Föderaler Vollzug der Schweizer Waldpolitik – ein Erfolgsmodell?

Federal implementation of Swiss forest policy – a success story? Forest policy is considered a joint responsibility between the Confederation and the cantons. The Federal Constitution lays the foundations for the cooperation between the two levels (sovereignty of the cantons, subsidiarity, cooperation based on partnership). Vertical and horizontal institutions have emerged for the necessary processes of exchange in the federal system. In the context of the implementation of the new system of financial equalisation and allocation of tasks between the Confederation and the cantons (NFA), the joint responsibility for forest policy is regularly called into question. Forest policy can be used as an example to show what the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of implementation in a federal system are. From the point of view of forest policy actors, federal implementation can certainly be described as a successful model. However, the model has potential for improvement. First, the involvement of the cantons in federal processes can be optimised. Second, the positive aspects should be put into perspective because certain forest policy goals have not been achieved for decades.