This study focusses on the distribution of the economic effects of the storm Lothar on Swiss forest owners. It is differentiated thereby between private and public owners as well as between those directly and indirectly affected by Lothar. Three types of economic effects are identified: direct, indirect and higher order effects. On the basis of this classification questions concerning the effects of the storm were developed. Random samples of rural and public forest owners were interviewed in September 2001. In the main part of the study the fundaments and results of the representative postal survey are described in detail. The study concludes with the discussion of the hypotheses formulated a priori and a summary of the most important results.