Swiss Timber Industry Calls for Increased Roundwood Harvest and Better Forest Access in the Alps

The Swiss timber industry has recently called for an increase in roundwood harvest by one million cubic meters per year. This demand was discussed during a specialist conference in Schüpfheim, where experts from various fields gathered to address the challenges and opportunities of timber utilization and forest access in Alpine regions.

A central topic of the conference was improving forest access through the expansion of forest roads, particularly in the hard-to-reach Alpine regions. Janine Schweier from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) emphasized the importance of developing new forest paths to effectively promote the use and accessibility of forests. Currently, about one-third of the forests in the Alps have limited accessibility, which significantly hinders efficient utilization.

The discussions in Schüpfheim, which attracted around 120 participants, primarily focused on ways to increase harvest capacities. Special attention was given to ensuring that the ecological value of the forests is not compromised. The timber industry views the expansion of roundwood harvest as necessary to fully utilize the potential of Swiss forests. At the same time, sustainability aspects must be considered to protect the natural environment.

A key point raised at the conference was the need to improve forest access. In the alpine regions of Switzerland, access to many forest areas is severely limited. This poses a significant barrier to increasing timber harvest capacity. The expansion of forest roads is seen as a crucial measure to overcome these obstacles. Experts argue that better access could not only make timber harvesting more efficient but also create new opportunities for sustainable forest management.

However, there is also the risk that infrastructure projects could be developed within highly sensitive ecosystems. The balance between economic benefits and ecological protection remains a priority. Janine Schweier stressed that any measure to improve forest access must be carefully evaluated to preserve the ecological value of the forests.

The conference also highlighted that improving access is not only beneficial for timber utilization. Better connections and infrastructure in forests could also be of interest to other stakeholders, such as tourism and nature conservation organizations.