Forest Act (ForA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Section 1 Training, Advice, Research and Data Acqu
Art. 29 Duties of the Confederation in matters of education and training
1 The Confederation shall coordinate and promote forestry education and training. 2 In conjunction with the cantons, it shall provide theoretical and practical training and continuing education in forestry at tertiary level. 3 … 4 The legislation on vocational and professional education and training applies to the training of forestry personnel. The Federal Council shall specify the forestry education and training areas, in which the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications implements this legislation.
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 3 — Repealed by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, with effect from 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 4 — Amended by Annex No II 6 of the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act of 13 Dec. 2002, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4557; BBl 2
Art. 30 Duties of the cantons in the areas of training and advice
The cantons shall ensure the training of forestry workers and the provision of advice to forest owners.
Art. 31 Research and development
1 The Confederation may commission or provide financial assistance for the following purposes: a. research on the forest; b. research and development of measures for the protection of the forest against harmful effects; c. research and development of measures aimed at protecting human life and significant material assets against natural events; d. research and development of measures to boost the market for wood and the use of wood. 2 It may establish and operate research institutes.
Art. 32 Transfer of responsibilities to associations
1 The Confederation may entrust national organisations with duties relating to forest conservation and provide financial assistance to them for this purpose. 2 It may also entrust to cantonal or regional associations duties of particular significance for certain regions, in particular in the mountain areas.
Art. 33 Surveys
1 The Confederation shall ensure that periodic surveys of the locations, functions and state of the forest, of the production and use of wood and of the structures and economic situation of the forestry sector are carried out. The forest owners and the management bodies of forestry and timber enterprises must provide the authorities with the information required and, if necessary, acquiesce in the conduct of enquiries. 2 All of those responsible for carrying out or evaluating surveys are bound by official secrecy.
Art. 34 Information
The Confederation and cantons shall ensure that the authorities and public are informed about the significance and state of the forest and about the forestry and timber sector.
Section 1a Timber Production
Inserted by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909).
Art. 34a Marketing and use of timber
The Confederation shall promote the marketing and use of sustainably produced timber, in particular by supporting innovative projects.
Art. 34b Federal buildings and installations
1 The Confederation shall encourage the use of sustainably produced timber where appropriate in the planning, construction and operation of its own buildings and installations. 2 When purchasing wood products, it shall take account of factors such as sustainable and close-to-nature forest management and the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Section 2 Financing
Art. 35 Principles
1 Subsidies paid in accordance with this Act is granted within the scope of the authorised credits under the condition that: a. the measures are cost effective and carried out professionally; b. the measures are assessed in conjunction with those of other Federal Acts both collectively and according to their actions in combination; c. the beneficiary makes a contribution that is proportionate to its economic performance, the other sources of finance and reasonable self-financing measures; d. third parties, who are beneficiaries or originators of damage, are called on for co-financing; e. a permanent resolution of conflicts that is beneficial to forest conservation is reached. 2 The Federal Council may require that subsidies are only paid to beneficiaries who participate in self-financing measures by the forestry and timber sector.
Art. 35 — Amended by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029).
Art. 36 Protection against natural events
1 Based on programme agreements, the Confederation shall make global compensatory payments to the cantons for compiling data and for measures required in spatial planning, organisational, biological and technical terms to provide protection against natural events. 2 It shall make compensatory payments for: a. the compilation of data such as event analyses, registers, hazard assessments, risk maps and overall plans; b. spatial planning measures such as risk mitigation assessments and moving buildings and installations at risk to safe locations; c. organisational measures such as warning systems, operational planning and technical precautions for emergency response operations; d. biological measures such as creating forest with special protective functions and related young forest maintenance; e. technical measures such as the maintenance, repair, reinforcement, replacement and construction of protective structures and installations; f. measures such as repairing damage to buffer zones c
Art. 36 — Amended by Annex No 5 of the FA of 15 March 2024, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 430; BBl 2023 858).
Art. 37 Protective forest
1 The Confederation shall make global compensatory payments to the cantons on the basis of programme agreements for measures necessary for the fulfilment of function of the protective forest, in particular for: a. the maintenance of the protective forest, including the prevention and remediation of forest damage that endanger the protective forest; b. the guaranteeing of the infrastructure for the maintenance of the protective forest insofar as it takes the forest as a natural community into account. 1bis By way of exception, it may make compensatory payments by means of a ruling for projects that originate as the result of an extraordinary natural event. 2 The amount of the compensatory payments made is determined by the protective forest area to be maintained, the risk to be hindered and the impact of the measures.
Art. 37 — Amended by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029). Para. 1bis — Inserted by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909).
Art. 37a Measures against forest damage outside the protective forest
1 The Confederation shall make global compensatory payments to the cantons on the basis of programme agreements for measures to prevent and mitigate forest damage outside the protective forest which is caused by natural events or harmful organisms. 2 By way of exception, it may make compensatory payments by means of a ruling for individual projects that require an assessment by the Confederation. 3 The amount of the compensatory payments made is determined by the hazard to be prevented and the impact of the measures.
Art. 37a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909).
Art. 37b Reimbursement of costs
1 Those required to take measures against harmful organisms in accordance with Article 27a paragraph 3 may be suitably reimbursed for any costs of prevention, control and re-establishment that are not borne under Article 48a. 2 The amount to be reimbursed is set by the competent authority in a procedure that is as simple as possible and free of charge to the person who has incurred costs.
Art. 37b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909).
Art. 38 Biological diversity of the forest
1 The Confederation shall provide financial assistance for measures that contribute to the conservation and improvement of biological diversity in the forest, in particular for: a. the protection and maintenance of forest reserves and other ecologically valuable forest habitats; b. the fostering of biodiversity and genetic diversity of the forest; c. the connectivity of forest habitats; d. the conservation of traditional forms of forest management; e. … 2 … 3 The level of the financial assistance is based on the significance of the measures in relation to biological diversity and the effectiveness of the measures.
Art. 38 — Amended by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 1 let. e — Repealed by No
Art. 38a Forest management
1 The Confederation provides financial assistance for measures that improve the profitability of sustainable forest management, in particular for: a. inter-operational planning bases; b. measures to improve the management conditions of the forestry operations; c. temporary joint measures by the forestry and timber sector for advertising and marketing promotion in the case of exceptional wood supply; d. the storage of wood in the case of exceptional wood supply; e. promoting the training of forestry workers and the practical training of forestry experts at university level; f. measures that support the forest in being able to fulfil its functions even under changed climatic conditions, in particular for the management of young forest and propagation of plant material; g. adaptation or reconstitution of public infrastructure facilities, insofar as these are necessary as part of an overall forest management concept and take account of the forest as a close-to-nature habitat, and overdevel
Art. 38a — Inserted by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029). Art. 38a — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909). Para. 1 let. e — Inserted by No I of
Art. 39 Education and training
1 The Confederation provides subsidies for the education and training of forestry personnel according to Articles 52–59 of the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act of 13 December 2002. 2 In derogation from paragraph 1 it assumes up to 50 percent of the occupation-specific costs, in particular for the on-site practical training of forestry personnel and creation of teaching material for forestry personnel. 3 …
Para. 1 — SR 412.10 Para. 1 — Amended by Annex No II 6 of the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act of 13 December 2002, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4557; BBl 2000 5686). Para. 2 — Amended by Annex No II 6 of the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act of 13 December 2002, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4557; BBl 2000 5686). Para. 3 — Repealed by No I of the FA of 18 March 2016, with effect from 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 3207; BBl 2014 4909).
Art. 40 Investment credits
1 The Confederation may grant interest-free or low-interest repayable credits: a. as building loans; b. for the financing of the residual costs of measures eligible for subsidy under Articles 36, 37 and 38a paragraph 1 letter b; c. for the acquisition of forestry vehicles, machines and equipment and for the creation of forestry installations. 2 The loans are limited in term. 3 Loans are only granted on the application of the canton. If a debtor does not meet his repayment obligation, the relevant canton shall assume responsibility for the repayment in his place. 4 Repayments shall be used to fund new investment credits.
Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029).
Art. 41 Provision of subsidies
1 The Federal Assembly shall approve by simple federal degree a temporary four-year guarantee credit for the provision of subsidies and credits. 2 Subsidies for the response to extraordinary natural events are limited in time according to the duration of the corresponding measures.
Art. 41 — Amended by No II 30 of the Federal Act of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFE), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029). Para. 1 — Term in accordance with Annex No 9 of the FA of 19 March 2021, in force since 1 Jan. 2022 (AS 2021 662; BBl 2020 349). This amendment has been made in the provisions specified in the AS.
Section 3 Further Measures
Inserted by Annex No 8 of the FA of 21 June 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2015 3631; BBl 2009 8533).
Art. 41a Declaration of origin
1 The Federal Council may issue regulations on the voluntary declaration of origin of forest products and their processed products in order to promote quality and sales. 2 Registration, protection of labels, procedures and legal protection are governed by the Agriculture Act of 29 April 1998. 3 The Federal Council may transfer responsibility for the above to third parties.
Art. 41a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 403; BBl 2024 971, 1126). Para. 2 — SR 910.1 Para. 2 — Amended by Annex No 2 of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955). Para. 3 — Inserted by Annex No 2 of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 41b Recommended prices for raw timber
1 The forest owners’ organisations may at national or regional level issue recommended prices for raw timber that suppliers and their customers have agreed on. 2 The recommended prices shall differ according to tree species, product range and quality grades. 3 There shall be no obligation to comply with the recommended prices. 4 No recommended prices shall be stipulated for consumers.
Art. 41b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 403; BBl 2024 971, 1126).