The research carried out by the Section of Landscape and Society at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) deals with the interaction between landscape and society. To date, the following aspects have been studied: (1) the public perception and opinion of developments in nature, landscape and environment, (2) the public perception and opinion of scientific debate on such developments, and (3) social action as a result of these developments. Striving for detailed understanding of these interactions, the methods used were based on techniques of qualitative social research. One research project examined the impact that model experiments on ecosystems had on public environmental discussion. Future research will concentrate on the following aspects of society-landscape-interaction: (1) to what extent the «needs» of the countryside are being met in areas intended for everyday and recreational use, (2) how decisions taken on a global/national level are being implemented at a local/regional, and (3) cultural and regional variations.