Unfortunately, we missed the chance for a better scenario several years ago.
But hey – have a consolation prize.
A little chocolate to sweeten your naivety?
Take a look at a more realistic level.
Oh – you still believe in a perfect world?
Did you really think there was a better scenario?
You dreamer, you.
Unfortunately, we can’t turn back time.
The past is gone for good.
Can’t handle reality?
It’s okay – we’ve got something to help you.
'From a distance, Swiss forests still look much as they did 20 years ago. Look more closely, however, and they have become significantly drier: individual tree species are under stress. This makes them more vulnerable to disease and pests.
Locally, spruce trees, beech trees in the Swiss Plateau, and the famous pine forests in the lowlands of Valais are dying back.
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Dead fine plant material (brushwood) can promote the formation and spread of small fires – particularly near settlements or transport routes, where human activity often causes fires. continue to Forest Fires
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Where tree vitality declines, their stabilising effect on the soil also diminishes. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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Forests store CO₂. At lower elevations in particular, this storage capacity can decrease significantly due to drought and heat – which in turn further worsens the climate situation. continue to CO₂ Balance
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Healthy forests play an important role in water storage. They help retain water in the soil and protect against flooding. back to Water Balance
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Bark beetle infestations are increasing, particularly in lower-elevation spruce forests, killing trees that are already weakened. continue to Bark Beetle
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The regeneration of protection forests with climate-adapted tree species is becoming increasingly challenging. continue to Loss of Protection Forests
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Trees develop various strategies to cope with moderately increased heat stress. For example, they adjust their leaf orientation. back to Heat
'Increasing drought can trigger massive tree dieback in some areas. These changes will reshape our landscapes.
Various forest functions, such as timber production and recreational value, may be affected.
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Dry branches falling more frequently to the ground increases the quantity of combustible material and the intensity of fires. This also makes firefighting efforts on the ground more difficult. continue to Forest Fires
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More frequent natural disturbances can increase the risk of rockfall and landslides in steep terrain. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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As tree mortality increases, Swiss forests are gradually becoming a source of CO₂. However, in mountain forests that were previously limited by cold temperatures, carbon storage capacity is growing. continue to CO₂ Balance
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As forest soils dry out, the ability of forests to retain water declines. If water is not sufficiently retained, this can lead to major flooding. back to Water Balance
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Bark beetle infestations are increasing sharply – not only at lower elevations, but also in higher-elevation spruce forests. continue to Bark Beetle
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Protection forest management is under enormous time and resource pressure in order to keep pace with the changes taking place. continue to Loss of Protection Forests
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At higher temperatures, trees absorb less CO₂ and at the same time lose more water through transpiration. This negatively impacts photosynthesis and can, over the long term, impair tree growth and health. back to Heat
High temperatures and extreme drought also severely weaken the surviving trees. These trees absorb less CO₂, lose more water, and grow more slowly. Across almost all regions, large-scale tree mortality is occurring – even typically resilient species are showing initial signs of decline.
The forests as we know them are undergoing fundamental change.
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Dead conifers only increase the risk of crown fires in the short term, while the needles are still attached. Other standing deadwood has little effect on forest fire risk. continue to Forest Fires
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When the protective function of forests declines, the risk of rockfall, landslides, and debris flows increases sharply. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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Swiss forests are becoming significant sources of CO₂ over large areas, as they release far more CO₂ than they are able to absorb. continue to CO₂ Balance
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The drastic reduction in the water-retention capacity of severely dried-out forest ground leads to major flooding in many regions following heavy rainfall. back to Water Balance
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Bark beetle infestations are increasingly becoming a major problem in spruce forests at all elevations. continue to Bark Beetle
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The increasing occurrence of large-scale disturbances requires clear prioritisation of protection forest management. continue to Loss of Protection Forests
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Increasing heat stress further weakens trees, leading to higher mortality. At the same time, warmer conditions favour the growth of harmful organisms such as bark beetles and fungal diseases. back to Heat
That's it. RIP.
That's a bit too much.
Maybe go down a level?
Got it – you're really into extremes.
Game over.
Try a different level.
That extreme? You’ll find the matching soundtrack here.
We’re done with this planet.
On to the next!
Solutionsfor: Tree Vitality
'Forestry must use limited resources strategically to make forests more resilient and resistant to the impacts of climate change and to maintain their protective functions. Depending on the region, two strategies are applied:
Where silvicultural measures are effective, forests are strategically adapted – with support from the federal government and the cantons – through graduated harvesting, natural regeneration, or the planting of climate-adapted tree species. In many areas, this also requires adjusting wildlife populations (deer, chamois, etc.).
Where interventions are only marginally effective, some forests are designated as conservation areas.
Various web-based decision-support tools are available: TreeApp provides site-specific guidance on selecting suitable tree species under three climate scenarios. The web tools FORTE (Forest Tree Explorer) and FORTE Future offer information on the current condition of forests and their projected development. This includes, for example, the suitability of more than 30 tree species in Switzerland and their potential present-day distribution.