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participants agreed on 28 principles, 52 goals and 66
sets of measures which aim at guiding forest-related
policies and actions. In order to allow for the assess-
ment of progress in implementation of each goal, a total
of 70 indicators have been developed.
The shared principles and goals constitute the basis
for concrete individual measures identified by the
Austrian Forest Dialogue and reflected in its Work
Programme, which is designed for immediate imple-
mentation. The Work Programme is a living document
which is continuously updated. At present, it contains
some 125 measures, of which 29 have already been
implemented, 51 are works in progress and 45 are
under preparation for implementation. An external
evaluation of the Austrian Forest Dialogue was carried
out from 2010 to 2011 and brought interesting results,
which are now used for developing further the process.
While thematic area 6 of the Austrian Forest
Programme encompasses a wide range of goals and
measures aimed at strengthening the relationship
between forests and people, thematic area 7 identifies
various actions to better utilize the rich experience of
the Austrian forest and land use sector in international
cooperation.
In 2009 the Austrian Natural Resource Management
and International Cooperation Agency (ANRICA) was
established in order to better concentrate knowledge
and capacities for international cooperation. Registered
as a foundation, it is supported by the Austrian
Government and governed by Austrian organizations
monitoring are important tools to this end. There are specific and
quite detailed management regulations laid down in the Austrian
Forest Act, such as limits on the size of clear cuts and the obliga-
tion to engage in reforestation. Forest owners are also requested to
employ certified forest professionals for holdings that are larger than
1,000 hectares.
In 2003 an additional and complementary policy instrument, the
Austrian Forest Dialogue, was launched in response to the dynamic
policy environment our forests are subject to. It is a participatory
process, engaging a broad range of stakeholders in a long-term,
transparent, cross-sectoral dialogue, which supports forest-related
policy formulation and implementation. The dialogue is set up with
a clear structure and conducted on the basis of rules of procedure,
agreed upon by the stakeholder groups represented.
A milestone achievement of this dialogue process is the first
Austrian Forest Programme, jointly developed by 80 organiza-
tions and institutions representing a broad range of public and
private interests in relation to forests and their management. In
a forward-looking manner, it addresses all relevant topics and
identifies shared principles and goals regarding Austrian forests.
The programme is trend-setting for the measures and activities
carried out by the organizations and institutions participating in
the Austrian Forest Dialogue.
The Austrian Forest Programme is structured along seven thematic
areas: the contribution of Austrian forests to climate protection;
forest health and vitality; productivity; biodiversity; the protective
functions of forests; social and economic aspects; and Austria’s inter-
national responsibility for sustainable forest management.
For each thematic area, the Austrian Forest Dialogue assessed the
status quo and analysed trends and challenges. On this basis, the
Shared principles and goals are crucial to forest policy development
Image: Georg Rappold
Austria has forest cover of close to 50 per cent and an internationally competitive
forestry industry
Image: Georg Rappold