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Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu
Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu

Bergwaldprojekt
(Mountain Forest Project)

Gra­phic Repor­tage

Artist resi­dency in the Swiss Alps for the Berg­wald­pro­jekt foun­da­tion. Loca­ted above the muni­ci­pa­lity of Elm in the Can­ton of Gla­rus, I docu­men­ted the prac­ti­cal forest work that was car­ried out by vol­un­teers in sum­mer 2020. Having done this forest work mul­ti­ple times mys­elf before, I know how deman­ding (and rewar­ding!) it is to work on steep slo­pes and in shady woods.

Having been assi­gned to make repor­tage dra­wings this time was an honour – and a heart­felt wish.

Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu
Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu
Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu
Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu
Bergwaldprojekt © Viktoria Cvetković | drawnfromlife.eu

Purpose of the foundation

The foun­da­tion has a non-pro­fit pur­pose: to pro­mote the main­ten­ance, care and pro­tec­tion of the forest and the cul­tu­ral land­scape in moun­tain regi­ons, espe­ci­ally through care and res­to­ra­tion during work assign­ments and by encou­ra­ging the public’s under­stan­ding for the forest’s concerns.

Basic idea

Ins­tead of being deba­ted about, the forest should be expe­ri­en­ced in the forest. Through prac­ti­cal forest work, the par­ti­ci­pants get to know first­hand the habi­tat of the moun­tain forest as well as its chan­ces and pro­blems. The work is done in close co-ope­ra­tion with the local forestry ser­vices. Vol­un­teers bet­ween 18 and 88 years of age ther­eby actively con­tri­bute to the care of the pro­tec­tion forest.

Purpose of the work assignments

Through tan­gi­ble work, the par­ti­ci­pants expe­ri­ence the fasci­na­ting eco­sys­tem of the moun­tain forest with all their sen­ses. The importance of the pro­tec­tion forest and the mea­su­res for its care are expe­ri­en­ced directly. Assign­ment par­ti­ci­pa­tion allows meaningful action for the envi­ron­ment and shows the inter-rela­ti­onships in the moun­tain forest habi­tat. This con­tri­bu­tes to the deve­lo­p­ment of an eco­lo­gi­cal awa­re­ness and respon­si­ve­ness to the forest’s concerns.

Financing

Par­ti­ci­pa­tion is free of charge for vol­un­teers. The Berg­wald­pro­jekt covers accom­mo­da­tion, meals and pro­ject manage­ment. It is mainly finan­ced by mem­ber fees and dona­ti­ons. In addi­tion, it is sup­ported by various orga­ni­sa­ti­ons and institutions.

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