"SwissForestLab Dialog" with the Conference of Cantonal Foresters KOK and Swiss Forests

Tree species in the Swiss forest of the future

Date: June 29, 2023, 09:00 - 18:00

Location: Auditorium Maximum (HG F 30), ETH Zurich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich

Organizer: SwissForestLab, Conference of Cantonal Foresters, WaldSchweiz, supported by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Language: German and French (The presentations will be held in German or French - according to the native language of the speakers - and will be simultaneously translated)

Target audience: Forest authorities, forest owners, science

Since extreme climatic events, disturbances and global change have had an increasingly marked impact on forests in the wake of ongoing climate change, we need to rethink our idea of future tree species: the question is no longer where which tree species will grow best in 50 years' time, but which trees in our forests will survive the next 20 years. Can we continue to rely on natural regeneration in the future? Which seedlings should be planted today to ensure future forest performance? Do we know the extent of the current impairment of tree species and their potential in an uncertain future? The SFL Dialogue 2023 provides the latest findings on the limitations of the most important tree species in Switzerland and shows the current implementation in the cantons as well as the challenges for forest owners. Experts from research and forestry practice have their say. The overview forms the basis for a discussion on current and future solutions and the medium and long-term research needs that can be derived from them.

Program

Download daily program as PDF
Download tree species selection poster as PDF

08:45 - 09:30 Registration
MORNING: STATE OF RESEARCH / STRATEGIES IN FORESTRY PRACTICE
09:30 Welcome
christoph Hegg (Deputy Director WSL)
Introduction "Tree species in the Swiss forest of the future"
thomas Wohlgemuth (WSL)
09:50 Status and future of the beech (Fagus sylvatica)
sabine Braun (IAP)
Status and future of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and chestnut (Castanea sativa)
elisabeth Britt (Swiss Forest Protection, WSL)
Status and future of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and oak (Quercus spp.)
yann Vitasse (WSL)
Status and future of spruce (Picea abies), fir (Abies alba), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
christian Temperli (National Forest Inventory LFI, WSL)
Break
Strategy of the Confederation
robert Jenni (FOEN)
Strategy of the cantons
rolf Manser (KOK)
Measures taken by forestry companies
matthias Kläy (Forestry operations Zofingen region)
Summary "Research, strategies, measures"
adrian L. Meier
12:35 Networking stand-up lunch
AFTERNOON: TREE SPECIES SELECTION OF THE FUTURE, SILVICULTURAL DECISION AIDS
13:45 Panel discussion
michael Reinhard (Head of Forest Division, FOEN)
roland David (President of the Conference of Cantonal Foresters KOK)
kaspar Reutimann (Swiss Forests)
andreas Rigling (ETH Zurich)
kathrin Streit (Project Manager Test Plantings, WSL)
nicole Imesch (Wildkosmos; Forest Biodiversity Working Group, SFV)
Chair: Norbert Kräuchi (Head of Landscape & Waters, Canton of Aargau)
15:15 Summary Dialog 2023
arthur Gessler (SwissForestLab), Ueli Meier (KOK), Paolo Camin (WaldSchweiz)
15:45 Networking aperitif
17:30 End of the event