New forest law: WWF sees “a step in the right direction”

2023-08-11 05:00:28

Evaluation period for amendment ends: Biodiversity and climate protection anchored in the Forest Act for the first time, but stronger protection for natural forests is necessary

Vienna (OTS) – On the occasion of the assessment period ending today, the nature conservation organization WWF Austria assesses the planned amendment of the forest law as a step in the right direction: “For the first time, biodiversity and climate protection are to be anchored in the target definition of the Forest Act. This offers the unique opportunity to give more priority to the protection of near-natural forests”, says WWF forest expert Karin Enzenhofer. “Intact natural forests store a particularly large amount of carbon and are veritable treasure troves of biodiversity. As such, they play a central role in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crisis.” However, due to intensive management with many monocultures, excessive harvesting and the rampant construction of forest roads, the domestic forests are becoming more susceptible to bark beetles and heat waves – and subsequently to carbon emitters. The WWF therefore calls for better protection of natural and near-natural forest areas and corresponding remuneration for forest owners. Because currently only eleven percent of the forests can be classified as natural or very near-natural and only 0.8 percent are effectively protected.

In addition to anchoring biodiversity and climate protection, the draft plans a hearing right for the nature conservation authority in the case of clearing or felling procedures in protected areas (nature protection areas, natural forest reserves, national parks, Natura 2000). “So far, only the forest authorities have decided on such cases. Therefore, the involvement of the nature conservation authorities is an improvement that is long overdue and must later be properly applied in practice. The federal states are particularly challenged here”, says Karin Enzenhofer from the WWF.

For the time being, the ignorance of the Aarhus Convention, which is binding under international law, remains a grievance in the Forest Act. “As a result, valuable democratic rights are missing,” criticizes Enzenhofer. The legal uncertainties and fears of liability regarding forest and tree liability that have existed for a long time also remain open. These are currently causing old wood to be cut away from many trees or entire trees to be felled. “At least for strictly protected areas, a special regulation should be introduced here that prevents liability for damage on paths and at the same time ensures the protection of old trees”, demands WWF expert Enzenhofer.

The complete WWF statement as well as visuals do you think …? Find here to download.