Austrian Forest Inventory

The Austrian Forest Inventory was initiated 40 years ago, after the occupation forces left Austria. Considering the economic and ecological importance of the forest the Federal Forest Research Centre in Vienna has installed a special research institute for this purpose. Gradually, the non-market functions of the forest have gained in importance. The Forest Inventory responded to this challenge by changing both contents and the German name from "Forstinventur" to "Waldinventur".

At the moment, more than 11.000 permanent monitoring plots are installed covering the whole federal territory. From the periodic surveys statistically reliable results on the forest condition and its economic performance are being projected on the hectare. Thus, Forest Inventory has become an essential tool of Austrian policy-making.

Along with international developments topical issues such as sustainability, biodiversity and impacts of possible climate changes will increasingly be included in the monitoring activities.

The technical concept of the Austrian Forest Inventory is an example for national inventories in many European countries.

Results from the Survey Period 1992-96

Increase in forested area - trends towards more broadleaved trees

• The Forest Inventory of 1992-96 showed an increase of forested areas of 7 700 ha per year. The current forested area in Austria is 3 924 000 ha, covering 46,8 % of the total area of Austria.

• Most of the areas covered with new forests consist of abandoned agricultural land and mountain pastures.

• At the moment there is a trend towards mixed forests with broadleaved trees whereas pure confer stands are forced back.

• Broadleaved stands have increased by 63 000 ha. Conifer areas have decreased by 21 000 ha.

Sustainable Management in the Austrian Forest

• Over the last years annual yield has been far behind timber increase. This resulted in an increase in growing stock to around one billion solid cubic meters.
• Stem injuries caused by browsing and harvesting have decreased due to proper game management and tending. This is a sound contribution to get stable stands in the future.

Focus on ecological aspects

• For the first time, studies are made within the frame of the Forest Inventory on the topic "Forest as a habitat". The survey of all trees and shrubs - even those which have no major economic importance - provided information on forest diversity, together with a survey on coarse woody debris. The basis for comparison is provided by tree species composition of the natural forest communities.
• An important outcome of this study is the finding that fir and beech are underrepresented within their natural distribution area.

Need for protection forest restoration

Browsing by game is a major problem in the protection forest. As a result, tree species necessary for stable stands are hindered in their proper development. There is a strong need for restoration measures in more than one third of the protection forests.

Trends towards natural regeneration

The Austrian forest has a high potential for natural regeneration. More than half of the surfaces regenerate naturally. The application of new regeneration techniques in forestry will be enhanced.
Nevertheless, it has to be stressed that the rich tree species potential is endangered by game browsing.

Forest Inventory 1992/96 on CD-Rom

The results of the Austrian Forest Inventory are available on CD-Rom for the federal and provincial authorities and district forest inspection authorities. The CD contains both the results from 1992/96 and 1986/90. A special programme allows to retrieve single pages easily and without problem.

The CD can be ordered at a price of ATS 1200,-- from: Federal Forest Research Centre Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8 A-1131 Vienna, Austria Fax +43-1-87838-1250 Tel. +43-1-87838-1225 Email: klemens.schadauer@bfw.gv.at