55,000 trees were planted across Switzerland for a climate research project. Now it must be observed over several decades which tree species are able to withstand climate change. Trees of 18 different tree species have been planted in 57 forest areas across all altitudes and regions of Switzerland over the past three years, as the Swiss Federal Institute for Forestry, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) announced on Friday.
Together with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the cantonal forest services, the forest districts and the tree nurseries, the WSL now wants to provide information on the suitability of these species to climate change. Trees should be observed for 30 to 50 years.
In many Swiss forests, climate change is progressing faster than nature can adapt, according to the WSL. Biodiversity and forest services such as protection from natural hazards, timber production, recreational space and carbon storage are therefore endangered. According to the WSL, the last of 55,000 trees were planted on Friday by the Dents-du-Midi forestry district in a forested area in the municipality of Champéry, in the canton of Valais.