Forest Report 2025: Feeling the pulse of Swiss forests

What is the state of our forests? Following publications in 2005 and 2015, the Forest Report 2025 gives answers for a third time, providing comprehensive insights into the condition of Swiss forests, current trends and prognoses for the future. Here you can read the most important findings and other interesting articles about the forest.

waldbericht-2025
A ray of light in Giswil (OW).
© Simon Speich (LFI)


A unique reference publication

Some 90 experts collated information for the Forest Report 2025 from numerous long-term monitoring programmes and skilfully interpreted it in six thematic chapters, providing answers to a range of pertinent questions. The essence of the research findings is presented in the Synthesis section, while the Conclusions section sets out the policy measures needed to ensure that forests can adapt to changed environmental conditions and continue to provide their services in the future.

The Forest Report uses a broad range of data from long-term surveys to answer important questions for society, economic players and policymakers. It is aimed at experts and anyone interested in forest- and wood-related issues. With a structure modelled on Forest Europe reports, it sets out internationally comparable results and serves as a benchmark publication.

Overview of chapters

The six chapters of the Forest Report provide comprehensive information from a large number of long-term observations and answer pertinent questions.


Conclusions and need for action

The forest in Switzerland is under greater pressure than ever before. The Forest Report 2025 shows how this pressure has grown over the last 10 years as a result of extreme events such as heat, drought and storms, infestation by harmful organisms and persistently high nitrogen inputs.

The greatest challenge ahead is to ensure that forests are adaptable and resilient enough in the face of climate change and so can continue to provide an array of services, in particular protection against natural hazards. Encouraging sustainable tree species, regenerating stands, reducing pressure from wild animals and continuing to promote biodiversity all play a key role in this.

The spatial distribution of the forest area must be preserved, and the provisions in the law to this effect must be maintained. Stress factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, excessive nitrogen inputs, the spread of harmful organisms and forest fires must be reduced.

Adaptive, close-to-nature silviculture must be encouraged, and integrative forest management implemented to a greater extent. The forest is should be viewed as part of the landscape, linking different habitats across the country.

The forest and timber value chain must adapt to the changed conditions, from the production of raw materials to the processing and utilisation of products. The forestry and timber industry can become an important element in the circular economy and thereby help to meet the federal government's environmental and climate policy goals.

In order to maintain the multifunctionality of the forest, areas of conflict must be identified at an early stage and integrated into forestry planning. In this way, solutions can be built on synergies rather than resulting from compromise.

If we are to overcome the many challenges involved, increased dialogue between all players and interest groups in the forest and timber sector as well as an appropriate policy environment are essential.

Publication

Forest Report 2025

UZ-2501-E

Development, Condition and Use of Swiss Forests. 2025

Further information

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Last modification 18.03.2025

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