Swiss timber industry needs shake-up

Switzerland's timber industry needs to become more competitive according to the country's environment agency.

It says one third of the country is covered by forest, but only half of the timber produced is utilised.

More than 10 million m³ of wood grow in Switzerland a year, and the country has the largest wood reserves in Europe.

Environment agency director Philippe Roch said it is no longer possible to manage forests in a profit-making way, but added that increased utilisation of Swiss wood would make sense environmentally and economically.

Mr Roch said one of the problems is that wood is not as efficient as other materials which are being sold more cheaply. And while Switzerland imports wood from other countries, its own forest industry continues to make a loss.

Now the Swiss Forest Agency is reviewing the country's forest policies and will decide what state the country's forests should be in by 2015.