Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape

The Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW) covers all aspects of forests and forest management – from an economic, ecological and social point of view. We use science to advance sustainable forest management and mitigate natural hazards, further aggravated by climate change. Our research focuses on the sustainable forest management of forests, biodiversity, natural hazards and climate change, aiming to:

• provide national and international policy and decision makers, forest managers and forestry consultants with solid expertise,
• disseminate acquired and practical knowledge on to society,
• provide vocational training for forest technicians and workers as well as environmental education practitioners and forest pedagogues at our two training centres.

In addition BFW is mandated by the Republic of Austria as the national authority to undertake surveillance tasks in regards to international trade of forest reproductive materials, forest plant health and import of forest products under various national and international regulations (e.g.: EU Timber Regulation, FLEGT licensing scheme). All our activities serve one common goal: to provide knowledge-based answers for the benefit of our society - worldwide.

The central tasks of the Institute of Forest Growth and Silviculture, which is responsible for the TEACHER-CE project, are the establishment, maintenance and utilization of forest stands under consideration of ecological and economic aspects. It records forest growth as a sustainability criterion and examines silvicultural treatment concepts and working methods.

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