Forestry-relevant Regulations for Protection of the Forest
Forests have long been protected by strict legal regulations in Austria.
As early as in the Middle Ages, forest laws included provisions aimed at preserving the forest to guarantee a supply of raw materials and energy (charcoal) for mining, saltworks, and iron and steel works. In the “Reichsforstgesetz 1852” (Imperial Forestry Act 1852), principles for conservation of the protective and welfare function of the forest were added.
It aims to protect the forest as such and its four functions sustainably. When using forest, for example, it must always be ensured that old forest is replaced by new forest. Forest can only be cleared in exceptional cases, i.e. used for other purposes such as settlements, roads, etc.
There are special forest protection regulations and regulations for the careful treatment of protection forests. Clear cuts of over 0.5 hectares must be approved by the authority, and clear cuts of over 2 hectares size are absolutely forbidden. Operations with a size of more than 1000 hectares must be managed by state-certified forest personnel. Anyone may access the forest for recreational purposes. This open access to forest does not apply to forest cultures, felling areas, wind throws, etc.
The gathering of mushrooms and berries is limited in the interest of protecting the forest. Skiing is not allowed in the forest areas bordering on lifts and skiing slopes. Cycling and riding is only permitted on forest roads with the owner’s permission. Cross-country cycling and any form of ravaging in the forest, in particular the uncontrolled dumping of waste, is forbidden.
The Forest Act with its provisions on forest damaging air pollutants is an important contribution towards keeping the forest healthy. All forest areas are subject to monitoring by the forest authority. This authority makes sure that the legal regulations are complied with, and in collaboration with the Chambers of Agriculture it also offers consulting for forest owners.
Forest subsidization supports measures to improve the forest with financial grants and loan interest subsidies.
The forest engineering system consists of the coordinated application of construction engineering and forest biology measures, and it exploits the fact that a stable forest belt is the best foundation for torrent and avalanche control.
The combination of high stand afforestation, protection forest improvement and engineering structures is a good example of the harmonization of engineering and environment that is so necessary today in order to maintain or restore the ecological balance.
With hazard zone planning, this service also makes a significant contribution towards land use planning.
13.04.2006,