Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

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Edition: Mon 4.5., 17:00
Avalanche Bulletin
Research 05.05.2026
Scenarios for Switzerland’s future
Scenarios for Switzerland’s future

What could Swiss society look like at the end of the century, and what would that mean for the climate? This was the focus of a new project.

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A rainbow arches over a green, sun-drenched landscape with a town in the foreground. The sky is gloomy and covered in dark clouds, but in places the sun shines through, creating a contrast to the overcast atmosphere.
 
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 for people and the environment in a changing world

News

Institutional
30.04.2026
A smiling man sits next to a computer on a desk, with shelves of books and files in the background. He wears a dark sweater and has gray hair, looking comfortably at the camera in an office-like environment.

Wohlgemuth steps down from WSL Directorate

At the end of April 2026, the WSL will bid farewell to Tom Wohlgemuth, a defining figure of its Directorate.

Institutional
22.04.2026

WSL research on megadroughts wins award

WSL researcher Liangzhi Chen is the Swiss champion of the Frontiers Planet Prize, which recognises solutions to the planetary crisis.

Events
16.04.2026

CERC workshop: satellite radar for natural hazards

Practice-oriented workshop on InSAR for natural hazard detection and monitoring. 28.9.2026, Davos. Register now.

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.

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Events

9 June 2026

Symposium: Trait-based ecology, climate change research and conservation: an environmental space perspective

A series of presentations exploring the intersection of trait-based ecology, climate change research, and conservation through the lens of…

9 to 12 June 2026

Workshop: Integrating the environmental space approach into ecology and conservation

How can the climate space approach contribute to the fields of trait-based ecology, climate change research and conservation?

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…

All Events