Why are there so many spruces in Austria?
The Austrian forest is dominated by conifers, which by nature are very common because of the high percentage of mountainous regions.
The share of spruce is 55.7%, and some 70% of the total forest area is covered by conifers. In the past, the share of conifers was even increased for economic reasons. In order to minimise the resulting ecological disadvantages, Austrian forest policy has been aiming to promote a forest structure that is as natural as possible since the seventies. Endeavours that have resulted in measurable successes.The share of broad-leaved and mixed forests is increasing; between 1992 and 1996 alone, the broad-leaved forest area increased by 63,000 hectares. A study by the Institute for Nature Conservation at Vienna University in 1996 on the “Naturalness of Austrian Forests” gave the Austrian foresters and forest farmers a good testimonial: 25% of the Austrian forest can be referred to as natural or semi-natural; 41% are moderately altered from the optimal condition. This means that the modern idea of an intact ecosystem applies to 2/3 of the Austrian forest. This makes Austria a leader by international comparison. 27% of the forest must be considered as strongly altered by human influence. Only 7% are artificial, i.e. very far from being natural forest communities. Special attention will be paid to these 7% in the coming years.
06.03.2006,