„Forestry is not about trees, it‘s about

people!“

(Jack C. Westoby, C.M.G.)

Alan Kocher, FCN ToS from Switzerland

UNECE-FAO FCN Team Meeting, Antalya, June 2012

Eidgenössisches Departement für

Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation UVEK

Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

Abteilung Wald

„What the public thinks about today‘s

forest policy“

Survey „WaMos 2“

conducted 2010 by Federal Office for the Environment, Berne,

Switzerland

(Published in 2012)

UNECE-FAO FCN Team Meeting, Antalya, June 2012

Why conduct a public survey?

• Forests cover 1/3 of land area

• Strict forest law since 1903 / 1991

• Policy makers must know attitude of the population

• Public check: Is „Forest Policy 2020“ up to date?

• Important input for Federal Government

• Monitoring: First survey was conducted 13 years ago

Objectives of the survey

Relationship population – forests: examined in a three-level-way:

1. Expectations and attitudes towards forests and acceptance

of measures and policies taken

2. Knowledge about forests, abot forestry and forest policies

3. Public behaviour: visits to forests, handling of natural

hazards, Buying of wood etc.

Five main areas and aspects

– Forest area and forest benefits

– Recreation

– Knowledge

– Reference and relation to forests

– Demands and requirements from forests

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„WAMOS“: Looking for evidence

1. Habitat for animals and plants 3.9

2. Quality of air and water 3.9

3. Protection from natural hazards 3.9

4. Element in beautiful landscape 3.7

5. Spiritual home 3.7

6. Producer of wood 3.6

7. Sports, recreation and leisure 3.5

8. Working place 3.4

4.0 = absolutely important

1.0 = not important at all

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Importance of forest benefits

Estimation of forested area

• 75% believe that the area covered by forests is „just right“

• Almost 20% would even like more forests, but…

• Only 28% realize that the forest area is growing

• Less people (than 1997) think that forest area is decreasing

• 85% want to stick with prohibiting forest clearances

Communication policy has been effective,

but… must be carried on!

Protection of forests

• About half of the respondents think that the state of the

forests has remained stable.

• ¾ think, that forests are „still well and alive“.

„Waldsterben“ belongs to the past, but…

… threats reamain:

– Nitrogen, increased acidity of

soils, new risks for damage,

forest fires

Informing the public is necessary

Forest benefits are valued…

Population knows and values the diverse benefits from forests!

• Living space for plants and animals

• Protection against natural hazards

• Promotion of air and water quality

• Wood production

Multifunctional forestry: the

base of „Forest policy 2020“

Forests as habitat for animals and plants

• More than 50% feel that forests, as habitat for animals and

plants, are menaced

• Almost 2/3 are in favour of Forest reserves

Confederation and cantons want

10% Forest reserves

• Contradiction: rotten stubs and branches

bother people, but…

…dead wood is a source of new life!

Information required!

Harvesting timber

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Wood production: better

public awareness than 1997!

83% of answers: important

for local economy…

66%: harvested quantity is

OK…

22%: more timber could /

should be harvested…

10%: less should be harvested

Frequency and duration of forest visits

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Activity % mentioned

1. Go for a walk, stroll 63.7

2. Hiking, sports, health 39.2

3. Just to „be“ and relax 31.6

4. Observing nature 26.5

5. Collecting 16.0

6. Partying, pic-nic 9.4

7. Accompanying children 7.7

8. Dog-walking 6.4

9. Working… 5.1

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Recreation: favourite activities

Forest visits: how satisfied are our „clients“?

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A large majority is „very“ or „rather“ satisfied…

Activity % mentioned

1. Bikers 46.2

2. Dogs 30.4

3. Noise 24.5

4. waste 10.1

5. (Horseback) riding 8.4

6. Sports (without biking) 7.4

7. (too many) people 6.3

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Recreation: main disturbances

Main conclusions

• Good appreciation of current forest policy

• In several areas more and better information is required

(evolution of forest area, dead wood, situation of forest and

wood harvesting)

• Childhood experience is crucial

and sustainable

Corinne Cuendet, Clarens/LIGNUM

Summary

Our population likes the forest, and people are

happy with our forests!

This is the credit of all forestry people!

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