WaldDialog – Forest Dialogue – Dialogue Forestier 2026

Biodiversity as a Key to Enhancing Adaptation and Resilience in Managed Forests

Date: September 10, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Location: University of Basel (Kollegienhaus), Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland

Organizers: TriNational ForestLab, SwissForestLab, Conference of Cantonal Foresters (KOK), Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)

Languages: German, French and English. Presentations will be given in German or French, according to the speaker’s native language—and will be simultaneously interpreted. English translation will be provided by AI.

Target audience: Policymakers, forest owners, administrations, authorities from Switzerland, Germany, and France, and the scientific community.

Fig. 1: Mixed forests and diverse plantings of native and non-native tree species in Ticino. Photo: A. Rigling, ETH Zurich
Fig. 2: A species-rich mixed forest with some Douglas fir in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Photo: A. Rigling, ETH Zurich
Fig. 3: Species-specific responses to drought: Beech trees suffer, while oaks and Norway maples are more tolerant (Stetten, Switzerland).. Photo: A. Rigling, ETHZ
Fig. 4: Dead spruce trees, damaged beech trees, and healthy oak trees following the dry year of 2018 (Herblingen, Switzerland). Photo: A. Rigling, ETHZ

Forests in Switzerland, Germany, and France face similar challenges: climate change, changing societal expectations, and new technological opportunities call for innovative strategies for sustainable forest management.

On 10 September 2026, the SwissForestLab and the TriNational ForestLab, together with the Conference of Cantonal Foresters (KOK) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), invite you to the ForestDialogue 2026 at the University of Basel. Held for the first time as a cross-border event, the conference will bring together experts from the three countries.

The conference focuses on "Biodiversity as a key to enhancing adaptation and resilience of managed forests." Looking beyond national borders opens up new perspectives,highlights different approaches, and promotes exchange between science, forest practice, and public administration.

In the morning, researchers will present the current state of knowledge on the conference theme. Key questions include: How can biodiversity and sustainable timber production be successfully combined? What role does genetic diversity play in creating climate-resilient forests? What synergies, trade-offs, and solutions arise in multifunctional forests?

The afternoon, the focus will shift to practical implementation. Regional approaches from Baden-Württemberg, the Basel region, and Alsace will illustrate how adaptive close-to-nature forest management is already being successfully implemented. These presentations will be complemented by short contributions from forestry professionals, who will share their practical experience and perspectives.

Event Registration (deadline 08.09.2026)

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