Ansätze für einen Strukturwandel in der Schweizer Forstwirtschaft (Essay)

Since the 1990s, Swiss forest enterprises are faced with significant economic challenges. One of the reasons is the structural characteristics of the enterprises. In many areas, the forest enterprises manage a rather small forest surface, which makes efficient management difficult. Often, the resources available are not adequate for the tasks, which forces the enterprises to keep functions in-house and, as a result, to use less productive methods. The structure of the forest enterprises should be adapted to make the best use of modern technologies, increase productivity, and thereby lower the costs of forest operations. The most important tools are a reduction in the share of in-house work and an increase in the size of management units. In addition, the goals of the enterprise, and the services it offers, must be seen in the context of entrepreneurial success. Successful structural change in the Swiss forest economy seems possible and feasible. To achieve change, clear strategic positioning is needed and, last but not least, a change in the attitudes of many actors in the sector.