Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

In spring 2025, WSL PhD student Lisa Jourdain spent four weeks in Australasia searching for centuries-old wood samples that hold valuable information about past climates. In the WSL logbook, she shares stories from her expedition, which took her to remote forest sites and into an ancient wood archive. For a detailed account of the expedition, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gUWGxXud   Lisa Jourdain #Dendrochronology #ClimateResearch #Fieldwork #Australasia #RECONSPHERE #WSL

Green spaces in noisy cities offer people respite from stress 🌳 That urban greenery can promote recovery from stress may not come as a surprise. But now, a comprehensive study by Empa and Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL has confirmed just how significant this effect is. In a combination of lab and field studies, researchers demonstrated that green surroundings and natural soundscapes help people relax measurably – even in noisy cities. “Noise-stricken city dwellers can recover much better if they live near green spaces or in green environments. This effect can be seen on both a physical and mental level – and is even demonstrable in the long term,” says Empa researcher Beat Schäffer, summarizing the main findings. The study was funded by the Schweizerischer Nationalfonds SNF and shows how crucial green spaces in cities can be for the health of the population – far beyond aesthetic or ecological aspects. 🔗News article: https://fcld.ly/v8wrjt6 (Article & video: Manuel Martin) 🔗RESTORE: https://lnkd.in/g2VXdjJs #UrbanHealth #GreenSpaces #StressResearch #EnvironmentalPsychology #NoisePollution #Empa #WSL #CityPlanning Claudia Kawai Reto Pieren Fotis Georgiou

Are you a MSc or PhD student working on the linkages between aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems? Curious about the ecological AND social dimensions? Apply to the 3rd edition of our #SummerSchool on Blue-Green Biodiversity in Davos 🇨🇭, organized by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and Eawag. Deadline: 1 May 2025. Summer School: Blue-green biodiversity. Research and practice at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems Date & location: 24-29 August 2025 / Davos, Switzerland Organizers: WSL & Eawag Freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems are closely interconnected, but they are often studied in isolation from each other. In the context of global change, it is urgent to understand how blue (water) and green (land) ecosystems are similar or different in terms of biodiversity patterns, ecological and evolutionary processes, and their responses to global drivers. Evidence-based understanding of blue-green biodiversity is necessary to inform policies and action to halt and reverse nature loss that threatens human well-being. In response to this challenge, WSL and Eawagare collaborating to offer the "Summer School: Blue-Green Biodiversity – Research and Practice at the Interface of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems" for the third time. The summer school aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the interdependencies between ecological and social systems. While focusing on Swiss habitats, the summer school will highlight how an integrated approach —incorporating the ecological, evolutionary, and social dimensions of blue and green ecosystems—benefits the conservation, maintenance, and restoration of biodiversity. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/dKNZsd7B

The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF has been measuring the snow on the Weissfluhjoch for almost 90 years. The data obtained in this way is crucial for climate research, avalanche warnings and sustainable water supply. Snow climatologist Dr Christoph Marty provides insights into his work and shows why precise snow measurements are becoming increasingly important in times of climate change. More information in the news article: https://lnkd.in/gEWc746w 📷️ J. Bettzieche #SLF #WSL #climateresearch #snow research #avalanche warning #water supply #climatechange #Weissfluhjoch #research

When frozen rivers break up in spring, the sudden release of ice and water can reshape river channels and pose serious risks to nearby infrastructure. These events potentially influence sediment transport, erosion patterns, and bank stability. ❄️🧊 In collaboration with Umeå University, a team from WSL laid a fiber-optic cable on river ice in northern Sweden to find out whether the ice breakup event could be predicted. In the WSL Logbook, WSL doctoral student Jiahui Kang reports on how that worked – and how things sometimes happen faster than expected. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJn6mJJm #research #sweden #NaturalHazards #ice #snow #Naturgefahren Umeå universitet Jiahui Kang

Schneearmer Winter, ausgeprägtes inneralpines Altschneeproblem, wenig tödliche Lawinenunfälle Der Winter 2024/25 liegt in den Top 10 der mildesten Winter seit Messbeginn 1864. Ausserdem herrschte Schneearmut in den Schweizer Alpen, besonders im Osten. Der Hauptgrund für den wenigen Schnee, auch in hohen Lagen, waren die wenigen Niederschläge zwischen November 2024 und April 2025 im Grossteil der Schweizer Alpen. Im Gegensatz zu den über 2000 m gelegenen automatischen IMIS-Stationen war die Schneearmut im Winter 2024/25 an den unterhalb von 1500 m gelegenen Stationen weniger aussergewöhnlich, da milde Winter in dieser Höhenlage bereits in früheren Jahren zu unterdurchschnittlichen Schneemengen geführt hatten. Der schneearme Winterbeginn sorgte in vielen Regionen für ein schwaches Fundament der Schneedecke. Diese kritische Altschneesituation mit kantig aufgebauten, weichen Schichten tief in der Schneedecke blieb vor allem an Schattenhängen den ganzen Winter bestehen, besonders in den schneearmen Gebieten des südlichen Wallis, des Tessins und Graubündens. Häufige Brüche in der schwachen Altschneedecke führten oft zu grossflächigen Lawinenanrissen und zu vielen mittleren und grossen Lawinen. Dagegen waren die langlebigen Schwachschichten in den neuschneereichen Gebieten des Alpennordhangs und des westlichen Unterwallis meist von gut verfestigten Schneeschichten mächtig überlagert. Die zwei lawinenaktivsten Perioden des Winters 2024/25 waren in der Altjahreswoche 2024 sowie Ende Januar 2025. Bis Mitte April 2025 kamen in 9 Lawinenunfällen 10 Personen ums Leben. Die Anzahl Todesopfer ist deutlich geringer als im Durchschnitt der letzten 20 Jahre, obwohl die Anzahl der dem SLF gemeldeten Personenlawinen leicht über dem Durchschnitt liegt. Alle Details und auch ein Video mit Statements dazu gibt’s im Winterflash auf der SLF-Website: https://lnkd.in/ezs3idGK 📷 N. Büchi #SLF #SLFDavos #Winter #Winterflash #Schnee #Lawinen

In a study recently published in the journal ‘Conservation Letters’, a research team led by Giulia Francesca Azzurra Donati, a postdoctoral researcher at #Eawag, investigated how the protection of ecological networks is linked to collaboration between different stakeholders 🌱💧 Donati and her team analysed so-called blue-green habitats in three areas in Switzerland and modelled and analysed where and in which landscape elements amphibians can live and how well these areas are connected to each other. They supplemented these ecological network models with a survey of around 180 organisations that are active in those three regions. There was a clear difference between collaborative management of interconnected blue-green areas in rural and urban areas: ❗ In rural, more natural areas, there is relatively good coordination between nature conservation organisations, authorities and land users. ❗ In urban areas, on the other hand, there is often a lack of clear responsibility and co-operation in the context of interconnected blue-green areas. A possible explanation for this discrepancy is the fact that there are many more years of experience with nature conservation projects. Nature conservation in urban areas, on the other hand, is still a relatively emerging field, says Donati. In addition,  there is a particularly large number of different interest groups in the settlement area. 💡  ‘This can lead to a kind of silo mentality fragmenting aquatic and terrestrial systems and makes effective environmental governance more challenging,’ says Donati. In the worst-case scenario, measures to protect natural areas remain uncoordinated and valuable areas are lost. The researchers are therefore calling for more coordinated approaches to nature conservation in urban areas. It is important to overcome existing barriers between different stakeholders. 💡 ‘We need space for exchange to enhance effective collaboration between city administrations, nature conservation organisations, building and transport authorities, and civil society.’ The project was part of the #bluegreenbiodiversity Research Initiative of Eawag and Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dJNUvZ22 Janine Bolliger Manuel Fischer #bluegreenbiodiversity #bluegreeninfrastructure #bgb #bluegreen #habitats #aquaticresearch

Upcoming distinguished Lecture by Prof. Dr. David Kaufmann, ETH Zurich! 🏙️🏢 Many cities worldwide have introduced densification strategies. Yet, the current implementation of densification brings many challenges for a just and socio-ecological urban development, particularly regarding the displacement of lower-income residents, high CO2-emissions stemming from building activities, and the rather low democratic acceptance of densification. In this talk, Prof. Kaufmann will exemplify these challenges and outline potential strategies towards a fair and sustainable densification. David Kaufmann, Aline von Atzigen, Marco Pütz #urban #densification #urbandensification

Wo bot die Schweiz kurz nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg Platz für Natur, wo waren Gebäude, wo Felder? Forschende der Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL haben ein Modell entwickelt, das auf digitalisierten Luftbildern aus der Nachkriegszeit Lebensräume wie Wald, Gewässer oder Obstwiesen identifizieren kann. Damit wollen sie nun eine historische Lebensraumkarte der Schweiz erstellen. Zum ganzen Artikel: https://lnkd.in/ePt39WNp. #Wald #Lebensraum #Lebensraumkarte #Schweiz #Habitat

Seit einigen Tagen liegt auf dem SLF-Versuchsfeld am Weissfluhjoch (2536 m ü. M., Davos, GR) so wenig Schnee wie noch nie zu diesem Zeitpunkt. Mit 127 cm erreichte die Schneehöhe heute einen neuen Tiefstand für einen 11. April seit dem Start der Messungen vor 90 Jahren. Einen Überblick zur Schnee- und Lawinensituation im Winter 2024/25 gibts nächsten Dienstag im Winterflash. 1: Schneehöhenverlauf (rot) im Winter 2024/25 auf dem SLF-Versuchsfeld mit Median, Minima und Maxima 2: Standbild der Webcam beim SLF-Versuchsfeld Weissfluhjoch 3: Aktuelle Schneehöhe schweizweit im Vergleich mit dem langjährigen Mittelwert jeweils am 11. April (Referenzperiode 1991 bis 2020)⁠ Datenstand: 11. April 2025