Eigentumsübergreifende Zusammenarbeit im Konolfinger Privatwald und im Kanton Bern | Cooperation between proprietors of privately-owned forests in the Konolfingen region and in Canton Berne

Since 1970 at least, the wood production potential of small private forest plots in the region of Konolfingen has not been fully exploited. In the approximately 5800 hectares of forest the present timber stocks are at 580 m3/ha. Similar conditions can be found in many other regions with private forests in Canton Berne. With the concept “Auriga”, which provides funding for mechanization, mobilization and more professionalism, the Forestry Service of Canton Berne has created an instrument which should motivate forest owners to an increased use of their wood. The present article pursues the question as to how far the project initiated in 1994 by the society of forest owners in Konolfingen thanks to the Binding Forest Award corresponds to the cantonal funding concept. It has become clear that the possibilities of mechanization offered by modern machines and procedures have been underestimated. Only after hurricane Lothar was it demonstrated that possibilities exist for use in small plots and in very steep pri...