Biasca, Ticino
In the Biasca project, volunteers in the southern Alps are working to preserve a unique cultural landscape. They maintain mountain forests and alpine pastures in the remote Val Pontirone, helping to stabilize the slopes and prevent valuable pastureland from becoming overgrown with shrubs.
Forest and cultural landscape
Val Pontirone is a side valley of the Blenio Valley in the canton of Ticino and belongs to the municipality of Biasca. The valley floor was opened up in the 1960s by a road leading up to Alp Cava. At one time, up to 500 people lived here. The villages above the steep slopes remain accessible only on foot to this day. The forests regulate the water balance, stabilize the slopes, and provide protection against rockfalls and avalanches in winter. Heavy rainfall, particularly in summer, poses significant challenges. However, as in many places on the southern side of the Alps, the decline in agricultural activity is leading to pastures and meadows becoming increasingly overgrown with scrub—with consequences for biodiversity and the landscape.
Idea and goals
The Mountain Forest Project supports the Patriziato di Biasca in maintaining the larch-dominated pasture forests and alpine meadows in Val Pontirone. Volunteers keep the species-rich larch-dominated pasture forests open, clear brush from the alpine meadows, and maintain trails. In doing so, they make a direct contribution to preserving the cultural landscape and ensuring the sustainable management of this remote valley.
Project partnerships: Together with the Patriziato di Biasca and the Fondazione Paesaggio Valle Santa Petronilla e Valle Pontirone, the Mountain Forest Project implements the measures outlined in the project.
What you can expect
The work is flexibly adapted to current needs as well as weather and terrain conditions and may vary. The main tasks in the Biasca project are keeping larch pasture forests and alpine meadows open and clearing them of brush. In addition, volunteers carry out maintenance work on trails and infrastructure. 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
Simple alpine huts at approx. 1,900 meters above sea level
- Dormitory
- Toilet
- Running cold water
- Limited electricity
- Camping encouraged
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
- Warm sleeping bag (temperatures can drop to around 0°C at night)!
- Fitted sheet, pillow if desired
- Luggage: You must arrive with a backpack (all luggage must be well-packed in a backpack and carried up to the accommodation).
- 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.
Special requirements: The hut can only be reached by a one-hour hike along a trail. A corresponding level of fitness is required.
For environmental reasons, please use public transportation or carpool to the event—parking is not available.
Meeting point: (Only with confirmed registration!)
Sunday, 4:19 p.m., “Malvaglia, Chiesa”
Depending on the work location, it’s about a 1-hour walk from the meeting point to the accommodation with luggage
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.