Gimmi Urs

Using Oral History and Forest Management Plans to Reconstruct Traditional Non-Timber Forest uses in the Swiss Rhone Valley (Valais) Since the Late Nineteenth Century

Project Number: Parcs Data Center: 54070, 4D: CH-7555

Project Type:	Research_Project
Project Duration:	01/01/2007 - 01/05/2007 project completed
Funding Source:	other ,
Leading Institution:	WSL
Project Leader:	Dr. Urs Gimmi Fachstelle Naturschutz - Arten- & Biotopschutz Amt für Landschaft und Natur Baudirektion Kanton Zürich Stampfenbachstr. 12 8006 Zürich Phone: +41 (0) 43 259 30 66 e-Mail: gimmiu(at)ethz.ch

related to this project.

for which the project has a relevance.

Research Areas:

Landscape

Disciplines:

forestry and agricultural sciences

Abstract:
Changes in forest use are considered as a potential key driver for recently observed
changing forest dynamics in the pine forest belt of the upper Rhone valley (Canton
of Valais, Switzerland). In this region, traditional non-timber forest uses, such
as forest litter harvesting and wood pasture, were practised until the second half
of the twentieth century. The practice of traditional non-timber forest uses led
to specific environmental conditions which favoured pine as a pioneer species.
With the abandonment of these practices the pine was subjected to increased
competition and largely replaced by deciduous trees. In this study, the history of
traditional non-timber forest uses was reconstructed by combining the analysis
of forest management plans and the results from oral history interviews. The
forest management plans represent the view of the forest administration whereas
the narratives obtained from oral history interviews allow putting the traditional
non-timber forest uses into the context of people?s daily life. The different
characteristics of the two source types are illustrated with two regional case
studies. Different socioeconomic and political drivers were identified (changes
in non-farming employment, changes in demand for forest products, access to
substitute products, regulations), which led to the abandonment of traditional
non-timber forest uses in the Valais. The combination of forest management plans
and oral history leads to a comprehensive picture of the history and significance
of traditional non-timber forest uses. Our findings confirm that information on
traditional non-timber forest uses is crucial for an understanding of present day
dynamics in the pine forest ecosystems of the Valais.

Publications:
Gimmi, Urs, and Matthias Buergi. "Using Oral History and Forest Management Plans to Reconstruct Traditional Non-Timber Forest Uses in the Swiss Rhone Valley (Valais) Since the Late Nineteenth Century." Environment and History 13, no. 2 (May 2007): 211–246.
http://www.environmentandsociety.org/node/3297.
pdf article


Last update: 3/26/24
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-7555

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