Some 31 % of Swiss territory is covered by woodland. Today some 90,000 jobs in Switzerland depend on timber in one way or another.

While there are no enormous forested areas in Switzerland, there are no areas without forests either. Deciduous forests (beech and oak) grow at altitudes of up to 1,300 meters (4,264 feet). Coniferous forests (like pine, Scots pine and spruce) grow at up to 1,900 meters (6,232 feet).

Chestnut grows mainly on the southern side of the Alps.

Forests play an essential part in preserving the landscape. Their roots help stabilise the soil and prevent landslides and erosion, and together with other vegetation they act like a sponge to reduce flooding. Their trunks block rockfalls. They help to prevent avalanches by stabilising the snow cover. In addition they act as a windbreak, and they help to purify the air.

For centuries Switzerland's trees have had an important commercial function as well. The Swiss built their homes out of wood and used wood to heat them. Switzerland is poor in natural resources, but wood is one of the few that it has. Historically charcoal was used in furnaces for the country's own modest metal production and for glassmaking, but much more was exported to larger metal producing countries. And many of the ships of the great seafaring nations of Europe (in particular the Dutch) were built of Swiss timber.