A clear commitment to forests, all their functions and active management, especially in times of climate change: this is the content of the agreement signed this morning as part of the Conference on the Protection of Euregio Forests and the Austrian Dialogue about the forests that are taking place in Obertilliach, East Tyrol. To strengthen forests, the three territories intend to collaborate even more closely across borders in the future. Among others, the Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry was present on this first day of work, during which it was highlighted that climate change, extreme weather events and the bark beetle know no national borders. The director of the Forestry Service of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Giovanni Giovannini, also participated in the round table that took place during the event, representing the competent provincial councilor, whose greetings he brought. Numerous Trentino mayors attended the event, led by the president and director of the Consortium of Municipalities. In describing the critical situation common to the three regions, Giovannini emphasized the active collaboration in the implementation of common strategies aimed at protecting the woods: “In Trentino, a total of around 40 thousand hectares are estimated to be damaged by Vaia and bark beetles (10% of the surface forest). Of particular concern is the reduction in protective capacity against falling stones, as well as against snow sliding, but also the capacity for water regulation and erosion control. From an economic point of view, it is plausible, in the coming decades, a reduction in forest productivity of around 20%, as long as the forests in the damaged areas are not reconstituted” were the words of the manager. For this reason, Trentino has prepared a specific reforestation plan “which defines operational criteria and priorities, linking them in particular to land protection services. However, current reforestation criteria provide for giving priority to natural regeneration. At the same time, the network of provincial seed forests is being developed, for which a genetic characterization activity is underway, in order to improve both the quantity and quality of the propagation material” concluded Giovannini.
The meeting in Obertilliach, in East Tyrol, on the cross-border strategy for forest protection [
Servizio foreste PAT]
The discussion revealed that in light of the ongoing challenges in mountain areas, the entire forestry and timber sector is called upon to constantly adapt, develop further and implement measures for the rapid processing of damaged timber, for the preventive protection of forests and for the concepts of reforestation and climate suitability.
Almost half of all Austrian timber harvested last year was damaged timber, but the main challenges for all Euregio territories concern ways to keep our forests viable, converting them into climate-friendly forests, clearing rapid recovery of damaged timber and reforestation after extreme events, the fight against the bark beetle, which remains a priority.
To manage reforestation and conversion to climate-friendly mountain forests, plants with certain characteristics and in sufficient quantities are needed. In the Tyrolean forest nursery in Nikolsdorf, half a million plants were grown, also destined for Trentino, for the reforestation of the areas damaged by the Vaia storm in 2018. The Tyrolean forest nurseries have also been collaborating with Alto Adige for some time. Supply and demand for forest plants meet in an ARGE ALP project. The regions, in fact, make known the tree species required and exchange seeds and planting material.
A document expressing the point of view of the three Euregio territories for a joint strategy was approved in Obertilliach. This is the text of the document:
“Our forests are a source of subsistence for human beings, they make an indispensable contribution to protection from natural risks, they provide us with clean air and pure water, they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, they ensure jobs and income and they constitute a diversified space and widely appreciated where it can be regenerated. The state of our forests stands out significantly at an international level, and this is thanks to the centuries-old, careful and sustainable work of our forest owners and farmers.
Wood, a renewable resource, comes from the sustainable management of the forest; it therefore contributes significantly to climate protection and the expansion of renewable energy.
The climate-related damaging events that have occurred in forests in recent years represent a socio-political challenge that transcends the entire forestry and timber sector. In this sense, it is necessary to ensure adequate framework conditions. They enable the entire forestry and timber sector to adapt and implement projects and measures in the areas of natural risk protection, forestry, forest protection or timber logistics.
The precious resource “forest”, with its multifunctional effects, therefore deserves our full attention. We therefore declare ourselves in favor of the common regional objective of improving the effects and services of our forests and of guaranteeing and safeguarding them through cross-border cooperation”.
Images and interview by the Tyrolean Press Office
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