New approaches in the forest of Allschwil - a recreation concept with pioneer character

The forest of Allschwil is a popular recreation area within the agglomeration of Basel. This forest also serves as a valuable resource for conservation and wood production, containing a high percentage of excellent quality timber. According to the research studies conducted by the University of Basel on the use of the forest for recreation, a concept for recreation was developed based on the Allschwil forest's current management and conservation practices. The concept translates the employed superior approaches and objectives and applies them area-wide. For the entire forest, the diverse uses of the forest are integrated and differentiated geographically as well as according to their functions. Important elements of the recreation concept consist of the amount, type and development of the forest track network, the measures regarding the silvicultural design and the regulation of the visitors flow, as well as the regulations for the approval of organized activities and positioning of recreation infrastructure. The concept serves as the basis for a performance agreement between the local community and the forest owners. The financial estimates demonstrate that the planned measures will not enlarge the current budget