Infodoc : Sciences, Techniques et Culture

In Switzerland, forests cover a surface area of 1.3 million hectares, i.e. nearly 30% of the territory. Due to the topography of the country, half the forests play a protective role against natural hazards. Climate change together with international trade and changes in forest management challenge the fragile balance between forests and their associated pathogens and pests. The various invasive forest species that have appeared in recent years such as ash dieback, pinewood nematode, Asian longhorned beetle have compelled many countries to buttress their plant protection systems. This applies to Switzerland too where many new measures have been implemented in recent years both on the policy and legislation side and at the scientific level for detecting invasive species.