The largest German-language knowledge portal on forests and forestry is celebrating its 20th anniversary
The “first” waldwissen.net went online on 16 February 2005 as part of the “KnowForAlp” project in Vaduz (screenshot from 2007).
In 2011, waldwissen.net was relaunched with extended features including the personalised “My forest knowledge” section.
In 2011, waldwissen.net was relaunched with extended features including the personalised “My forest knowledge” section.
What began as a spontaneous idea at an airport has developed over two decades into one of the most important platforms in the forestry sector, and Waldwissen.net is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
After an international symposium in 2005, the heads of forestry research institutes from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland sat together at the airport - and quickly sketched out the concept of a transnational forest knowledge portal on a beer mat.
Shortly afterwards, on 16 February 2005, Waldwissen.net went online with the aim of providing quality-assured forestry expertise free of charge and in an easily understandable form - both for forest practitioners and for interested members of public. What began with a few hundred articles is now a comprehensive digital knowledge archive: Around 4,000 articles in four languages (German, English, French and Italian) cover the entire spectrum of forestry topics - from forest ecology and silviculture, to climate adaptation, forestry technology, wildlife management and environmental education.
Around 2.5 million people use Waldwissen.net every year - from forestry professionals and environmental educators to political decision-makers and citizens simply interested in nature. The platform records an average of over 200,000 visits every month - a clear sign of its relevance and of the high level of trust in its content.
The Waldwissen web statistics showing monthly visits from 2005 to 2024. The first “slump” in users occurred during the first relaunch in 2011, the second around 2020, due to a change in the counting method. The proportion of mobile web users has risen steadily, and has accounted for the majority of visits since 2020.
A strong network for the forest
Hinter Waldwissen.net steht ein einzigartiges Kooperationsmodell: Die vier Gründungsinstitutionen – das BFW (Österreich), die WSL (Schweiz), die FVA (Baden-Württemberg) und die LWF (Bayern) – betreiben die Plattform gemeinsam.
Inzwischen sind sieben weitere deutsche Forstliche Forschungsinstitutionen als Partner hinzugekommen:
- Northwest German Forest Research Institute (NW-FVA)
- Gotha Forest Research and Competence Centre) (FFK Gotha)
- Research Institute for Forest Ecology and Forestry of the Rhineland Palatinate (FAWF)
- Eberswalde State Centre of Forestry Competence (LFE)
- State Forestry and Timber Company of North Rhine-Westphalia (WUH)
- State Forestry Company of Saxony (SBS)
- State Forestry Administration of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (LMV)
This means that Waldwissen.net is broadly positioned in terms of both content and geography, covering the entire spectrum of issues relating to forests and forest management in German-speaking countries.
Together we celebrate - and together we look ahead
To mark the 20th anniversary, the presidents and directors of the four founding institutions met on 1 July 2025 at the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism in Munich. In a festive atmosphere, the participants not only looked back on two decades of successful collaboration - but also set the course for the future. The focus was on the shared desire to further develop the platform, the opportunities offered by new technologies, and a clear commitment to cross-border partnership.
The representatives of the four founding institutions and editors at the anniversary reception at the StMELF in Munich; from left: Dirk Schmechel (LWF), Florian Stahl (LWF), Dr Ulrich Schraml (FVA), Martin Moritzi (WSL), Dr Thomas Wohlgemuth (WSL), Melina Jakobi (BFW), Dr Peter Mayer (BFW), Dr Peter Pröbstle (LWF), Steffen Schlehe (FVA) (Photo: Daniela Janker (StMELF))
Public interest-oriented, independent, and clearly understandable
What makes Waldwissen.net special? All articles are fact-based, independent of commercial interests and reviewed by experts before publication.
The focus is on presenting complex interrelationships in an understandable way and promoting dialogue on forests and nature. The platform is thus far more than just an archive of knowledge - it also serves as a tool for education and social discourse.
Which is why Waldwissen.net sees itself not only as a service platform for forestry stakeholders, but as a contribution to the common good.
Looking to the future: forest knowledge meets artificial intelligence
As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, Waldwissen.net is also looking ahead. In future, artificial intelligence (AI) will help make access to comprehensive expertise even easier and more efficient. Initial developments are aimed at making content easier to find, providing personalised recommendations, and making complex information even easier to use.
The goal remains clear: to make scientifically sound forest knowledge accessible, up-to-date and user-friendly - for anyone who is interested in forests and forestry.
And the journey continues...
After 20 years of Waldwissen.net, we look back on two decades of reliable information, exciting research results and dedicated collaboration for our forests.
And now we look forward as the journey continues: with fresh knowledge, new technologies, and a clear goal: to continue to build bridges between science, practice and society in the future.