0997-C1
Christian Brawenz and Renate Haslinger 1
In the mid-1990s the conflicts between forestry and nature protection groups increased for a variety of reasons. Landowners saw themselves as victims of an aggressive nature protection policy that ignored their work and the nature protection activists and civil servants responsible for protection projects saw forest owners as "narrow-minded and pig-headed".
In 1994 a group of forest owners, dissatisfied with the conflicts, founded BIOSA-Biosphäre Austria as a tool to harmonize the interests of nature protection and forestry.
BIOSA is the conservation body for private agriculture and forestry in Austria. It is a scientific non-profit association. Landowners voluntarily contract part of their land to BIOSA to form the new ecological areas (dynamic nature conservation). These are either a specific type of biotope (natural/near natural forests, woodlands, meadows, bogs, etc.) or scientific (silvicultural) projects (semi-natural forests) for the development of new ecological ideas (multi-faceted forests restructure or natural regeneration). We also work on joint projects with other ecological associations, various schools and with government bodies on large projects such as Natura 2000.
BIOSA and the landowner contract a voluntary management agreement, which is a form of 20-year lease. Part of the contract is the biotope management concept. Sustainable use is not necessarily prohibited. Together with the owners and a team of specialists, BIOSA plans individual projects for each area.
Today BIOSA represents over 100 private landowners, who are full members and 40 associate members who support the ideals of BIOSA. We manage over 3000 ha of specially selected sites together with the owners.
Our aim for the future:
Our work so far:
In the mid 1990s the conflicts between forestry and nature protection groups increased for a variety of reasons. In those days the creation of national parks was very trendy. Many nature protection areas were established by the authorities.
With the entry of Austria into the EU the Fauna-Flora Habitat Directive and the Birds-Directive became applicable to Austrian Landowners. Together, the result of these directives was the establishment of a network of protected areas all over Europe. A lot of private land was needed to fulfill all the protection plans commited to at national and international level.
For Austrian forest owners the diverse projects were a heavy burden and perceived as a sign of mistrust against them. One of the most frequently asked questions in these days was: "We have been practicing near to nature forestry for generations and we also have many private natural forest reserves on our property established on a voluntary basis. Why is it necessary to expropriate our property right from us?"
The landowners had the impression that they were victims of an aggressive nature protection policy that ignored their work and self-understanding in relation to their family forests. On the other hand the nature protection activists and the civil servants responsible for protection projects thought of the forest owners as "narrow minded and pigheaded".
In this scenario it was clear the constructive solutions were hard to find. For a better understanding of the situation it is therefore necessary to have a short look at the structure of Austrian forestry.
With a total area of 3,924 Million hectares, forests account for 47 % of Austria's surface area and are the most significant landscape element in terms of quantity. Wood is one of the most important natural resources of Austria.
The area of forested land and the volume of timber supplies are both continually increasing in Austria. The total standing timber resource amounts to around one billion cubic meters. The annual increment in the volume of these forests (around 27 million cubic meters of timber), contrasts with the 19 million cubic meters of timber harvested over the same period of time. Forestry and timber are the most stable positive factor in Austria's foreign trade figures. The export surplus has been considerably increased over each of the past years. In 2001 Austria exported timber and wood products to a value of 6,81 billion € and the surplus was 2,52 billion €.
The utilization of domestic timber secures work for more than 290.000 people. A study by the Academy of Sciences in 1996, demonstrated the "naturalness" of Austrian forests According to this study 25 % of the domestic forests can be termed "natural" or "ecologically compatible", whilst 41 % have been moderately altered with regard to the situation in a virgin forest.
This means that two thirds of Austria's forests correspond to the contemporary notion of an intact ecological system.
82 % of the forests are privately owned by approximately 213.000 forest owners. The largest share or 53 % belongs to small-scale forest owners. Most of these forests are not much larger than 5 hectares. 29 % of the forests are managed by private enterprises and families owning more than 200 hectares of forest area. Only 18 % of the forests are publicly owned.
Most of the private forests have been owned within the family for generations and the enterprises have always thought in terms of generations and acted accordingly. The forest owning families normally live close to their forest. They see their forests not only as a basis for their livelihoods, but also have a strong emotional bond to their land.
The modern formula of `sustainability' is part of their daily work and their self understanding.
Tradition and the transmission of knowledge about habitats and management play an important role.
In addition to this sustainability tradition inherent in the forest owning population there is also strict forest legislation. As long as 150 years ago, comprehensive legal provisions on forestry were laid down by law in Austria, which served to secure the preservation of forests in terms of quality and quantity. With the 2002 amendment to the Austrian Forest Act, the requirements of sustainable forest management have been further strengthened and the ecological requirements of the habitat `forest' have been taken into consideration. The new legal provisions make it possible to establish effective links and partnerships between nature conservation and forestry.
The new forest act of 2002 can be regarded as proof that the idea behind BIOSA was right.
In 1994, a small group of progressive forest owners were dissatisfied with the attitude of nature protection pressure groups, as well as the groups portrayal of them as being obstructive and encouragement of this perception by the general public.
These progressive owners were ready to work actively in the field of nature protection on their own properties. But they wanted to do it voluntarily and in a dynamic way. They were convinced that it is not right to put forest habitats under a cheesecover in order to protect them. The Director of the forest owner's organisation of Austria Dr. Christian Brawenz, was the coordinator of this little group. He wrote a concept for the foundation of an organisation, which should help to find a better understanding between nature protection and forestry. The idea was to create a platform where landowners bring in habitats, expert knowledge and experience in order to find private or public partners to start protection projects in cooperation with them.
He wrote the statutes for a private association with landowners or protection activists as ordinary members and supporters as extraordinary members. In intensive discussions with the interested forest owners the name BIOSA was chosen. BIOSA is an abbreviation for Biosphäre Austria - Association for dynamic nature protection. Christian Stotzes, a young artist, created the logo. It shows a butterfly with forest, fields and water in its wings. The name and the logo symbolises forestry, nature and biodiversity in harmony and highlights the dynamic approach of BIOSA. The butterfly stands for metamorphosis, development and the beauty of nature.
BIOSA defined the following principles for its work:
With these principles as a background, BIOSA aims to preserve biological diversity, to develop models of dynamic management of ecosystems, to organise scientific research in forestry and agriculture, and to inform the public about forestry and nature protection in a dynamic way.
After months of preparations BIOSA was founded on the 7.12.1994 in Graz the capital of Styria. H.R.H. Princess von Hohenberg was elected as President of BIOSA and she continues in this role. Shortly after the foundation negotiations with the Styrian government began regarding natural forest reserves. In 1995, BIOSA, the landowners and the government signed contracts. They are based on the BIOSA Principles and developed in an atmosphere of cooperation and voluntariness. The contracts are a special form of a lease over a period of twenty years. Part of the contract is the individual biotope management concept. BIOSA developed a list of activities and duties, which forms the basis for the appropriate compensation of each owner.
This BIOSA catalogue of services, activities and compensation was also taken as a basis for the Austrian Natural Forest Reserve Programme. This Programme was launched 1995 and complies with the Helsinki Resolution H2 of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE).
Due to its huge success, the organisation grew fast. In the following years the Styrian government and BIOSA contracted 5 more natural forest reserves. Today BIOSA represents over 100 private landowners, who are full members. This means that they have dedicated a part of their property to a BIOSA project on a voluntary basis. More than 40 persons and associations support the ideas of BIOSA as associate members.
BIOSA, together with the owners, manages over 3.000 ha of specially selected sites in the sense of dynamic nature conservation.
BIOSA has an office in Vienna and with one employed manager, the forest expert Renate Haslinger, it is economically organised.
Most of the Association's officials work voluntarily, without payment. BIOSA is financed by membership fees and payments for projects or contracts with sponsors.
Besides the natural forest reserves, BIOSA has established several projects.
In 1998 the project "Gustav Davis ancient forest" was started in conjunction with the biggest Austrian newspaper, the "Kronen Zeitung". The founder of the "Kronen Zeitung" was Mr. Gustav Davis, a forest owner in southern Austria. He preserved a small virgin forest voluntarily because of its beauty. The newspaper was sold several times and since 1959 Mr. Hans Dichand has been the owner. Mr Dichand is one of the most outstanding personalities in Austria, with a strong connection to nature. Mr. Davis's virgin forest became neglected over time. One of his descendants, Mr. Michael Schmidtkunz wanted to support BIOSA and during a BIOSA study of the forest enterprise the existence of the virgin forest and its connection to the Kronen Zeitung were discovered.
A dynamic protection project called the "Gustav Davis virgin forest" was established and Mr. Dichand became enthusiastic about the idea. Ongoing scientific research and preservation activities continue to be financed by "Kronen Zeitung" on a contractual basis.
From 1998 to 2000 the Austrian national bank financed a scientific BIOSA project "Inneralpine moorlands" which investigated the dynamics of vegetation found around the "Kohltrattenmoor" since the last ice age using pollen analysis.
The results of this study help us to better understand climatic changes and their influence on forests. In 1999, the "Fluderwaterfall" project was started in Carinthia. Scientist and pupils of the St Paul high school in Carinthia have worked together on this aquatic biotope. This project is an example of a synthesis of research and education in cooperation with a forest enterprise.
In 1999, BIOSA and two schools created a nature-education area in a forest near Graz. Specifically designed for handicapped children, the issues of forest, nature, plants, animals and water can be studied using all the senses.
From 1998 to 2000, BIOSA ran the project "Forests visit towns". Together with the forestry school in Bruck/Mur, 10 glass display cases were designed. These covered all forest relevant subjects form production, protection forest, CO2, Soil, Water to wildlife.
These showcases were presented in public places in all 9 regional capitals of Austria over several weeks. The various aspects of forests and forestry presented in this exhibition were seen by many urban people.
In 2002 BIOSA and the forest owners organisation presented a special educational tool: the "kindergartenbox". This box is a collection of teaching aids on the subjects of forests, wood and nature. It contains information, games, songs, stories, pictures, painting-books and craftwork explanations for teachers and children.
Since 1999 BIOSA has worked on several projects covering the subject of Nature 2000. The Nature 2000 Network of special conservation areas has been developed in line with European Union regulations. At the moment 163 Nature 2000 areas are designated as special areas of conservation covering a total of more than 16 % of Austrian territory, of which almost the half or 650.0000 ha are forests.
During the implementation of Natura 2000 many conflicts with landowners arose from insufficient information and uncertainty as to what will happen on these extensive sites.
BIOSA, together with the Ministry of Forests, started a pilot study "Management of Natura 2000 sites". In 4 concrete biotopes BIOSA investigated management activities needed to meet the requirements of Natura 2000. The results form an important basis for the implementation of Natura 2000 and helped to diminish the conflicts.
The great success of the idea of BIOSA in Austria, has resulted in cooperation with organisations and forest owners in Bavaria and Croatia. Together with the Austrian journalist and Vice President of BIOSA, Mr. Friederun Pleterski, BIOSA is working on a project for the Croatian island of Olib.
In Bavaria BIOSA is starting an initiative with forest owners to create a BIOSBA - Biosphere Bavaria.
1 BIOSA-Biosphäre Austria, Schauflergasse 6/V, A-1010 Wien, Austria. [email protected]