Method for forest enterprise benchmarking in the DACH region

While Swiss forest enterprises have been reporting average losses in forest management since the 1990s, German and Austrian forest enterprises are mostly making profits. The main reason for the negative operating results in Switzerland are the high production costs, especially in timber harvesting. The methodological approach of benchmarking proves useful in identifying new solutions for restoring economic sustainability in the Swiss forestry sector and, more generally, for increasing the economic performance of forest enterprises in the DACH region. New approaches can be identified, adapted to one's own needs, and implemented through cross-national comparisons with the best forest enterprises. With the method for forest enterprise benchmarking in the DACH region, a new management tool is available for increasing the economic performance of forest enterprises. The method makes it possible to analyse and compare the economic performance of forest enterprises in detail against the background of the respective environmental conditions, stakeholders, procurement and sales markets, as well as initial conditions specific to the enterprise, and thus to identify the respective success factors. The main focus of the benchmarking method is on timber harvesting, the most important cost centre of forest enterprises. Benchmarking as a management tool for forestry seems promising, as there is no direct competition between forest enterprises and the open exchange of information is therefore favoured. Due to the rising costs associated with climate change and coping with disturbances such as storms, bark beetles or drought, as well as the possibly necessary investments to adapt forests to climate change, the search for optimal and efficient management concepts and processes is likely to gain further importance. Benchmarking could make a valuable contribution to the identification of future-oriented and economically sustainable forest management concepts.