At the Swiss Timber Industry Congress, which took place on November 14 in Muri/CH, there was unanimous agreement on the appeal to forest owners: By 2030, an additional 1 million m³ of log wood should be harvested annually from Swiss forests. Politically, however, it is a complex project that requires persuasion at the local level.
The Aargau forest plays a vital role not only as a natural and recreational area but also in the production of wood products, as Ralf Bucher, farmer, forest owner, and Vice President of the Aargau Grand Council, emphasized in his address in the new hall of the Caspar Drei-Häuser Hotel in Muri. In fact, the Aargau forest is the third-largest timber producer in Switzerland. With an annual harvest volume of 412,000 m³, it has reached the sustainability limit.
The use of wood is shifting from sawlogs and industrial log wood to energy wood. Christoph Niederberger, Director of the association Waldschweiz, emphasized that the importance of timber production is declining, while ancillary sources of income, such as specialized logging, ecological projects, and recreational activities, are gaining in importance. The Swiss Timber Industry and Waldschweiz are calling for greater transparency, traceability, and consensus. A proposal by State Councilor Daniel Fässler facilitates the establishment of a timber market commission with the aim of discussing demand-driven log supply and publishing non-binding guideline prices. The first meeting, initiated by Waldschweiz, is scheduled for late January 2026.
Ivan Pahud, State Councilor, President of Lignum Vaud, and newly appointed President of the Swiss Forestry Company Association (FUS), observes a reluctance to harvest wood. He criticizes the restrictive regulations regarding breeding and nesting seasons in some cantons, as well as the limited logging periods. Furthermore, there is no longer any guarantee that log wood can be transported across frozen ground in winter, which is why the associations are seeking dialogue with the cantons.
So, why is there no initiative at the federal level? “We must use parliamentary resources responsibly,” Pahud said. “The quality of the initiatives and the coordination between federal agencies are crucial.” Dr. Paul Steffen from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) confirmed that the concerns of the timber industry have been heard: The demand for the harvest of an additional 1 million m³ of log wood has been incorporated into the new forest and timber strategy, as has the promotion of forest development and the increased use of Swiss wood. At the same time, funding for the Timber Action Plan will be reduced from 2027 onwards.
Niederberger and Michael Gautschi, Director of the Swiss Timber Industry Association, emphasized that small steps are necessary: the Timber Market Commission, improved framework conditions for investments, and negotiations with the authorities for a more industry-friendly enforcement of log harvesting permits. A project with the working title “Timber Mobilization at the Grassroots Level” is already in the planning stages.
