Photo: BMLFUW
To whom do Austria’s forests belong?
Almost three quarters of Austria’s forests are privately owned and are managed by private forest owners. About one third of the total forest area is managed by large forest enterprises.
The nature of ownership of Austria’s forests is as follows: About 50 percent are private forests with forest areas smaller than 200 hectares, 22 percent are private forests larger than 200 hectares. The Austrian Federal Forests manage the state-owned forests, which account 16% of the forested area. 9 percent represent community forests, 2 percent account for municipal forests, and 1 percent is Provincial forest.The economic utilisation of the raw material wood secures an income for forest farmers and thus their basis of life. The utilisation is carried out on a sustainable basis, which means that the quantity of wood felled is not higher than the increment.
For recreational purposes, forest managers satisfy many of the needs of our society. For example, forest footpaths, forest trails, biking and mountain bike trails, children’s playgrounds, picnic areas, and forest huts are built.
Recreation in forests
Forests make landscapes particularly attractive leisure and tourism areas. The tourism and leisure industry is an important employer, especially in rural areas, and thus slows the migration from structurally deprived regions. It is Austria’s largest foreign-exchange earner.
For people, the forest creates the connection with nature. According to surveys, approximately 70 percent of the people prefer to spend their spare time in forests. Although forests have many owners, anyone is allowed to spend his time there for recreational purposes. This is what the Austrian Forest Act provides. One is permitted to hike, play, run and recreate, enjoy the landscape and the nature in forests.
However, to ensure regeneration, the access to young stands is prohibited. The Forest Act contains provisions concerning the gathering of mushrooms. Driving on forest roads, camping in the dark, sleeping in tents or horse-riding in the forest requires the permission of the forest owner. Fire-setting and the depositing of waste in forests are principally prohibited.
15.02.2008,