Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Avalanche bulletin and snow situation
Edition: Wed 23.4., 17:00
Avalanche Bulletin

About WSL

Research for people and the environment in a changing world

The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL provides science-based solutions for forests, landscapes, biodiversity, natural hazards, and snow and ice in a changing world. As a federal research institute and part of the ETH Domain, WSL commits itself to excellence in research and implementation that benefits nature and society.

Mission

As the leading Swiss research institute for terrestrial environmental systems, WSL performs outstanding research at the national and inter- national levels that benefits the environment and society in Switzerland and beyond. We address global challenges driven by land use change, climate change, biodiversity loss, altered bio- geochemical cycles, and urbanisation, as well as their interactions. WSL is thus in a position to develop science-based solutions for sustainable approaches that serve both the environment and society. We accomplish this together with partners from research, practice and the public, to effectively support environmental decision-making and governance. To train the next generations of decision-makers, we engage in teaching and continuing education in the field of terrestrial environmental science. Through its activities and engagement with society, WSL bridges the science-policy gap and contributes to a future rooted in sustainability. 

WSL’s unique selling points

WSL performs mission-oriented research as the basis for evidence-driven information for policy- makers and implementation in practice:

  • WSL is the leading institute for solution-oriented terrestrial environmental research in Switzerland; 

  • WSL is the first point of contact for stakeholders on topics related to the terrestrial environ- mental and to the management of natural resources and risks; 

  • WSL delivers key national services for Switzerland in the fields of forests, landscapes, biodiversity, natural hazards and snow and ice; 

  • WSL is a leader in long-term studies and in the monitoring and modelling of environmental systems; it develops and maintains unique infrastructure and data resources.

Mission and Strategic Outlook 2025-2028

WSL Strategy 2035

According to the WSL Strategy 2035, WSL focuses on research, knowledge transfer and services relating to forests, landscapes, biodiversity, natural hazards and snow and ice. Its four development priorities build on this expertise in terrestrial environmental research:

  • Consequences of global change: mitigation and adaptation
  • Sustainable urbanization for liveable cities
  • Environmental governance
  • Multifunctional landscapes and ecosystems


The interdisciplinary focus areas are geared towards socially relevant and scientifically promising issues. With them, WSL is making a substantial contribution to overcoming global challenges.

 

Since its beginnings, the WSL has taken Switzerland's regionality into account. As early as 1888, experimental plots were set up in a wide variety of forests in order to learn more about their (timber) yields. Today, WSL manages and researches more than 6000 experimental and research plots, including large experimental facilities for avalanches or debris flows, experiments on the effects of climate change on forests or areas affected by natural events such as storms or forest fires.

WSL is divided into research units, research programs and centers and supporting specialist units.

WSL is a federal research center, is part of the ETH Domain and employs around six hundred people. In addition to the headquarters in Birmensdorf and the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos, branch offices in Lausanne and Cadenazzo since 1991 and in Sion since 1996 promote local synergies and dialog with practitioners.

Address and contact

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
CH-8903 Birmensdorf
Tel.: +41 44-739 21 11

We are open for calls and visits as follows:
Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.00 to 17.00.

Please send your e-mail messages to:

 

Facts and figures

Our multilingual yearly report describes the financial aspects of WSL according to IPSAS standards.

Working at the WSL

About 550 researchers, technicians and administrative staff contribute to the worldwide reputation of our environmental research institute.

Research programmes and initiatives

Research programmes and initiatives are inter- and transdisziplinary cooperations, setting priorities in the WSL's research activities.

Experimental sites and laboratories

From the microscope to entire valleys: Our laboratory is the whole of Switzerland. We maintain over 6000 monitoring and research sites.

How we conduct our research

At WSL and SLF we work by monitoring, experimenting, modelling and providing information. Thus we contribute to solutions of societal challenges.

Locations

Birmensdorf

From our offices and laboratories at the outskirts of Zurich we work on hundreds of experimental field sites all over Switzerland.

SLF Davos

At the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF we investigate natural phenomena under the conditions given by the Alps.

Lausanne

In a joint venture with EPFL, we are investigating the interactions of plant, animals and microorganisms with the processes in their habitats.

Cadenazzo

Central themes of our location on the southern side of the Alps are drought, forest fires and invasive organisms.

Sion

In close cooperation with the canton of Valais, we investigate typical alpine natural hazards at test sites of natural size.