Forest Reserves Canton of Schaffhausen

Forest reserves are in principle permanent protected areas for ecological and biological diversity in the forest. On the one hand, they enable the complete natural development of the forest ecosystem in space and time (process protection in so-called natural forest reserves). On the other hand, they serve to preserve special habitats (habitats) for certain species, for which targeted support measures are necessary (in so-called “special forest reserves” or “reserves with special interventions”). Shown are the reserve perimeters, which can also contain non-forest areas. In addition, some cantons also report forest areas whose protection is regulated in disposals (forests in nature reserves, floodplains, moor forests, etc.). These are also shown in the dataset. The competence to set up forest reserves lies with the cantons. The protected forests are classified according to Vienna’s Resolution 4 Annex 2 of the Conference of European Forest Ministers. This includes 3 categories (1.1 no intervention, 1.2 minimal intervention, 1.3 biodiversity promotion through active interventions), while Swiss forestry works with 2 categories (natural forest reserve and special forest reserve). The Swiss special forest reserves are classified in category 1.3 while the natural forest reserves belong to category 1.1 or 1.2 depending on the agreement. The forests protected by regulation and disposal are classified according to the conditions laid down in the protection decision. The allocation of protected forest areas to the 3 categories of the Viennese resolution is the responsibility of the competent cantons. The data are based on the mgdm forest reserve.