Sustainability Report 2018: Facts and figures on the Lucerne Forest

The 2018 Sustainability Report of the Canton of Lucerne is not just for general interest. Certainly, one learns in its study that the forest in the canton of Lucerne is against about 27 percent of the area, that the forest is overall in good condition, but, it is said, there is also still potential: Thus, the natural and renewable raw material wood could be used more.

Of the approximately 340,000 cubic meters of timber that can be used annually, only two-thirds have been harvested in recent years. The economic environment for forest utilization will remain under pressure. The forestry and timber industry is making various efforts to increase the use of domestic wood: see italic note:

Forestry and timber industry in the canton of Lucerne
The forestry and timber industry plays an important role in the canton of Lucerne. It provides five percent of the jobs and generates six percent of the gross value added. With the establishment of a wood cluster, the demand for wood is to be further increased and covered with local wood. The sponsorship is broad-based and is to be expanded to include other organizations in Central Switzerland. The canton also supports "Regional Forest Owners' Organizations" (RO) to promote joint forest management and make it efficient.

Coexistence of forest use, recreation and nature conservation
Climate change, new harmful organisms and the fact that more and more people spend their leisure time in the forest are creating new challenges. Spending time and exercising in the forest is good for health, but at the same time it also requires areas with little disturbance for wildlife and the necessary understanding for timber harvesting work and other forest uses. The Service for Agriculture and Forests (lawa) works together with partners to coordinate the various demands on the forest and to strengthen the understanding of nature. The forest should serve the environment, society and the economy. The sustainability report outlines the respective need for action.

First canton-wide forest inventory
The basis for the sustainability report is the first canton-wide forest inventory. Between 2014 and 2016, trees were randomly measured on 1800 areas, tree species were determined, and stability and health were assessed. This provided a good data basis on the current forest structure at the cantonal and regional levelThe forest accounts for around 27 percent of the area in the canton of Lucerne. Overall, Lucerne's forest is in good condition, as the Canton of Lucerne's 2018 Sustainability Report shows.

. The plan is to follow up in about ten years.

With the Sustainability Report Forest the Agriculture and Forestry Service (lawa) fulfills its mandate under the Cantonal Forest Act to collect information on the monitoring of sustainability and to provide information about it.