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Gruppenfoto der Teilnehmenden des Instituts für Naturgefahren an der INAC-Konferenz

First Inter-Alpine Natural Hazards Conference successfully carried out - Conference INAC

The first Inter-Alpine Natural Hazards Conference (INAC) took place in Innsbruck from May 5 to 7, 2025. Over 100 experts from Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland participated in the event. They came from the fields of science, industry, infrastructure and technology.

Unit for Snow & Avalanches
Ansicht

Innovation in avalanche protection: umbrella nets for snowpack stabilization - Project

Several installed umbrella nets have shown damage due to overloading. This raises the question of which typical damage patterns occur in the structure and what types and magnitudes of loads cause them. How can such damage be prevented? Additionally, it is essential to determine the required maintenance and repair measures, as well as the expected lifespan of the system.

Unit for Snow & Avalanches
Vogelperspektive auf FAST Traunkirchen mit Traunsee im Hintergrund

Summer School on Assisted Migration 2025 - Summer Academy

Together with EVOLTREE and the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU), BFW is organizing a five-day summer school at the Forestry Training Centre in Traunkirchen from 28 July to 1 August 2025.

Department for Forest Growth, Silviculture & Genetics
Wald mit kahlen Flächen durch Borkenkäferbefall im Mölltal

Austria’s forests affected by adverse climate conditions -

Austrian Forest Inventory 2018-2023 shows effects of climate change and emphasises the importance of active forest management.

Department for Forest Inventory

HybOakAdapt – Genomics of hybridization in white oaks for climate-adapted Austrian forests - Project

The project, funded by the Climate Energy Fund, investigates white oak species complexes as a model system and the role of hybridization in climate adaptation. A particular focus is on Austria and south-eastern Europe.

Unit for Ecological Genetics
Portraitbild Georg Frank

Natural forest reserve expert Georg Frank retires - Retirement

Dr. Georg Frank, head of the Natural Forest Reserves unit at the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW) for many years, will retire at the end of January 2025.

Unit for Natural Forest Reserves
Flowers of Parkia biglobosa Foto: Marco Schmidt, CC BY-SA 3.0

Making Chromosomes Visible - Forest genetics

Parkia biglobosa (African locust bean) or Néré is a versatile tree species in Africa. Among other things, it has been and is the subject of a series of genetic examinations and provenance trials with the aim of selecting more drought-resistant forms. Despite all types of interest in this tree species, we have only poor knowledge […]

Unit for Provenance Research & Breeding
The forests at the Danube are the biggest semi-natural floodplain forest in Central Europe (picture: pixabay).

Detecting greenhouse gas emissions in floodplain forests - Climate change

Ecological processes in floodplains and their impact on greenhouse gas fluxes are still to be discovered. BFW therefore investigates the dynamic ecosystems in the Austrian Danube National Park.

Unit for Climate Impact Research Coordination

Two decades of natural forest reserves - Nature protection

20 years of natural forest reserves, 195 natural forest reserves over a total area of 8403 ha – almost the size of a  national park. Research in natural forest reserves is long-term research. This costs time and resources. And the long-standing observation plots are already bearing fruit. The Austrian Natural Forest Reserves Programme was initiated […]

Unit for Natural Forest Reserves
Fortification complex Altfinstermünz near Nauders (Picture: Franz Geiger, Wikimedia, CC)

Cultural Heritage. Risks and Securing activities - Risk assessment

CHEERS is a European project concerning the protection of cultural heritage exposed to environmental risks (natural disasters, climate change, etc.).

Unit for Climate Impact Research Coordination
Ansicht

Innovation in avalanche protection: umbrella nets for snowpack stabilization - Project

Several installed umbrella nets have shown damage due to overloading. This raises the question of which typical damage patterns occur in the structure and what types and magnitudes of loads cause them. How can such damage be prevented? Additionally, it is essential to determine the required maintenance and repair measures, as well as the expected lifespan of the system.

Unit for Snow & Avalanches
Weggabelung

Managing the climate crisis: Outlook for forest and timber utilization - CareforParis

Vienna, Oktober 2019: The effects of the global climate change impact the Austrian forest. This will influence the contribution of the forest to climate protection. With the rising average temperature, the carbon storage capacity decreases. Necessary adaptations affect the economic yields from the raw material timber. The less wood is used as replacement for non-renewable […]

Unit for Forest Growth