By resolution 61/193, the United Nations has declared this year to be the International Year of the Forest. On this occasion, in cooperation with the Austrian Mint, an attractive commemorative block is being released whose round motif shows typical representatives of the flora and fauna of the Austrian forests. The aim of the United Nations here is to promote awareness and knowledge of the maintenance and sustainable development of all kinds of forests for the benefit of present and future generations. Particular attention is also to be drawn to the importance of the forest and a sustainable forestry industry as part of the efforts to overcome poverty.

Roughly 47% of the Austrian territory is forest. This means over 3.3 million hectares are used by the forestry industry. The provinces of Syria and Carinthia have the highest percentage of forest, which in each accounts for 61% of the land, and even 21% of the federal capital of Vienna is covered by forest. Almost three quarters of the Austrian forests are in private ownership, 16% are worked by the Austrian Federal Forestry Board, 9% are jointly-owned forests, 2% owned by local government and 1% by the federal provinces.

The economic exploitation of the forest is only one of many functions. According to the current Forest Development Plan, roughly two thirds of the forests are being used in this way. Above all in mountainous regions, the protective function of the forest for settlements and economic areas is of great importance, and in addition the forests also serve our well-being and ultimately relaxation.

The forest, an important habitat for many Austrian animal species, can without doubt be regarded as a “true performance wonder”. It fulfils a large number of irreplaceable functions for us humans and our environment – thus for instance it supplies the renewable, environment friendly and natural raw material wood, for which at present there is hardly any intelligent alternative. The unique ecosystem of the forest is home to a natural treasure that must be preserved at all costs. For this reason, the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management encourages all state institutions, public and private lobbies and all persons interested in the forest to further develop the careful treatment of the forest in order to ensure that the many different interests in the use of the forest will continue in the future to be mutually compatible. The new commemorative block is a small contribution to encouraging the corresponding awareness.

Technical Details:

published May 20th, 2011