Starkholz und Laubholz in der Schweiz: gestern, heute, morgen | Large diameter wood and hardwood in Switzerland yesterday, today and tomorrow

Abstract

The publication of the findings of the second Swiss National Forest Inventory triggered wide fundamental debate on the issue of large-diameter wood in Switzerland. On the initiative of the then Swiss Forest Agency at the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape, a «large-diameter wood»workshop was held in Lyss in December 1999. The issue was overshadowed by the occurrence of hurricane Lothar, which swept across northern Europe at the end of December 1999. Nevertheless, in recent years various actors have been actively engaged in this area. Following a short presentation of the key aspects of the forestry and timber sector in Switzerland, which are of significance to this issue, this paper provides a detailed account of the «large-diameter wood» workshop in Lyss. This is followed by an exploration of some elements of the package of measures formulated at the time – with particular emphasis on the projects supported by the federal authorities – and an outline of the current status of their implementation. The next question that arises concerns the future: one topic which has not been explored in detail up to now is that of deciduous wood and its processing and use. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the debate that has taken place up to now and an attempt made to predict the outlook for the near future.