The severe floods in the Swiss Alps in 1868 triggered nationwide discussions on the principles of protection measures against natural disasters. Based on the event analysis, representatives of all cantons decided to establish a fund, fed by donations, to help finance protection structures. This fund, administrated by the Federal Council, was the basis of the future subsidy policy regarding the mitigation of natural disasters.
The article focuses on the influence of the Schweizerischer Forstverein (Swiss Forestry Society) in bringing the new philosophy of flood management into the debate. In order to achieve high response in the public, its representatives suppressed the scientific complexity of the disaster and simply linked the floods to the deforestation of mountainous areas. They were aware that the momentum created by public concern following the floods would prevail for only a short time, therefore they decided to present their intentions of a forest legislation rather than scientific results. The use of this political strategy accelerated the process of political decision making.
Following the implementation of the forest police law of 1876 many structural measures were undertaken at various rivers and torrents and many hectares afforested, in the hope of controlling future risks. The notion of absolute security was proved illusory after the severe floods of 1987 – finding new approaches of risk management came to dominate public discussion.