Context

The BLS section between Brig and Hohtenn (Lötschberg south ramp) is protected against rock falls, avalanches and landslides by protective forests above the track. These have been irrigated for several years. However, water resources on the southern slope are scarce. The BLS has therefore set itself the medium- to long-term goal of reducing the amount of water used or even completely dispensing with the irrigation of these forests.

At the same time, climate change is changing the composition of our forests: native forest associations are gradually being replaced by non-stationary species that are resistant to heat and drought. BLS is therefore looking for alternatives to current forest management. In the context of climate change, it is mainly a question of identifying native species that can withstand the heat well, are able to establish themselves in a protective forest and are less water-intensive.

The initiative

Planting trials with different species, including exotic species, have already been carried out. However, it remains to be further investigated how the old trees would respond to the cessation of irrigation.
The objectives of the project are:

• To identify species that can be used in protective forests under the expected climatic conditions
• To examinate of the pros and cons of exotic species such as black pine, douglas, robinia, etc.
• To illustrate how observation areas should be delimited, documented and exploited over an extended period of time in order to obtain information on sustainable stand structure.

Results, limits and enable factors

At the end, a management plan for the protective forests of the future will be written.