground.

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Alt text: A green house interior with various plants, including large leafy greens and smaller bushes. Sunlight filters through transparent walls, and the sky is visible through the openings. The structure appears modern and well-maintained.
 
Research 05.03.2026
How to design calm in noisy places
How to design calm in noisy places

How can a noisy local recreation area be improved when the noise is unavoidable? A new WSL fact sheet shows what can make a difference.

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A tranquil floodplain surrounded by fresh, green leaves. In the background, two swans swim on the water's surface. The gentle flooding of light creates a peaceful atmosphere in nature.
 
Research 03.03.2026
Floodplains under pressure
Floodplains under pressure

WSL researchers have investigated where floodplain species will survive in the future. The conclusion: planning needs to be adapted.

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A river winds its way through a green landscape surrounded by trees and mountains. Small gravel islands are visible in the water, which shimmers in various shades of blue. The sky is clear and blue.
 
Research 02.03.2026
Swiss forests struggle with the next generation
Swiss forests struggle with the next generation

Do Swiss forests have enough young trees, and will these grow well in the future? WSL provides answers in the forestry magazine SZF.

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The image features young silver fir seedlings growing amid green moss on a forest floor, surrounded by small clover plants. The scene illustrates a vibrant, natural environment.
 

Research for people and the environment in a changing world

News

Institutional
07.04.2026
The new research unit leader Janine Schweier, wearing a red jacket, is sitting on a stack of logs in a forest. The background features tall trees and greenery, with a somewhat overcast sky. The logs are marked with colored paint and are surrounded by underbrush.

New head of a WSL forest research unit

From 1 April 2026, forestry scientist Janine Schweier will head the WSL research unit Forest Resources and Management.

Institutional
16.03.2026

WSL Annual Report 2025

Managing natural hazards, a new professor, two grants for research into forests in climate change: the highlights of WSL 2025.

Research
24.02.2026

How much energy is lost to environmental flow?

Environmental flow is important for ecology, but reduces electricity production. Now WSL and Eawag show that losses are smaller than feared.

Institutional
30.01.2026

Millions for muons: SLF participates in new NCCR

The SLF is using cosmic rays to investigate the snow cover as part of the new National Centre of Competence in Research "Muoniverse".

Logbook
29.01.2026
The image features a celebratory cake decorated with green icing, displaying three logos: the Botanical Institute, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). The text "Molecular laboratory" is prominently written in green.

How a laboratory was established in Baku

In the WSL logbook WSL researcher Carolina Cornejo recounts what it took to set up molecular biology laboratory in Baku.

Institutional
27.01.2026
An audience is gathered in a lecture hall for the WSL-EAWAG Biodiversity Research Day. A sign in the foreground welcomes attendees, while a presentation is displayed on a screen in the background, indicating the event's focus on biodiversity research.

New Biodiversity Center of WSL and Eawag

WSL and Eawag join forces: the new WSL-Eawag Biodiversity Center links research on biodiversity on land and in water.

All news

Events

16 to 17 April 2026

Flechten-Einführung 2026

Flechten begegnet man auf Schritt und Tritt - vom Vorgarten bis auf die höchsten Berggipfel. Sie sind gute Indikatoren, beispielsweise zur…

16 to 21 August 2026

Forests for the future: strategies for carbon sequestration

Join for the interdisciplinary Summer School, which SCENE is organizing together with the TriNational ForestLab, the SwissForestLab and the…

23 to 28 August 2026

Summer School 2026: Blue-green biodiversity. Research and practice at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

The WSL-Eawag Biodiversity Center is pleased to announce the fourth summer school on blue-green biodiversity.

All Events