What Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz does

Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1987, headquartered in Trin, Graubünden, that mobilizes volunteers to perform hands-on conservation work in Alpine protective forests. The organization coordinates approximately 180 project weeks per year at 50+ locations across Swiss cantons (Graubünden, Valais, Bern, Glarus, Ticino, Uri, Vaud, Lucerne, and others), with additional sites in Liechtenstein and the Montafon region of Austria, engaging roughly 3,000 volunteers annually in Switzerland. Core activities include young forest care, tree planting, path construction, wildlife protection measures, slash clearing, and dry grassland mowing — work that addresses the underfunded maintenance needs of Swiss protective forests, which safeguard over 130,000 buildings from avalanches, rockfall, and erosion.

The organization runs a portfolio of differentiated programs targeting distinct demographics: free adult volunteer weeks, paid youth projects (CHF 300–330/student) for school classes, multi-generational family projects (CHF 490/adult, CHF 290/child), children's mountain forest weeks (CHF 40/day or CHF 200/week), and corporate team-building days (guideline CHF 3,500 for 16 participants). The Trin Youth Hostel — a renovated 400-year-old building operated with Swiss Youth Hostels — functions as accommodation infrastructure for project participants and a secondary revenue source. Underlying operations rely on a standard, non-differentiated technology stack: Funtrade CRM for fundraising and address management, Brevo for email communications, Exigo AG hosting on Swiss servers, plus Google Analytics, Cookiebot, and standard collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams). No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or technology platform constitutes a differentiator.

Bergwaldprojekt funds operations through a diversified mix: individual and corporate patron memberships (CHF 60–950/year), one-time and legacy donations (tax-exempt in Switzerland), corporate volunteering fees, youth/family program fees, and voluntary contributions from forest owners and partner organizations. International affiliates in Germany (Verein Bergwaldprojekt e.V., 1993), Austria (Austrian Alpine Association, 2001), and Catalonia (Fundació Projecte Boscos de Muntanya, 2007) operate as legally independent entities sharing the model, together mobilizing approximately 8,000 volunteers per year across four countries. ZEWO certification since 2012 underwrites fundraising credibility.

Name

Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz

Legal name

Bergwaldprojekt

Website

https://bergwaldprojekt.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1987 that mobilizes approximately 3,000 volunteers annually at 50+ Alpine sites to perform protective forest maintenance, biodiversity work, and youth/family/corporate environmental programs across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Montafon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Volunteer forestry programs
• Mountain forest conservation
• Protective forest stewardship
• Corporate volunteering events
• Environmental nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Trin

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Patronage / Gönnerschaft Memberships: Annual membership fees from individual patrons (from CHF 60/year), family/partner patrons (from CHF 95/year), and corporate patrons (from CHF 950/year). Patrons receive the quarterly 'Specht' magazine, annual program, a 10% discount on paid projects, and youth hostel member rates.
2. General Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, including direct online donations, occasion/memorial donations (birthdays, weddings, funerals), and legacy bequests. Donations are tax-exempt in Switzerland, and donors receive an annual donation certificate.
3. Corporate Volunteering Projects: Companies pay for team project days (typically one day, spring to autumn), with a guideline of approximately CHF 3,500 for 16 participants. This covers transport, food, tools, and project personnel.
4. Youth and Family Project Fees: School classes and youth groups pay CHF 300–330 per person for week-long projects including accommodation, meals, tools, and project leadership. Family projects charge CHF 490/adult and CHF 290/child. Children's mountain forest weeks charge CHF 40/day or CHF 200/week, with optional extended care at CHF 5/hour.
5. Project Partner Contributions: Forest owners, forestry operations, nature parks, and partner organizations contribute financially to projects based on their means and the scope of work, as voluntary contributions toward the public benefit work performed by volunteers.
6. Legacy and Estate Bequests: Inheritance and legacy donations (Vermächtnisse/Erbschaften), including the possible donation of forested land parcels. The organization accepts inherited forest land and manages its long-term sustainable care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz organizes structured one-week volunteer work assignments in Swiss mountain forests, where participants perform protective forest maintenance, biodiversity promotion, and cultural landscape care under the guidance of professional foresters. It also runs paid programs for youth, families, children, and corporate teams, and operates the Trin Youth Hostel as accommodation infrastructure.

Product overview

Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz operates as a single unified offering centered on volunteer coordination for mountain forest conservation, comprising multiple project types for different demographics. The core portfolio includes Projects for Adults, Youth Projects, Mountain Forest Weeks for Children, Family Projects, and Company Projects—each designed for specific target audiences but sharing common elements of hands-on forest work and environmental education. Supporting the core volunteer programs are the Group Leader Volunteer Program (civil service/internship pathway), the Youth Hostel Trin accommodation facility, the Specht Magazine publication, and the international Bergwaldprojekt network affiliates. The organization is a non-profit foundation (founded 1987) focused on protective forest maintenance, biodiversity promotion, and sustainable forest stewardship in Swiss mountain regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Projects for Adults (Projekte für Erwachsene) One-week voluntary work assignments in mountain forests where adults participate in forestry activities under expert guidance, including protective forest maintenance, path construction, and wildlife protection measures. Participation is free; accommodation, meals, tools, and project leadership are provided; volunteers cover their own travel and insurance.
• Youth Projects (Jugendprojekte) Week-long structured project weeks for school classes (upper secondary, gymnasium, vocational) and youth groups combining practical forest work with environmental education, team-building, accommodation, meals, and educational excursions. Priced at CHF 300–330 per student; runs April through October on request.
• Mountain Forest Weeks for Children (Bergwaldwochen für Kinder) Holiday programs during school vacations in Trin GR for kindergarten and school-age children (from age 6) featuring play-based nature exploration, environmental learning, and hands-on forest activities. Priced at CHF 40/day or CHF 200/week, with optional extended care at CHF 5/hour; meals and materials included.
• Family Projects (Familienprojekte) Multi-generational forest work projects where adults and children (from age 6) jointly participate in sustainable forestry activities combined with discovery and learning experiences. Priced at CHF 490/adult and CHF 290/child, with 10% patron discount; includes accommodation, meals, materials, and guided forestry work.
• Company Projects (Firmenprojekte) Corporate volunteering programs where company employees participate in one-day team-building projects in the mountain forest under expert guidance, combining environmental contribution with staff cohesion activities. Guideline pricing of approximately CHF 3,500 for 16 participants; includes transport from nearest public transport stop, meals, tools, and project personnel; runs spring to autumn.
• Group Leader Volunteer Program (Einsatz als Gruppenleiter:in) Volunteer, civil service, and internship pathways for becoming a trained group leader, including a one-week training course and ongoing project supervision of volunteer groups.
• Patron Membership (Gönner:in) Annual patron membership program with individual (from CHF 60/year), family/partner (from CHF 95/year), and corporate (from CHF 950/year) tiers. Includes the quarterly Specht magazine, annual program brochure, 10% discount on paid projects, and youth hostel member rates.
• Youth Hostel Trin (Jugendherberge Trin) Sustainable accommodation facility in a renovated 400+ year-old building serving as base camp for Bergwaldprojekt project weeks, operated in partnership with Swiss Youth Hostels. Surplus rooms are open to the general public via Swiss Youth Hostels when not occupied by project participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 volunteers have participated since 1987, with ~3,000/year in Switzerland and ~8,000/year internationally across 4 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Fundació Projecte Boscos de Muntanya (Catalonia, Spain)coreOthers · 1 January 2007Since 2007, the Fundació Projecte Boscos de Muntanya has conducted volunteer projects in the Catalan Pyrenees. Operates as an independent foundation adapting the Bergwaldprojekt model to the Pyrenees environment.
• Österreichischer Alpenverein Bergwaldprojekt (Austria)coreOthers · 1 January 2001The Austrian Alpine Association has conducted volunteer work camps as 'Bergwaldprojekt' in Austria since 2001. Operates as a separate entity under the Austrian Alpine Association structure, adapting the model to local Alpine conditions.
• Verein Bergwaldprojekt e.V. (Germany)coreOthers · 1 January 1991Founded in 1993 to independently manage volunteer project weeks that began in 1991 in Germany. Operates as a legally independent non-profit association with its own organization and financing. Branches volunteer projects in German mountain forests.
• Swiss Youth Hostels (Schweizer Jugendherbergen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the operation of the Jugendherberge Trin. The 400+ year-old building was renovated in 2017 and primarily serves as accommodation for Bergwaldprojekt participants. When not in use for projects, surplus rooms are available to the general public via the Swiss Youth Hostels booking platform. Each guest night directly supports Bergwaldprojekt.
• Forest owners, forestry operations (Forstdienste), and cantonal forestry authoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProjects are exclusively hosted by forest owners or farmers, typically in public mandate. Close collaboration with forestry services, nature parks, and local agriculture. Project partners contribute local knowledge, infrastructure, and flexible financial contributions based on their means. They benefit from volunteer labor for essential but underfunded protective forest maintenance.
• Nature parks (Naturpärke)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature parks collaborate with Bergwaldprojekt on biodiversity promotion, cultural landscape maintenance, and visitor engagement. They provide project sites and local expertise, while benefiting from volunteer labor for conservation work.
• Cantonal forest authorities and administrationsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal forestry departments work with Bergwaldprojekt to identify priority work areas, provide technical guidance, and facilitate permits and subsidies for volunteer conservation projects.
• WWF SwitzerlandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe WWF was a co-patron of Bergwaldprojekt from 1988 alongside Greenpeace, supporting the organization's founding during the forest dieback debate. WWF Switzerland continues to be involved at the local level through the presidency of WWF Graubünden by Beat Deplazes-Schocher.
• Greenpeace SwitzerlandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenpeace was the initial patron at the founding of Bergwaldprojekt in 1987, during the height of the forest dieback (Waldsterbensdebatte) public debate.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Verein Bergwaldprojekt e.V. The independent German legal entity of the same Bergwaldprojekt concept, founded in 1993. Operates the same volunteer week model in German mountain forests, making it the closest possible peer operating the same brand and methodology.
• Fundació Projecte Boscos de Muntanya: Catalan foundation replicating the Bergwaldprojekt volunteer week model in the Catalan Pyrenees since 2007. Operates the same forestry volunteer week format for the Spanish/Andorran border region.
• Österreichischer Alpenverein Bergwaldprojekt: Conducts Bergwaldprojekt volunteer work camps in Austria under the Austrian Alpine Association since 2001. Applies the identical Swiss-developed model to Austrian Alpine conditions and is one of the four core country entities in the Bergwaldprojekt network.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizer Alpen-Club (SAC): Switzerland's largest mountain-oriented membership organization with deep Alpine member engagement and hut infrastructure. Comparable to Bergwaldprojekt in mobilizing volunteers in Alpine environments for stewardship and trail maintenance work.
• WWF Switzerland: Co-patron of Bergwaldprojekt at its founding (since 1988). Operates a much larger environmental advocacy and conservation portfolio across Switzerland, but engages with the same protective forest and biodiversity themes as Bergwaldprojekt.
• WaldSchweiz (Swiss Forest Association): Switzerland's leading forest-sector umbrella association, advocating for sustainable forestry and connecting forest owners, professionals, and the public. Compares to Bergwaldprojekt as a broader incumbent covering Swiss forest policy, education, and communications.

Emerging players

• Student Conservation Association (SCA): US-based nonprofit running youth and young-adult volunteer conservation programs in forests and parks. Comparable in target demographic (school-age and young adult volunteers), conservation mission, and program-fee pricing model.
• ProSpecieRara: Swiss foundation dedicated to preserving rare livestock breeds and cultivated plants, with a strong volunteer base for hands-on conservation work. Comparable in operating model (volunteer-led conservation, donor-funded, regional heritage focus) rather than direct mission overlap.
• Trees for Life (Scotland): Scottish charity running volunteer week reforestation programs in the Scottish Highlands. Closely comparable in combining hands-on forestry volunteer weeks, donor funding, and educational youth programming in a defined geographic region.

Others

• Stiftung Naturparke / Naturpark Schweiz: Umbrella for Swiss nature parks that collaborate with Bergwaldprojekt on project sites. Comparable as a federated conservation network operating in the same Alpine geographies, though focused on park management rather than direct volunteer mobilization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/bergwaldprojekt
• Facebookfacebook.com/bergwaldprojekt
• Instagraminstagram.com/bergwaldprojekt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergwaldprojekt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bergwaldprojekt Schweiz