Gebirgswaldbau – vom finanziellen Rückgrat der Berggemeinden zum Risikomanagement | Mountain forest management: risk management of the financial backbone of mountain communities Open Access

Over the past decades the framework conditions pertaining to the care of mountain forests have changed radically. Wood production has become less and less profitable whereas public demands placed on the forest have grown considerably, particularly with regard to its protective function. The paper gives an overview of the most important developments since the appointment of Jean-Philippe Schütz at ETH Zurich as professor of silviculture. We concentrate on the following issues; firstly the teaching of mountain silviculture, which has been carried out since 1980 by Professor Schütz. Secondly, implementation,which since 1984 has been fostered by the Swiss Mountain Silvicultural group and, thirdly, developments with regard to projects.