Forest Use and Regulation Around a Swiss Alpine Community

Abstract

"This paper traces the use and regulation of the forests of Davos, in the Canton of Graubanden (Grisons), in eastern Switzerland, concentrating particularly on the 19th and 20th centuries. Like the majority of the communities of the Swiss Alps, Davos has a service economy with vestiges of agriculture. However, tourism in Davos both has a longer history, and has developed to a greater extent, than in most communities. Davos is not typical of Grisons, or the Swiss Alps in general, in a number of other ways. In particular, the current proportion of private ownership - 84 percent - is much higher than the average. Also, past demands on the forests have been especially high because of demands associated with the mining of local metal ores."