Liechtenstein municipalities, Alpine cooperatives, citizens' cooperatives and private individuals own 25 Alps in Liechtenstein and six Alps in Vorarlberg. The alps of the municipalities and cooperatives in Vorarlberg were acquired by purchase at the end of the nineteenth - beginning of the twentieth century. The private alps came into the possession of Liechtenstein persons through an inheritance.

The Liechtenstein Alps are an important source of fodder for agriculture. In Liechtenstein, 1,471 stumps (around 2,000 hectares of pasture) and in Vorarlberg 241 stumps (around 760 hectares of pasture) can be harvested. One herd corresponds to one livestock unit, which is calved during an alpine pasture period individually determined for each alp.

2026 Summer Pasture Period

The Office for Forestry, Nature, and Agriculture determines that the current drought constitutes an extraordinary meteorological event and thus a case of force majeure within the meaning of Art. 5, para. 2, letter g of the Agricultural Subsidy Reduction Ordinance (LFKV).

Pursuant to Article 5(1) of the LFKV, the Office for Forestry, Nature, and Agriculture may waive the reduction or denial of subsidy payments to the extent that requirements for the disbursement of subsidies are not met as a result of this drought.

Against this background, the following applies to the 2026 summer grazing period:

• An early descent from the alpine pastures or an extended grazing period is permitted, provided it is objectively justified by the drought situation and necessary for the operation of the farm.
• To the extent that requirements for subsidy payments cannot be met solely as a result of the drought, the Office for Forestry, Nature, and Agriculture will, when assessing the consequences under subsidy law, make use of the option provided for in Art. 5(1) LFKV and refrain from reducing or denying the alpine grazing cost subsidy.
• The managers and grazers of the affected alpine pastures must do everything reasonable to continue ensuring proper, environmentally sound, and sustainable management.
• Stocking levels must continue to be managed in such a way that grazing corresponds to the available forage and that overgrazing or undergrazing is avoided as much as possible.

• This notice does not entail a general change to the stocking levels established for individual alpine pastures, nor does it result in a general repeal of the provisions regarding the reduction of subsidies.

• The Office for Forestry, Nature, and Agriculture will determine the consequences regarding subsidies in accordance with statutory provisions and taking into account the specific effects of the drought.

• The current drought is classified as a widespread case of force majeure within the meaning of Art. 5, para. 2, letter g, and para. 3 of the LFKV; therefore, individual written notifications are not required.

• This is subject to further requirements, conditions, and time limits in individual cases.

The annual Alpine information event took place on March 27, 2025.