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The better part of the forests in Vorarlberg are privately owned by almost 6,000 holders. The forests have a balancing effect on the climate and they regulate the water supply. Forest maintenance and use will be sponsored by the Fir Tree Country initiative.
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Almost 6,000 private owners share a large portion of the forests in Vorarlberg. There aren‘t any large concerns here like there are in the eastern states. Agrarian communities and municipal forests are mainly in the south of Vorarlberg. In the north there are many small and very small parcels of land because of the distribution of estates among many heirs. Because the areas are so small and undeveloped, it is very difficult to look after them. The forests are a special nature oriented characteristic of our cultural landscape and an important feature of the beautiful countryside in Vorarlberg. The forests improve the air by producing oxygen and filtering soot and dust in the crowns of the trees. The forests have a balancing effect on the climate and regulate the water supply. They absorb precipitation, filter and save it, and then slowly and consistently release it into springs and groundwater. People, animals and plants have an irreplaceable basis for life with a healthy multifaceted forest. A big problem for the local forest industry is the declining profit from forestry. In 1960, the sale of a solid meter of timber could still pay for 50 hours of forestry work, whereas today it will only pay a meagre 4 hours. Because of this, forest maintenance and utilization are in danger. Cheap imports from countries with lower labour costs, ruthless exploitation of forests, as well as adulterated transport costs have led to the decline of prices. Because of the open market, fabricators import timber from Scandinavia. Even Siberian Larch can be found more and more on the facades of houses in Vorarlberg. A lot of times, lack of knowledge on the side of the planners, boost this trend. This is why the „Fir Tree Country“ initiative wants to sharpen awareness for the Queen of the Trees - the Silver Fir, with its majestic wood and the silver sheen on facades, and push regional economy and ecological aspects to the forefront. The Silver Fir was the „Tree of the Year“ in 2004. It is threatened with extinction all over the world. We, in Vorarlberg have large reserves on hand. You can find out more about the Queen of the Trees, as the Silver Fir is called, in the chapter: „The Fir Tree“. The Silver Fir is also endangered by damage caused by game. This is why a balanced relationship between the forest and wildlife is so important. More about cooperation between hunting and forestry in the next chapter. |
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