Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Ordentl. Budget 2013 ( CHF million)
2'271
- ETH Zurich
- EPFL
1'118 557
- PSI
- WSL
- Empa
- Eawag
286 51 92 54
The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) is concerned with the use and design as well as the protection of natural and urban habitats. It draws contributions and solutions, so that the man use landscapes and forests responsibly and with natural hazards as they occur especially in mountainous countries, can handle with care. WSL provides the basis for a sustainable environment policy in Switzerland.
Since its beginnings, the WSL into account the regionality of Switzerland. So in 1888, experimental plots were set up in a variety of woods to learn more about their (wooden) income. Today cared for and researched the WSL over six thousand experimental and research areas, including large experimental facilities about to rock fall or debris flow, experiments on the effects of climate change on the forest or areas that are affected by natural events such as storms or forest fires.
The WSL is a research center of the Federation, is part of the ETH domain and employs around 500 staff. Besides its head office in Birmensdorf and the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos promote branch offices in Lausanne and Bellinzona since 1991 and since 1996 in Sion local synergies and dialogue with practice.
History
WSL was founded in 1885 as the Swiss Central Office for the forest research institute and in 1933 renamed the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Research Resources ( EAFV ). Since 1989, it reflects the new name. For WSL includes the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, which is responsible for the official avalanche warning in Switzerland. It has locations in Birmensdorf, Davos, Sion, Lausanne and Bellinzona, where about 500 employees work. From 2007 until 1 July 2012, it was directed by James Kirchner. Since then, Konrad Steffen is Director of the WSL.
Examples of activities
The WSL is concerned with the use and protection of landscapes and habitats, with the emphasis on forests and natural hazards. As an application-oriented research institution perceives as a bridge between science and implementation.
WSL operates the largest international laboratory for dendrochronology. Among the startling findings of the WSL counts in April 2013, the freezing of 14,000 year old tree trunks of subfossil forest in Zurich - Wiedikon on the initiative of Daniel Nievergelt, a Dendrochnologen the WSL.
" These are the first documented trees that have immigrated with us after the last glacial period in the Mediterranean again ... such finds are unique in the world. "
Around 200 tribes, the researchers were able to ensure the meantime. Not only for dendrochronology, the findings are startling, one probably around 2000 years back further -reaching dating from the annual ring tables would allow it.
With the international EU research project CARBO - Extreme on the effects of extreme weather events on the terrestrial ecosystems of the evidence has been furnished that the storage capacity of carbon dioxide decreases drastically as a result of global warming. In particular, the forests are weakened by long-term forest fires and other hazards after dry periods, which contributes again to an increase in greenhouse gases.