Forest in Austria


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FORESTS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The sites below give some information about selected aspects of forests and forestry in Austria. They are aimed to give a view of complexity of forest ecosystems and its managment, forest resources in Austria biodiversity and nature protection. They will serve as a source of information about forests in Austria in Contest "Young People in European Forests".

	FOREST CHARACTERISTIC AND FOREST TYPES Austria’s forests cover about 4 million hectares of land, which is almost half of the country’s federal territory. More than one billion cubic metres of wood grow on this area, a starting situation which offers a good opportunity to adjust utilisation to timber growth in a sustainable way.
	TYPICAL AND EXCEPTIONAL FAUNA AND FLORA SPECIES IN FORESTS The distribution of tree species in percent area is: 53.7 % Spruce, 2.3 % Fir, 4. 6 % Larch, Pine 5. 6 %, other conifers 0.7 %; 9.6 % Red beech, 2. 0 % Oak, 8. 0% other hardwood, 4. 3 % Deciduous softwood.
	FORMS OF NATURE PROTECTION SUCH AS NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE 2000 SITES Forests cover about 47 % of Austria’s federal territory and are thus of great importance to the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity.
	ORGANIZATION OF FORESTRY In Austria, sustainable forest management is practice within an established legal framework. Forest enterprises, the wood industry, sawmill and paper industries together supply some 50.000 jobs.

Austria

Completed by Thomas Baschny
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Department of Forestry - Division IV / 3
Marxergasse 2
A-1030 Wien, Austria

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Forest in Austria

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