Vermarktung von Schutzleistungen des Waldes – das Beispiel des Kantons Bern | Marketing of protection services – the example of Canton Berne
In Switzerland, payments to forest owners and enterprises compensating the costs of forestry measures for protecting houses and infrastructure from natural hazards – and thus providing benefits to the public – are now better than for other non-wood products and services. With the new system of Redistribution of Income and Responsibilities between the Confederation and the cantons (NFA), not only the financial contributions and the procedures between Confederation and cantons have been adapted. In Canton Berne, the entity responsible for the safety of the object to be protected (“Safety Agency”) is now included in the decision making process and the financing. Where housing is concerned, the communal authorities usually act as Safety Agency, where infrastructure is concerned the owner or operating authority. The Forestry Service of Canton Berne defines the procedures, advises the forest owners and Safety Agency, and provides public funding when the requirements are met. Forest owners and Safety Agency agree on the services to be provided and the remaining funding. The financial contributions of Confederation, cantons and Safety Agency do not compensate the forest owner for the protective effect of his forest, but for the actual dispositive and operative services provided. These need to be furnished in an efficient and transparent way. Forest enterprises must also be able to make profits with the management of protection forests. Covering costs alone is not a sufficient incentive to ensure that the necessary measures are carried out in the long term.