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Why? How come? What for? Our forest raises many questions. Why are trees being cut down? Why do we need wildlife fences? And what does climate change have to do with the future of our forest?
Our mountain forests are changing. Rising temperatures, drought, and extreme weather events pose major challenges to them. To ensure that they can continue to fulfill their important role as protective forests for future generations, they require targeted care, sustainable management, and proactive measures.
This is exactly where the “WALD erklärt” project comes in. What was originally planned as an informational project by the Ferrera Forestry Office along popular hiking trails evolved, in collaboration with the Pignaverde Foundation, into a comprehensive information and awareness campaign. Three wildlife fences with informational signs and QR codes serve as the starting point. Three short films produced specifically for this project explain in an accessible and engaging way how our forest works, why it needs to be cared for, and how we can prepare it for the future.
What began as an idea by district forester Enrico Netzer has grown far beyond the original project. Together with the Ferrera Forestry Office, the Pignaverde Foundation has developed a contemporary campaign that imparts knowledge, highlights connections, and promotes understanding of the work done in the forest.
The focus is on “Forsti”—our endearing forest ranger character, developed in-house. In a series of three short films that build on one another, he explains the functions our forest serves, how forest management is regulated by the federal government, the canton, and the municipalities, and why targeted interventions are necessary. He highlights how the forest is changing due to climate change and what measures must be taken today to ensure that a healthy, resilient protective forest will still exist 50 years from now.
With moving images, clear language, and a healthy dose of charm, “Forsti” makes complex topics accessible to all generations. The campaign fosters understanding, raises awareness about the responsible management of our forests, and makes one thing clear: What we do for our forests today will determine their protection tomorrow.
"WALD erklärt" is therefore much more than a local information project. The campaign can also be implemented in other regions, thereby making a lasting contribution to knowledge dissemination and to the future of our protective forests.
