Safety interventions implemented close to nature

Yesterday, a so-called "tree trimmer" used a large pair of pliers to snap off 25 dry trees and branches along the Sihl riverside path between the visitor center and the Sihlwald bridge (near the forester's lodge). The broken parts remain on the forest floor, the trunks remain standing. This measure was necessary for the safety of visitors. As little as possible and as much as necessary was removed. Such safety interventions only take place on heavily used paths such as the Sihluferweg, where a compromise must be found between the safety of visitors and the protected natural forest.

"Tree trunks without a crown are typical of a natural forest. The intervention on the Sihluferweg is therefore artificial, but it is designed to be as close to nature as possible," says Isabelle Roth, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Natural Forest. She explains that new habitats are created in this way - similar to natural processes: "Insects colonize the dead wood, whereupon woodpeckers find food and build their cavities in the tree remains. The cycle in the natural forest is thus accelerated by the intervention, but not interrupted".

Wilderness in the Sihlwald

Although the Sihlwald has only been left to its own devices since 2000, there are already large areas of forest where dead dry stands and fallen, decaying tree trunks give the impression of wilderness. Wilderness means diverse habitats for plants and animals. Hundreds of species of beetles, mosquitoes and flies find a home in and on the dead wood. The diversity of lichens and fungi is overwhelming. All this comes about when we leave nature to its own devices. This is the norm in the Sihlwald natural forest.

Further information

Isabelle Roth
Wednesday, April 5, 2 - 3 p.m.
Deputy manager and head of the natural forest
Tel. 044 722 55 22 (head office)
isabelle.roth@wildnispark.ch