Historical and forward‑looking uses of Ballenberg as a living lab for climate action and resilience

Dr. Samuel Hepner / Prof. Dr. Chinwe Ifejika Speranza

External partners: Förderverein Forstmuseum Ballenberg (FFMB), School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Ballenberg Open‑Air Museum of Switzerland, Office for Forests and Natural Hazards of the Canton of Bern, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Swiss forests are under climate stress, while historically diverse forms of use — such as forest grazing and charcoal production — have almost disappeared. BallenbergWald is establishing a transdisciplinary forest laboratory in the Ballenberg Open‑Air Museum (approx. 33 ha of mixed forest) to experimentally test these practices under today’s conditions. Two climate pathways are at the centre: climate adaptation through structurally rich forest–open‑land mosaics created via extensive forest grazing, and carbon sequestration through charcoal production and biochar. Forest structure is recorded using laser scanning, and carbon flows are systematically assessed. The result is a data‑driven forest management plan that provides transferable foundations for climate‑adapted forest use across Switzerland.