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Gruppenfoto der Teilnehmer:Innen in einer Halle vor einem großen Weihnachtsbaum

OptFORESTS project to enhance diversity and resilience of future European forests - Project OptFORESTS

The 5-year project aims to support the protection and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Europe in the face of environmental and societal challenges.

Unit for Ecological Genetics
Waldbrand

A red-hot future for Austria’s forests - Project Austria Fire Futures

In the future, the risk of forest fire will be a permanent threat of summer in Austria as well. How we can better deal with it is being researched in the Austria Fire Futures project.

Unit for Remote Sensing
Harvester im Einsatz

Better harvesting with the right technology - Project HOBO

Mechanised forestry makes management much easier, but not every harvesting method is suitable for all sites. The HOBO project makes the various possibilities and their aptitudes visible.

Unit for Soil Ecology
Bäume werden

Bark-BeAT aims to simplify risk assessment of spruce sites - Project Bark-BeAT

Global warming does not make silvicultural decisions any easier, and the catastrophes of recent years have increased the uncertainties. The Bark-BeAT project aims to help.

Unit for Soil Ecology
Buchenwald im Herbst, mit teils verfärbten Blättern

Climate change: How forest owners are being helped - ManageBeech Project

Global warming is forcing forest owners to adapt their forests to future climatic conditions. In the course of forest conversion, the future of the forest is to be secured with new tree species or combinations. But climate fitness is not the only goal: forests should be profitable, have a high level of biodiversity and also act as a greenhouse gas sink. How to reconcile all this is the focus of the two-year ACRP research project ManageBeech.

Department for Forest Ecology & Soil
Wald mit mehreren Douglasien

Correctly assessing non-native tree species in the Alpine region - ALPTREES Project

Robinia, Douglas fir and red oak were introduced to Europe several hundred years ago and are among the 530 tree species that are non-native to Europe. The international ALPTREES project has developed a risk assessment system for this purpose and published manuals on the management of non-native tree species in forests and urban areas.

Department for Forest Biodiversity & Nature Conservation
Test area in the Region Wienerwald

Austrian pine fit for climate change? - New test site

Climate projections forecast a rise of the Earth’s average temperature of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius until the year 2100. The prognosis for Austria is an increase of 3.5 degrees Celsius until 2100 (Österreichischer Sachstandsbericht zum Klimawandel, 2014). This will also lead to new challenges in the forestry sector. Sustainable managed forests and the utilization […]

Unit for Forest Growth
Spruce in small container

Forest Genetics: Preserving the Spruce Tree - Climate change

The research initiative “Green Heritage” was launched to improve the production base and stand security for the spruce tree in Austria permanently. For this purpose, the genetic background is investigated for certain properties, in order to develop markers which, in turn, can be used for genetically supported breeding strategies. This research project at BFW is […]

Unit for Ecological Genetics
Green larvae of the box tree moth

Box tree moth harming garden shrubs - Management strategy

Experts from the European Union and the Black Sea region discuss about measures taken against the aggressive moth. Soon infected box trees will be located again at cemeteries and in private gardens. The plant pest is easy to identify by the typical feeding pattern. The moth species is a well known pest in Austria and […]

Unit for Entomology and Forest Protection Procedures
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

SUSTREE: Science based solutions and decision-support tools for adapting forests to climate change - SusSelect App

Climate change is likely to alter the future growth capacity of European forests in providing vital ecosystem services. Adaptive management aiming at reducing vulnerability and enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems is a key to preserve the potential of forests.

Department for Forest Growth, Silviculture & Genetics
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