The duties of the WSL are research, scientific and technical services, teaching and public relations.
As part of an ETH Domain research institute, the Confederation requires the WSL to provide cutting-edge research and social benefits, particularly for Switzerland. One of the WSL's important national functions is to conduct the Swiss National Forest Inventory (NFI), the long-term forest ecosystem monitoring (LWF) and, with the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, the avalanche warning for Switzerland. It is particularly active in applied research, but basic research is also among its duties. SLF employees develop tools and guidelines for authorities, industry and the public in order to offer them support in natural hazard risk management and in the analysis of climatic and environmental changes. They also share their knowledge by teaching at domestic and foreign universities and by training other professionals.
The duties of the WSL are described in the following laws and regulations:
The fundamental mission of the ETH Domain research institutes, and thus of the WSL, is described in Article 21 of the ETH Law:
- They conduct research in their areas of responsibility and provide scientific and technical services.
- To the extent allowed by their circumstances, they are available to universities for teaching and research.
The professional orientation and duties of the WSL are specified in Article 3 of the ETH Board Ordinance regarding the ETHDomain research institutes: The WSL works on sustainable spatial development, particularly in mountainous areas and in conurbations, in the following technical areas:
- Landscape research;
- Forest ecology and forest management;
- Natural hazards and integral risk management;
- Snow, ice, avalanches and permafrost.
In addition to its research duties, the WSL has four national functions based on laws and regulations:
- In cooperation with the Federal Office for the Environment, the WSL collects basic data for the Swiss National Forest Inventory (NFI), and in the Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) programme it collects data on the impacts on forest ecosystems (Article 37a (2) of the Forest Ordinance (WaV).
- The SLF, which is part of the WSL, operates the avalanche warning service in Switzerland and alerts the public to avalanche hazards (Article 9 (1) of the Alert Ordinance (AV).
- It operates the Swiss Forest Health Facility in accordance with Article 30 (2) of the Forest Ordinance.
- It ensures the scientific and technical maintenance of forestry plant protection pursuant to Article 44 of the Plant Protection Ordinance.
As part of the Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (BFI-Botschaft), the Federal Council and Parliament define the strategic objectives of the ETH Domain, which the ETH Board concretises in its strategic plan. In its development plan, WSL describes its contributions to this and its planned priorities and developments.
The common licensing principles within the ETH Domain for the creation of spin-off companies are also applied by WSL. The institutions of the ETH Domain are evaluated every eight years. WSL was last evaluated in late autumn 2022. The corresponding documents are available here:
- Self-Assessment Reports (Volume 1 and Volume 2)
- Report by the Peer Review Panel
- WSL Response to the Evaluation Report