Austria’s forests
Almost half of Austria’s federal territory is covered by forests. Forests offer us space for recreation, supply us with the environmentally friendly energy sources, such as wood, and protect us against natural hazards like avalanches. By sequestering CO2 they help mitigate the effects of climate change, and can also purify spring water through the filtration of minerals and nutrients in their roots.
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© Dragan Tatic
400 million relief and investment package for agriculture and forestry
In order to be able to guarantee our country‘s security of supply, both with food and with wood products, in the future, comprehensive agriculture and forestry are needed. At the same time, however, these areas face numerous challenges, such as climate change, lack of rainfall, pest infestation and declining income. The Federal Government has therefore prepared a relief and investment package comprising the following measures.
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© BMLRT
2020+ Austrian Forest Strategy
The Forest Strategy serves as a guideline for short-, medium- and long-term forest policy in Austria. The manifold tasks harboured by forests are covered in seven specific fields of action and contain 49 strategic goals derived from a vision for Austrian forests as well as many specific forest-policy approaches.
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© BFW
The Federal Forest Research Centre (BFW) recommends removing calamity wood from forests rapidly
The bark beetle calamities and the autumn storms of 2018 as well as the snow breakage in January created an unfavourable starting situation for further mass propagation of bark beetle. The Federal Forest Research Centre (BFW) strongly advises to salvage calamity wood in time, remove it from forests and make it unsuitable for breeding in order to help mitigate the situation.
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© BMLRT/BFW
Forest Inventory of the Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW) - Data and facts
The Forest Inventory of the Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW) is the largest investigation and survey of its kind. With its key figures, it provides an important basis for domestic forest and environmental Policy.
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© BMLRT/Leopold Ziehaus
Pressures on forests
Again and again weather-induced disasters and the mass reproduction of pests have led to rather sizeable economic damage and impairment of the forest functions.
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© BMLRT
Bark beetle monitoring
Extreme weather conditions in past years have caused massive infestation with bark beetle in domestic forests. www.borkenkaefer.at continuously provides current information on the infestation Situation.
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© BMLRT
Of commercial forests and virgin forests
Austria’s forests are today a cultivated landscape- the product of centuries of human care and attention. In fact, virgin forests, or forests without any human intervention, are rare.
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© BMLRT/Alexander Starsich
Natural forest reserves
Natural forest reserves serve the investigation of forest development under conditions unaffected by human intervention and the development of a type of forest management which is close to nature.
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© BMLRT
Forests and water – two strong partners
Forests have unique impacts on the water balance
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© BMLRT/BFW
Information on packaging wood control
Global trade increases the risk of the spreading of insects or pathogens that are harmful to forests - and the requirements concerning packaging wood.
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Forest plant protection in Austria
Forest plant protection comprises all measures protecting against the introduction and the spreading of harmful organisms on forest plants, plant products and, in particular, Wood.
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© BMLRT
Information on the inspection of imported wood
Upon import into Austria, roundwood is subject to inspection.
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© BMLRT
Forest funding in the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme
Forestry is an integral part of rural development. The funding of sustainable and climate-friendly land use also comprises the development of forest areas and/or the sustainable management of forests.
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© BMLRT/Alexander Haiden
Forestry planning instruments
The sharp rise in public interest in forests and all the effects that they yield has already been taken into consideration by the legislator by virtue of the 1975 Amendment of the Forest Act by the introduction of the regional planning of forests.
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© Nationalpark Gesäuse/Andreas Hollinger
Scenery of protected areas in Austria
Forests in areas protected under nature and water conservation law.
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© BMLRT/BFW
Forest Development Plan
The Forest Development Plan (WEP) is an expert opinion on the functions of the entire Austrian forest based on the forest Legislation.
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© die.wildbach
Land-use planning
Forest land-use planning reflects the diverse landscape in Austria.
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© BMLRT/Johann Kiessling
Technical Forestry Plan
The Technical Forestry Plan - a flexible forest planning Instrument!
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© BMLRT/Alexander Haiden
Forest Act 1975
The Austrian Forest Act of 1975 (“Forstgesetz 1975”) is the central source of forestry law.
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© EU
Forest law - European Union and international
There is no “Common Forest Policy” on EU level; forest policy is the competence of the Member States.