Schweizer Wald und die CO2-Problematik – ein Diskussionsbeitrag | The CO2-problem and forests in Switzerland – towards a discussion

Implementing the decisions taken in Bonn and Marrakech to meet resolutions set out in the Kyoto protocol provides Switzerland with the possibility of using the forest to reduce CO2 and to help meet the Swiss reductions goal. But how are climate policy and forest policy goals related in Switzerland?Using data from Switzerland's forests, climate and forest policy goals are set side by side and compared. We ascertain that many of the fixed goals have a common basis. The use of fossil fuels, for example, as far as wood is concerned, benefits both climate protection and Swiss forest management. However,from the point of view of the forests, negative incentives were created by the Kyoto protocol, that lead to the temptation of maximising the storage function of the forest which overlooks aspects of biological and agricultural diversity. Accordingly, this contribution is a call to all interested parties in Switzerland's forests to involve themselves in finding an active solution, which takes both climate and forestry policy into account.