Bergwaldprojekt
The Bergwaldprojekt is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, care and preservation of forests and cultural landscapes in mountain areas. Since its foundation in 1987, volunteers have been involved in work assignments for the sustainable conservation of the mountain forest and its services. The organization is politically and denominationally neutral and is financed by contributions from patrons, donations, legacies and contributions from forest owners and partner organizations. To date, over 100,000 volunteers have worked in mountain forests in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain and Liechtenstein.
Mission and goals
The mountain forest concerns us all. It protects people and settlements from avalanches, rockfall and floods, provides wood, stores CO₂, preserves biodiversity and offers space for recreation. The demands on mountain forests will continue to increase in the future. However, climate change, increasing extreme events and structural changes in mountain regions are putting it under ever greater pressure.
As the threats increase, so do the demands on the care and conservation of mountain forests. This responsibility cannot be borne by the forestry industry alone: forest maintenance is costly and usually does not cover the costs. Steep slopes, difficult access, excessive wildlife populations and low timber prices make the management of many protection forests unprofitable. This requires the support of society as a whole - joint action, solidarity and personal commitment.
This is where the Bergwaldprojekt comes in. Volunteers carry out practical work in the mountain forest and support forestry companies, forest owners, nature parks and farmers. Under professional guidance, they carry out work that would often not be possible without their help. Volunteers experience the mountain forest up close, learn about its ecological and social importance and develop an awareness of what sustainable management means. This creates ecological responsibility through personal experience - and a contribution to the long-term preservation of the mountain forest and its services.
Development and milestones
The Bergwaldprojekt was launched in Switzerland in 1987, initially under the patronage of Greenpeace and, from 1988, the WWF. The background to this was the forest dieback debate, which drew attention to the damage and endangerment of mountain forests. The first work assignment took place in Malans (Graubünden). in 1990, the Bergwaldprojekt became an independent charitable foundation based in Trin GR. In the years that followed, independent organizations were established in Germany, Austria and the Spanish Pyrenees.
The Bergwaldprojekt has also steadily expanded its activities in Switzerland: today, projects are carried out annually at over 50 locations in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Montafon (A) near the border. New projects with families, with young people in school classes and with employees in companies have also been added. The number of volunteers has grown continuously - in 2009 there were over 2,000 participants per year for the first time, and today there are around 3,000.
The Bergwaldprojekt has received numerous awards for its commitment, including the Binding Prize for Nature and Environmental Protection, the Prix Lignum, the Prix Benevol Lucerne and Graubünden and the Protection Forest Prize of the ARGE Alpenländischer Forstvereine. The organization has also been ZEWO-certified since 2012.