Lütschental, Canton of Bern
In the Lütschental project, volunteers in the heart of the Bernese Oberland are dedicated to protecting and maintaining mountain forests and the cultural landscape. Through their work, they safeguard vital protective forests, maintain valuable habitats, and help ensure that reptiles, orchids, and other rare species continue to have a home.
Forest and cultural landscape
The municipality of Lütschental is located in the Bernese Oberland, nestled along the Schwarze Lütschine. The river drains the region between Grindelwald and Interlaken and shapes the valley with its impressive landscape. The Lütschental is steep and rugged; in winter, not a single ray of sunshine reaches the valley floor for four months. This makes the protective forest, which helps prevent avalanches and rockfalls, all the more important. On the sunny southern slope lies the Steinewald sub-forest reserve—an ecological gem home to rare reptiles and orchids that depend on limestone-rich debris. However, spruce and beech trees are increasingly displacing light-loving species, making targeted management necessary.
Idea and goals
Volunteers with the Mountain Forest Project assist the local forestry office with maintenance and conservation work in the Lütschental valley. The protective forest is being stabilized and the rocky forest is being thinned to preserve habitats for reptiles and orchids. This helps maintain biodiversity and ensures that the protective forest can fulfill its vital safety function.
Project partnerships: The Lütschental project is carried out in collaboration with the local forestry operation.
What you can expect
The work will be flexibly adapted to current needs as well as weather and terrain conditions and may vary. The main activities in the Lütschental project include forest maintenance, clearing felled timber, trail construction, clearing alpine meadows, controlling invasive plant species, and planting. 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. Each day starts 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
Lütschental Multipurpose Hall at 700 meters above sea level
- Dormitory
- Shower/toilet
- Running hot water
- Electricity throughout the building
- Camping allowed
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, personal sleeping pad, pillow (if desired)
- 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, 4:22 p.m., “Lütschental” train station
The accommodation is located right next to the meeting point.
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.