Agrarische Waldnutzungen in der Schweiz 1800–1950. Waldfeldbau, Waldfrüchte und Harz | Agricultural use of forests in Switzerland 1800-1950. Field crops and forestry in alternation, forest fruits and resin

Agricultural uses of forests in Switzerland, such as wood pasture,fodder production and litter harvesting were important for animal husbandry. Other uses resulted more directly in products for human consumption. Crops, such as potatoes and cereals, were produced in several systems with temporary fields in the forest. In the 19th century, a special agroforestry system was developed based on traditional forms of slash-andburn-cultivation, in which clear-cutting and artificial regeneration were combined with intermediate crop production. This system became widespread in Switzerland. Collecting berries did not only open up additional food resources, but also generated income for many farmers. Resin was another natural product which was in high demand owing to its unique characteristics. It was used for a wide variety of purposes and was often collected by farmers for their own use and to generate extra income. In this paper we discuss the development of these uses for the period 1800 until 1950 and the consequences for forests as ecosystems. Agricultural uses of the forest have long been neglected. Given their importance for cultural history,ecosystem development and the potential for carbon sequestration of forests, these agricultural uses deserve to be the subject of further study.