Laegeren - Switzerland

The forest site "Laegeren" has been installed in 2012 as part of the Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research Programme LWF (WSL) and FluxNet (ETHZ). The programme investigates anthropogenic and natural forces on the long-term health of the forests and the potential risks to humans. For this, a profound understanding of the relationship between processes, causes and effects in the ecosystem are necessary. The objectives of the LWF research programme include (i) early detection and a representative assessment of changes in forest condition, (ii) determination of external influences, both from anthropogenic and natural sources such as element inputs and climate and their effect on the forest ecosystem, (iii) development of indicators to assess the condition of the forest, (iv) integrated risk assessment based on different stress scenarios, and (v) extended platform for internal and external research projects. The research site Laegeren offers a unique combination of ongoing long-term forest monitoring and eddy covariance measurements of regional climate (since 2004), CO2 and microclimate profiles through the forest incl. soil temperatures and soil water potentials, tree physiological records such as sap flow and continuous stem radius changes and multiple properties of the vegetation (e.g. crown transparency, litter-fall, rain depositions) and soil structure. The LWF research programme provides, on the one hand, long-term data series from the last 20 years, together with a scientific interpretation to national and international policy makers. On the other hand, the available data and latest LWF infrastructure provide an attractive scientific platform for collaboration with both national and international partners.