Protective functions of mountain forests in Austria

1998

Unselbständiges Werk

10347

200066925

The habitability of the Austrian Alps depends largely from the intact protective function of their forests. The reference values of the Austrian Forest Inventory indicate that the significance of forests in rural areas is increasing. To understand the specific situation in Austria, it is of utmost importance to identify the terms "mountain forest", "protection forest", "ban forest", and "protective forest". The present paper describes the most important of those protective effects that have relevance for Austria as well as current developments in this field.