Bedretto, Ticino
In the Bedretto Project, volunteers in the upper Val Bedretto and in Airolo are working to preserve protective forests, alpine meadows, and larch-meadow forests. They maintain areas rich in biodiversity, assist with recovery efforts following storm and weather damage, and generally implement measures to stabilize the protective forest.
Forest and cultural landscape
The municipality of Bedretto is located at the upper end of the Leventina valley and extends to the Nufenen Pass. Airolo, at the foot of the Gotthard Pass, is a major transportation hub. The area receives heavy snowfall, and there is often a high risk of avalanches in winter. The forests, both in Val Bedretto and in Airolo, are exposed to extreme conditions but perform vital protective functions: in Airolo, they safeguard the village and its infrastructure. A tornado in 2020 caused massive damage and destroyed almost the entire forest. Short- and long-term measures are needed to restore safety. In Val Bedretto, open larch forests dominate the landscape and are home to a high level of biodiversity. Due to the decline of alpine farming and agriculture, these valuable areas are increasingly becoming overgrown with scrub.
Idea and goals
The Mountain Forest Project supports the Patriziato di Bedretto and the Patriziato di Airolo in their maintenance and conservation efforts. In Val Bedretto, the focus is on keeping the species-rich larch pasture forests open and clearing them of scrub to safeguard traditional alpine grazing and biodiversity. In Airolo, the focus is on restoring and maintaining protective forests, particularly those areas damaged by the 2020 storm. The goal is the long-term preservation of ecologically valuable landscapes and the protective function of the forests.
Project partnerships: The project partners are the Patriziato di Bedretto, the Patriziato di Airolo, and the local forestry service.
What you can expect
The work is flexibly adapted to current needs as well as weather and terrain conditions and may vary. In Val Bedretto, larch-dominated pastures are being maintained: spruce and green alder are removed, and the wood is piled up to create habitat islands for insects, birds, and small animals. In Airolo, the work includes maintaining protective forests, building and maintaining trails, erecting tripods, planting, and implementing measures to prevent wildlife damage. All work is carried out under the guidance of experienced project and group leaders.
We kick off on Sunday with an introduction to the Mountain Forest Project and the week’s schedule. Days start early: breakfast is at 6:30 a.m., followed by work. A highlight is the weekly forestry excursion in the surrounding area. In addition to forestry work, volunteers also take on simple household tasks at the accommodation, such as tidying up or doing the dishes.
Check out more photos from the project!
Organisatorisches
Group accommodation at 1,550 meters above sea level
- Dormitory
- Shower/toilet
- Running hot water
- Electricity throughout the building
- Camping available
Breakfast and dinner at the accommodation, lunch in the forest
- Whole-food
- regional
- seasonal
- organic
- Low meat content (vegetarian alternative available)
- Sturdy, high-top hiking boots (above the ankle) with a treaded sole (two pairs recommended)
- Work clothes, work gloves
- Rain jacket, rain pants (gaiters recommended)
- Warm clothing (we’ll be in the mountains)
- Slippers
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat)
- Daypack, pocket knife, water bottle (thermos recommended)
- Hand towel/shower towel
- Personal items
- Sleeping bag, fitted sheet, pillowcase
- Luggage: Travel with a suitcase or bag is possible
- Good physical condition and sure-footedness. The work may take place on steep terrain.
- Please arrive at the meeting point on time. Late arrival or early departure is not permitted.
- Participants must follow the instructions of the project staff.
- Insurance is the responsibility of the participants.
- Photos will be taken during the project week and may be published in our publications. Please contact the project leadership if you do not consent to this.
For environmental reasons, please use public transportation or carpool to the event—parking is not available.
Meeting point: (Only with confirmed registration!)
Sunday, 5:32 p.m., PostBus stop “Cioss Prato (Bedretto)”
From the meeting point, it is a 15-minute walk to the accommodation. Luggage will be transported from the meeting point to the accommodation in Bergwaldprojekt vehicles.
Departure: Saturday, 11:00 a.m. from the meeting point.
Registration is binding. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration immediately by calling +41 (0)81 650 40 40 or emailing info@bergwaldprojekt.ch. We will be available on
the day of arrival in case of emergencies. The relevant phone number will be posted in the project information section of your profile shortly before the project begins.