Waldpolitischer Jahresrückblick 2009 | Annual review of Swiss forest policy 2009

Abstract

In 2009, the Swiss federal forest policy was mainly characterized by implementation activities on the administration level and by numerous political interventions on the governmental and parliamentary level. The most important administrative activity was the definitive introduction of the new perequation system. Members of the Parliament have launched a discussion on two core issues of Swiss forest policy: to reconsider the principle of a strong forest area conservation on the one hand, the question of the primacy of timber harvesting or biodiversity in Swiss forests on the other hand. From a broader perspective, especially two political processes with important impacts on forests were started (Swiss biodiversity strategy) or continued (partial revision of the law on spatial planning). From an international point of view the agenda was dominated by the UN-Copenhagen Climate Conference and the decision of the National Council to refuse the ratification of the protocols of the Alpine Convention.