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8/8/2019 Aleksandra Tzoura

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Name: Alexandra Tzoura

Technical and Financial Support for Private Enterprises withSpecial Emphasis on Small-Scale Forests in Austria

INTRODUCTION

The Austrian forest has a great variety of irreplaceable functions for human

beings and the environment. Therefore, it is in the public interest to maintain all

of these functions, which are: exploitability, protective, beneficial effects and

recreational.

With the Austrian Forestry Act, the state aims to promote forestry in the public

interest. The following objectives of forestry support covered in the Act are to:maintain and improve its protective and recreational functions, maintain its

beneficial effects as well as the exploitability of the forest, and reinforce its

competitiveness.

The following types of forestry support are taken into consideration: interest-rate

subsidies for agricultural investment credits; aids, i.e. non-refundable

allowances granted for the implementation of forestry projects; interest-rate

subsidies for agricultural investment credits combined with aids.

Support for forestry measures aimed at improving the supra-economic functions

of the forest can also be granted to large establishments and regional and local

authorities (e.g. federal provinces, municipalities), whereas support for measures

improving exploitability is only granted to owners of agricultural and forestry

properties of less than 400 ha or to associations of such owners.

Cheaper European Reconstruction Program (ERP) credits constitute an

exception, as they are granted to forestry establishments of more than 200 ha of

forest area for afforestation, construction of forest roads and acquisition of

machinery.

This report concerns the support granted mainly to small-scale forest owners in

the form of aids and interest-rate subsidies.

SUPPORT MEASURES

These support measures in high altitudes (which is the zone above 500 m and

below the natural tree-line) do not depend on the size of the establishment -

opening-up of project areas by construction of forest roads and foot-pathshorities are also eligible for subsidization.


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- - real afforestation

- - forest protection

Measures promoting the recreational function of forests

There is no upper limit to the size of establishments in this field. Forests owned

by regional and local authorities are also subsidized, which is, of course, the

most frequent situation. But tourist associations also may apply for support.

The following measures are subsidized:

- creation of lanes in forests, of meadows for picnicking or playing,

afforestations etc.

- creation of parking lots, hiking trails and cycle paths, of pilot tracks and sports

tracks, playgrounds etc.

Structural improvements in forestry

These measures are aimed at improving the exploitability of forests by:

- increasing sustainable timber production in both quality and quantity.

- improving the structure of forests

Forest roads and improved wood harvesting operations

This support measure is aimed at improving the effects of forests by opening up

forests in an appropriate and landscape-adapted way permitting intensive and

careful forest management in line with nature. As in the case of measures to

improve forestry structures, this type of support is especially directed at farmers

owning small-scale forests of up to 400 ha or owners of community forests.

Moreover, persons having a logging right in another owner's forest may apply

for this aid.

The following criteria are particularly important for the construction ofsubsidized forest roads:

- careful construction methods (e.g. using excavators);

- avoiding excessive road density

- slopes of more than 12 percent only in special cases.

Rehabilitation of forests

The objective of this aid is to improve and restore the vitality of forest

vegetation and to stabilize the forest stand and site in order to limit the effects of

the so-called "new forest damage". As in the case of forest protection measures,

every forest owner is eligible for this type of support.


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The following measures are eligible for subsidies:

- soil improvement;

- fertilization;

Measures of information, training and consultancy

These measures are meant to strengthen the efficiency and competency of the

forestry sector and arouse public interest. Support is granted to:

- persons participating in specialized courses, seminars, excursions or study trips

in the field of forestry.

- persons, associations or institutions involved in information, training and

consultancy in the field of forestry with the aid of specialists.


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Amabilis FirThe amabilis fir is found in western Canada

and north-west California. It can reach

exceptional heights of 80 metres under thebest conditions, and has an estimated

lifespan of 300 years.

The amabilis fir's foliage is dark green,

with a shiny upper surface. When crushed,

the needles give off a pleasant orange peel

odour.

The amabilis fir grows on a variety of soils.

However, it requires large amounts of

water and atmospheric humidity, and isintolerant of long periods of drought.

It is mainly found in coastal areas and

subalpine forests.

Its wood is soft and not very strong, and

ranges from a creamy white colour to

yellowish-brown. It is used in

manufacturing various objects, but mainly for wood pulp and lumber.

Because of its attractive appearance, it is also planted as an ornamental.

Leaf Seed

Needles, single, flat, upper surface shiny

dark green.

Seeds, 8 to 16 mm long.

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