Many specialist species in open woodland

Open woodland offers habitat for many plant and animal species that have become rare and are now considered threatened. These woods have an open canopy, allowing a lot of light to reach the forest floor or ground vegetation. Without human intervention, such woodland only exists on extremely unproductive soils, where trees and shrubs struggle to grow despite plenty of light, either because it is too dry or too wet, or because nutrient content is very low. Examples are various types of warmth-loving Scots pine forest, larch forest at the upper tree line in the southern Alps, and mountain pine forest in raised bogs.

But open woodland can also come about through human activity and was much more widespread in the past. Unlike the regulated silviculture common today, which focusses on the production of stemwood, the exploitation of woods used to be a lot more varied. Almost all usable material was taken from the forest: wood, leaf litter and fresh leaves, berries, bark, conifer cones and, by means of cutting or grazing, the undergrowth. Over time, this massive exploitation of biomass and nutrients caused poor soils to develop, creating habitat for plants and animals that in more nutrient-rich locations would immediately be forced out by more competitive, «dominant» species. In fact, the habitats that developed in the course of such diverse and intensive forms of exploitation can hardly be called «forests». Rather, they are mixed, park-like landscapes with scattered trees, groups of shrubs and very short ground vegetation. In the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, these diverse forms of usage lost their economic significance. They were abandoned, with the exception of woodland grazing, which continues in the Alps and Jura today. In some parts of the Alps, grazed woodland still accounts for more than 20 % of forest area.

Forest dominated by mountain pine with scattered spruce on boggy ground; with its open stands, this is prime habitat for Western Capercaillie. Because of its low capacity for growth, this forest remains open over time without the need for conservation measures.

Open woodland for plants and insects, but also for birds

Need for conservation programmes

Given that many birds of open woodland are threatened, at least at a regional scale, conservation programmes have a high priority. For certain species such as Western Capercaillie or European Nightjar, such programmes have been underway for several years. The Swiss Ornithological Institute launched a conservation scheme for Western Capercaillie in 1988 on behalf of the federal government. Conservation measures for the European Nightjar have been implemented by the Canton of Valais in collaboration with the Ornithological Institute since 2001. In both cases there has been some initial success, but no significant shift to positive population trends across large areas has yet been achieved.

The Canton of Zurich has taken a different approach, focussing less on individual species and more on open woodland as a diverse type of habitat. The importance of open woodland was already emphasised in the early 1990s, when the canton developed its nature conservation strategy. Later, a special action plan for the promotion of open woodland was established. The federal government has also recognised the need to act. An action plan is currently being devised that proposes to promote open woodland and pioneer habitats for species of national conservation concern.

Open oak-pine forest on sandy soil in the northern part of the Canton of Zurich. Measures such as regular mowing are needed to maintain the open structure, creating valuable habitat for several orchid species.

A variety of measures, regular maintenance

Species concerned

Western Capercaillie

Western Bonelli’s Warbler

Hazel Grouse

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

European Turtle Dove

European Nightjar

Recommended citation of the Atlas online
Knaus, P., S. Antoniazza, S. Wechsler, J. Guélat, M. Kéry, N. Strebel & T. Sattler (2018): Swiss Breeding Bird Atlas 2013–2016. Distribution and population trends of birds in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach.

References

Abegg, B., S. Wegmann, M. Fehr, H.-P. Stutz, A. Hofmann & A. Keel (2005): Aktionsplan Lichte Wälder im Kanton Zürich. Baudirektion des Kantons Zürich, Abteilung Wald und Fachstelle Naturschutz, Zürich.

Bürgi, M. & M. Stuber (2003): Agrarische Waldnutzungen in der Schweiz 1800-1950. Waldfeldbau, Waldfrüchte und Harz. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 154: 360–375.

Delarze, R., Y. Gonseth, S. Eggenberg & M. Vust (2015a): Guide des milieux naturels de Suisse. Ecologie, menaces, espèces caractéristiques. 3e éd. Rossolis, Bussigny.

Delarze, R., Y. Gonseth, S. Eggenberg & M. Vust (2015b): Lebensräume der Schweiz. Ökologie – Gefährdung – Kennarten. 3. Aufl. Ott Verlag, Bern.

Ehrbar, R., K. Bollmann & P. Mollet (2015): Die Förderung des Auerhuhns im Waldreservat Amden. Ber. St.Gall. Nat.wiss. Ges. 92: 53–78.

Geiser, R. (1989): Spezielle Käferbiotope, welche für die meisten anderen Tiergruppen weniger relevant sind und daher in der Naturschutzpraxis meist übergangen werden. Schr.reihe Landsch.pfl. Nat.schutz 29: 268–276.

Geiser, R. (1991): Käfer. S. 240–243 in: G. Kaule (Hrsg.): Arten- und Biotopschutz. 2., überarb. und erw. Aufl. Ulmer, Stuttgart.

Gotsch, N., N. Finkenzeller, J. Beck, D. Bollier & B. Buser (2002): Bedeutung und Zukunft von Waldweiden im Alpenraum: Auswertung von Daten des Landesforstinventars und einer Befragung von Förstern. Ergebnisse des Komponentenprojektes H, Polyprojekt PRIMALP. Institut für Agrarwirtschaft, ETH Zürich, und Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft (WSL), Birmensdorf.

Imesch, N., B. Stadler, M. Bolliger & O. Schneider (2015a): Biodiversität im Wald: Ziele und Massnahmen. Vollzugshilfe zur Erhaltung und Förderung der biologischen Vielfalt im Schweizer Wald. Umwelt-Vollzug Nr. 1503. Bundesamt für Umwelt, Bern.

Imesch, N., B. Stadler, M. Bolliger & O. Schneider (2015b): Biodiversité en forêt: objectifs et mesures. Aide à l’exécution pour la conservation de la diversité biologique dans la forêt suisse. L’environnement pratique n° 1503. Office fédéral de l’environnement, Berne.

Regierungsrat des Kantons Zürich (1995): Naturschutz-Gesamtkonzept für den Kanton Zürich. Amt für Raumplanung des Kantons Zürich, Zürich.

Schiess, H. & C. Schiess-Bühler (1997): Dominanzminderung als ökologisches Prinzip: eine Neubewertung der ursprünglichen Waldnutzungen für den Arten- und Biotopschutz am Beispiel der Tagfalterfauna eines Auenwaldes in der Nordschweiz. Mitt. Eidgenöss. Forsch.anst. Wald Schnee Landsch. 72: 3–127.

Sierro, A. (2016): Interventions forestières en faveur de l’Engoulevent en Valais (Alpes suisses). Bilan de 22 ans d’expérience (1993-2014). Station ornithologique suisse, Sempach.

Stuber, M. & M. Bürgi (2001): Agrarische Waldnutzungen in der Schweiz 1800-1950. Waldweide, Waldheu, Nadel- und Laubfutter. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 152: 490–508.

Stuber, M. & M. Bürgi (2002): Agrarische Waldnutzungen in der Schweiz 1800-1950. Nadel- und Laubstreue. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 153: 397–410.

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