Forests are an important part of the material landscape of Val Surses. Spruce, larch and pine are the predominant species, with larch and Swiss stone pine becoming more characteristic at higher elevations. In the Val Faller, a protected natural forest is composed predominantly of larch, growing even on the valley’s serpentine soils.

For centuries, local forests have provided both construction and firewood, connecting the material of the landscape directly to the architecture of the valley. Spruce offers a soft, workable timber suited to structural construction, while larch is harder and naturally more durable, making it particularly suitable for exposed elements, façades, windows and doors.

The forest therefore represents not only a natural resource but a local material cycle: from tree to timber, structure and surface. Its use can be read in the timber architecture of the region, where wood is often left untreated and allowed to weather naturally, developing a material relationship with the surrounding landscape.