History of the Sihlwald

King Louis the German bequeaths the lands of Zurich and the forest on the right bank of the Sihl to his daughter Hildegard (Abbess of Fraumünster)

The Habsburgs grant the city of Zurich the Sihlwald on the left bank of the Sihl

From the 14th century onwards, the city of Zurich had significant interests in the timber industry (timber for construction, commerce and firewood) and timber rafting on the Sihl

The first mention of the Sihlamt, the offices that administered the Sihlwald, and the Sihlwald’s head foresters, who were in charge of its management

The Sihlwald is seen as an example of a well-managed forest throughout Europe. Secularisation of the monasteries of Kappel (1524) and Fraumünster. Katharina von Zimmern, the last abbess of the Fraumünster monastery, hands over the Sihlwald forest and surrounding area to the city of Zurich, which acts as a significant boost to the city’s power. The swearing-in of local forestry workers (loyalty to the city)

The first Forest Act. Reduction of the adjoining tenant farmers’ rights of customary usage

High fines for damaging the forest, deforestation, illegal sales of wood and illicit wooded pastures

The first economic planning

First steps taken towards sustainable forestry by C.A.L. von Orelli

Workshop in the Sihlwald hamlet (around 100 employees, school, post office). End of timber rafting, linking of the area to the city via the Sihltalstrasse (Sihl valley road)

Forest railway built for the forestry industry (12-20 km of track). Further information about the former Sihlwald forest railway can be found here

Start of Sihlwald project Sihlwald Natural Landscape: Ideas and Plans: Head forester Andreas Speich

Sihlwald workshop closes

Sihlwald Natural Landscape Foundation founded

Remediation of polluted areas caused by the Sihlwald workshop

Cessation of forest maintenance within the entire Sihlwald perimeter

Sihlwald cantonal conservation ordinance. Referendum on the Wildnispark Zurich in the city of Zurich: 89.6 per cent of votes in favour

Operational launch of the Wildnispark Zurich Foundation, consisting of Sihlwald and Langenberg

Award of the national designation Nature Discovery Park – Park of National Significance

National designation Nature Discovery Park – Park of National Significance extended for a further ten years