A workshop about «Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Switzerland» was organized by the Swiss Forest Agency, in order to enhance knowledge about the paneuropean criteria and indicators and their possible applications. The workshop results are to be used as recommendations for the discussions in progress about sustainable forest management targets and the need for future relevant scientific data. In particular, two criteria turned out to be insufficient for Swiss requirements: Maintenance, conservation and appropriate enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems (Criterion 4), as well as Maintenance and appropriate enhancement of protective functions in forest management (Criterion 5). Further pertinent indicators were proposed. Additionally, there were many demands for giving more weight to «financial sustainability». The workshop concluded that there was a need to define targets for sustainable management of the Swiss forests and that better relations need to be created between international criteria and indicators and their application at the canton and management unit level.

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