| Forests play a central role in the prevention of natural hazards due to their protective function and protective effect, as well as their influence on natural hazard risks. The interdisciplinary research project Öko-SCHU-WA was conducted by experts from the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), and the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research (BAB). For the first time, the importance of forests with direct protective function (WDOSF) was comprehensively quantified for Austria. The project highlighted which areas, assets, and economic activities are protected by these protective forests against gravitational natural hazard processes such as avalanches, rockfalls, and shallow landslides. Initially, hazard processes were precisely modeled in their spatial context. Using accurate maps of their zones of influence, the economic relevance of these areas was determined. Analyses of eco-social barriers and success factors for protective forest management were carried out in four test regions. This approach aligns with the objective of the Austrian federal government launched action programme“Forests protect us!”, which seeks to“highlight the value of protective forests” and raise public awareness of their significance.
The study produced the following key findings:
• Scope and importance of forests with direct protective functions: Without direct protective forests, 3.6% of Austria’s territory would be exposed to the mentioned natural hazards. In these potentially protected zones 3.4% or 13 bio. EUR of the value added of the Austrian economy are generated.
• Regional differences: The extent of potentially protected areas and their regional economic importance vary significantly between regions.
• Risk governance: Decisions on maintaining and improving the protective effects of forests are made at different administrative levels, which are currently not optimally coordinated.
• Public perception: The significance of protective forests is often only recognized after damage events. Forestry measures to improve protective effects are difficult to communicate, and technical solutions are often preferred by the population in risk exposed regions. |