Vegetation-scientific mapping of forests (forest vegetation map)

Forest vegetation maps, also called (vegetation-related) location maps, refer to the natural forest societies that would be expected without human intervention. Unlike stock maps, they do not refer to the current stocking, but to potential natural vegetation. They are an expression of the location properties. In addition to the potentially natural forest societies, they provide information about forest building properties (yielding capacity, suitable and unsuitable tree species, possible operating modes, traversability). The book The Forest Sites in the Canton of Zurich, P. Schmider et al. (1993) complements the maps and provides interpretation options. The vegetation map is a joint work of the Department of Forests (formerly OFA) and the specialised body for nature conservation. The vegetation map is a very important planning basis: It enables site-oriented tree species selection and treatment for forest rejuvenation and care interventions. It also serves as an overview of the occurrence frequency of forest societies or location properties and forms an important basis for other forest planning applications such as the credit card. The update of the forest area within the framework of the PNF created “new” forest areas. For these areas, where possible, the type of vegetation was determined as follows: — Areas > 7 500 m²: Vegetation characteristics mapped in the forest (2021) — Areas < 7 500 m² and > 500 m²: appraisal on the screen (neighborhood, terrain formation) (2022) — Areas < 500 m² (forest edge adjustments, slivers, etc.) (2022) The previous areas have not been mapped again.