How Close-to-Nature is Forestry in Switzerland? Past and Present Development Andreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETH Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and.

How Close-to-Nature is How Close-to-Nature is Forestry in Switzerland?Forestry in Switzerland?

Past and Present DevelopmentPast and Present Development

Andreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHAndreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and

Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, SwitzerlandSwitzerland

How Close-to-Nature is How Close-to-Nature is Forestry in Switzerland?Forestry in Switzerland?

Past and Present DevelopmentPast and Present Development

Andreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHAndreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and

Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, SwitzerlandSwitzerland

How Close-to-Nature is How Close-to-Nature is Forestry in Switzerland?Forestry in Switzerland?

Past and Present DevelopmentPast and Present Development

Andreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHAndreas Zingg, dipl. Ing. ETHSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and

Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:Elias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:

”The education of mixed stands is considered in the present time as a rule as long as the soils and the sites are adapted to them; the formation of pure stands is more the exception.”

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:Elias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:

„The plenter- and femel forests are the closest to the virgin forests untouched by men, as long they are not overharvested …… plentering or the femel cuts may therefore be considered as the most natural treatments of forests.”

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:Elias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture, 1895:

„Out of that what was said before, it is absolutely clear, that protection forests have to be treated by the plenter system, and this that way, that they remain capable to resist, but despite of this are able to regenerate. A complete lock out of the axe out of these forests will be with time running as pernicious as a to strong opening up ….”

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silvicultureElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture

18801880 Karl Gayer, Bavaria, GermanyKarl Gayer, Bavaria, Germany19001900 Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the

forests”forests”19011901 Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural

plentering]plentering]19251925 Hans Burger:Hans Burger:

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silvicultureElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture

18801880 Karl Gayer, Bavaria, GermanyKarl Gayer, Bavaria, Germany19001900 Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the

forests”forests”19011901 Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural

plentering]plentering]19251925 Hans Burger:Hans Burger:

”The concept that the forests regenerate naturally in the future, that they must be mixed and more or less uneven-aged, is now fairly firmly rooted.”

”We must not stamp the forest type on a tree species on a given site, but the exact study of the biological behavior of a tree species on a given site must teach us which forest type we are permitted to apply”

Close-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandClose-to-Nature Forestry in SwitzerlandHistoryHistory

1855 1855 Foundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichFoundation of the Forestry Faculty at the ETH in ZürichElias Landolt, the first professor for silvicultureElias Landolt, the first professor for silviculture

18801880 Karl Gayer, Bavaria, GermanyKarl Gayer, Bavaria, Germany19001900 Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the Arnold Engler: „Principles for the natural regeneration of the

forests”forests”19011901 Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural Henri Biolley: „Le jardinage cultural“ [~ The cultural

plentering]plentering]19251925 Hans Burger:Hans Burger:19341934 Walter Schädelin: Selection Thinning as an educational Walter Schädelin: Selection Thinning as an educational

management to reach the highest value performancemanagement to reach the highest value performance19461946 Hans Leibundgut: Femel cut and plenteringHans Leibundgut: Femel cut and plentering19471947 Hans Leibundgut: About silvicultural planningHans Leibundgut: About silvicultural planningsince ~1950 Literature dealing with Close-to-nature forestry since ~1950 Literature dealing with Close-to-nature forestry

Swiss Silvicultural SystemsSwiss Silvicultural Systems

• Schweizerischer Femelschlag Schweizerischer Femelschlag Swiss Selection CuttingSwiss Selection Cutting

• PlenteringPlentering

Important detail:Important detail:Silvicultural planning according Silvicultural planning according to Leibundgutto Leibundgut

Forest LegislationForest Legislation

• The actual forest law from 1992 deals The actual forest law from 1992 deals mainly with forest conservationmainly with forest conservation

• The main management instructions: The main management instructions: • Sustainability*Sustainability*• Close-to-Nature SilvicultureClose-to-Nature Silviculture**• Minimum management measures*Minimum management measures*• Prohibition of Clear-cuts*Prohibition of Clear-cuts*

* * Not described clearly in the lawNot described clearly in the law

Potential Natural VegetationPotential Natural Vegetation

Proportion of Coniferous SpeciesProportion of Coniferous Species

Naturalness of Forests on Sites Naturalness of Forests on Sites Naturally Covered by BroadleavesNaturally Covered by Broadleaves

Actual Silvicultural Practices IActual Silvicultural Practices I

In the Past (last 10 years)

Thinning34%

Thinning in Mountain Forests

3%

Other1%

Plentering3%

Final Cutting9%

Precommer-cial Thinning

9%

Sanitation Cuts

Increment Felling

9%Source: NFI

Stand managementStand management

In the Future (5 to 10 years and more)

Thinning33%

Thinning in Mountain Forests

12%

Final Cutting8%

Plentering3%

No Thinning20%

Precommer-cial Thinning

9%

Increment Felling15% Source: NFI

Actual Silvicultural Practices IIActual Silvicultural Practices II RegenerationRegeneration

Artificial Regene-

ration14%

Mixed25%

Natural Regene-

ration61%

Actual Silvicultural Practices IIIActual Silvicultural Practices III Stand StructuresStand Structures

multi layered

57%

small cohorts

1%

mixed6%

one layered36%

Plenter Forests IPlenter Forests IAre Plenter Forest Close-to-Nature?Are Plenter Forest Close-to-Nature?

Plenter Forests IIPlenter Forests IIAre Plenter Forest Close-to-Nature?Are Plenter Forest Close-to-Nature?

0

1

10

100

0 50 100 150

0

1

10

100

0 50 100 150

0

1

10

100

0 50 100 150

Uholka (Ukraine) 10 haUholka (Ukraine) 10 ha Sihlwald (Switzerland) 10 haSihlwald (Switzerland) 10 ha Rauchgrat (Switzerland) 3 haRauchgrat (Switzerland) 3 ha

Mountain Forests in SwitzerlandMountain Forests in Switzerland

High population density in mountain regionsSwiss Alps: 40 persons per km2 *, Switzerland 183, Slovakia 111, Europe 115, North America 20 per km2

Protection against natural hazards

* Non productive areas included

Timber production: Income for communities

Pontresina, Switzerland

Are Swiss Are Swiss Forests Close-to-NatureForests Close-to-Nature??

Close-to-Nature meansClose-to-Nature means

1.1. Making use of the local and individual yield Making use of the local and individual yield potential, i.e. not the rotation time but the best potential, i.e. not the rotation time but the best possible use of the individual production forces possible use of the individual production forces by local and timely graduation of the regeneration.by local and timely graduation of the regeneration.

2.2. Harvesting is always also a cultivation measure.Harvesting is always also a cultivation measure.

3.3. Regeneration takes place sustainably and Regeneration takes place sustainably and continuously.continuously.

4.4. Mixed stands conform to nature allow a favorable Mixed stands conform to nature allow a favorable use of the local production forces.use of the local production forces.

5.5. Use of the natural renewal processes in long Use of the natural renewal processes in long lasting regeneration periods.lasting regeneration periods.

6.6. The type of cutting is not given but takes place The type of cutting is not given but takes place according the aims.according the aims.

According to Schütz 1999According to Schütz 1999

… … and in the Future?and in the Future?

• Swiss forestry is under economical Swiss forestry is under economical stressstress

Timber prices for Spruce/Fir in the Alps

0

50

100

150

200

250

1940 1960 1980 2000

year [a]

CH

F p

er m

3

… … and in the Future?and in the Future?

• Swiss forestry is under economical stressSwiss forestry is under economical stress

• New initiatives New initiatives – to reduce the number of forest enterprisesto reduce the number of forest enterprises– to separate state activity (supervision) and to separate state activity (supervision) and

forest managementforest management– loosen legal restriction, e.g. the prohibition loosen legal restriction, e.g. the prohibition

of clearcuts, close-to-nature principlesof clearcuts, close-to-nature principles

etc.etc.

Plantation Forestry: Plantation Forestry: a Goal to Achieve?a Goal to Achieve?

The Idea:

Separation of Production Forest and Natural Forest, i.e.

• Production Forest = Intensive Management, Short Rotation, Management Goal = Timber Production; the other function will be ± not considered any more

• Natural Forests: In all other forest the other functions ≠ timber production have priority; all between reserves and completely protected forests

Plantation Forestry: Plantation Forestry: a Goal to Achieve?a Goal to Achieve?

Where?

• On good and very good sites

• Maximum slope 30 %

Mainly on the Swiss Plateau

How would this forests look like?

• Fast growing Douglas fir, Spruce, possibly poplars, in ± pure stands

• Short rotation times, target diameter ≈ 40 cm

• Schematic thinning

And the impact on landscape aesthetics?

24.3 % of the forest area

lowmediumgoodvery good

Less than 10% forest

Plantation Forestry: Plantation Forestry: a Goal to Achieve?a Goal to Achieve?

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Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

We all, who are living on earth, that means utilize to live, are granted the privilege to live from the sources of life. Such a source is the forest. Dare us, if we don’t know how to browse responsibly in the book of the live nature of the forest! Nicolin Bischoff (1987)