The state-owned forest enterprise of the former forest district of Berne introduced cost accounting per forest unit in 1981. The present study compares the irregular shelter-wood units with the selection ('plenter') system units on the basis of important operational parameters. Overall profits from timber production in the selection forest units exceeded those of the irregular shelterwood units by an average of 25 Swiss francs/m3. Selection system unit expenditure was lower by 15 Swiss francs/m3. The selection system has the advantage of incurring substantially lower planting and tending costs whereas timber harvesting costs for both parts of the forest enterprise were about the same. Up until 1991, the selection forests achieved higher yields with an average of 15.– Swiss francs/m3. Due to the decline of the silver fir price, however, there has been no difference in this parameter since 1992. Thus, apart from the advantages of the selection forest regarding ecology and the protection function, economic reasons also support this particular method of treatment.

Today's situation is marked by a growing complexity of the matter in hand and the increasing dynamics of change. Under these circumstances, planning – in a comprehensive sense to include shaping, steering and developing activities – is of central importance. Switzerland's planning concept comprises two different levels: global planning of larger areas serves to represent public interest and the level of the individual enterprise reflects the interests of the forest owners. We report the views of the head of the forestry planning unit of Canton Berne, as a public representative, and the head of forestry from the Oberallmeind corporation Canton Schwyz, as a representative of forest owners. The paper starts with a retrospective of forest history and investigates earlier reasons for forest planning.

Since 1970 at least, the wood production potential of small private forest plots in the region of Konolfingen has not been fully exploited. In the approximately 5800 hectares of forest the present timber stocks are at 580 m3/ha. Similar conditions can be found in many other regions with private forests in Canton Berne. With the concept “Auriga”, which provides funding for mechanization, mobilization and more professionalism, the Forestry Service of Canton Berne has created an instrument which should motivate forest owners to an increased use of their wood. The present article pursues the question as to how far the project initiated in 1994 by the society of forest owners in Konolfingen thanks to the Binding Forest Award corresponds to the cantonal funding concept. It has become clear that the possibilities of mechanization offered by modern machines and procedures have been underestimated. Only after hurricane Lothar was it demonstrated that possibilities exist for use in small plots and in very steep private forests. Approximately 425 wood storage areas were created between 1995 and 1997, which represents a considerable improvement in the infrastructure. However, some of these now need to be adapted to deal with a greater volume of felled timber and changes in wood assortments. With the foundation of the Holzregion Kiesental GmbH (wood-producing region Kiesen Valley Ltd.), wood marketing has been professionalized. With mobilization it is planned to increase wood use and to reduce stocks to 500 m3/ha. The market will decide in the end whether this can be attained or not. Sufficient yield is necessary if forest owners are to be motivated to increased exploitation.