The Pfynwald research platform

To investigate the causes of the pine dieback in Valais, the WSL launched a long-term irrigation experiment in summer 2003 in the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park. Since then, the WSL has been comparing several hundred pines in irrigated forest plots with pines that continued to receive only the natural amount of precipitation.

This cutting-edge infrastructure and the long-term data series have enabled further research projects conducted by guest scientists. Collaboration on the Pfynwald research platform is highly welcome!

The Pfyn forest research platform consists of four irrigated plots and four non-irrigated control plots (25 m x 40 m), each with 60-100 trees. Irrigation was temporarily discontinued in the light blue subplots at the end of 2013. Map: F. Sutter, WSL

The map can be downloaded and printed in A3 or A0 format for field work.

Terms of Use and Safety Concept

For your safety and for the integrity of the forest ecosystem, we kindly ask all collaborators to take note of the Terms of Use and the Safety Concept of the research platform.