The topic chosen by Posteurop, the association of European public postal operators, for this years Europa stamp is the International Year of the Forest, in accordance with Resolution 61/193 of the United Nations. In cooperation with the Federal Forestry company, the Austrian Post Office has come up with something very special: the present stamp block, designed by Michael Rosenfeld, is far more than just a stamp. In the form of a small letter, the block contains a specially selected mixture of seeds from Austrian spruce trees from the Tyrol, the Salzkammergut, the Waldviertel, Styria and Carinthia. 

The release date for this extraordinary block of stamps has of course not been chosen by chance, since autumn is after all the best time for sowing. “In a few years,” explains the forestry board member Mag. Georg Schöppl, “you will be delighted with the small trees, and remember this stamp in a very special way.” The symbolism behind this innovative issue is clear – let us do something to help the growth of our forests, a growth that is so important for all of us. That philately as an ambassador of the country can create the necessary awareness is of course beyond all doubt.

Roughly 40,000 km2, i.e. around 48 percent of the Austrian national territory, is forest. It comprises a wide variety of climates, landscapes and vegetation forms. In terms of landscape, Austria includes high and low mountain ranges as well as hills and plains; the geology is very complex not only because of the rock formations and folding. The soils have developed from calciferous and acidic rocks, and consequently the soil types vary considerably. By adapting to the geological, climate, relief and soil conditions, a varied “forest society” has developed, with its own wealth of plants and animals.

The forests of Austria are of huge significance for the maintenance and promotion of biodiversity. The nature reservation programme makes an important contribution to maintaining and improving biological variety of their forests. 15 years ago, in 1996, a nationwide network of natural forest reservations was set up to serve the collection of basic data for the further development of ecologically focused natural forestry. National parks, nature reserves and biosphere parks, to mention only three examples, form part of this network.

Source: Austria Post 

published August 31st, 2011