Austrian Forest Development Plan — Forest Functional Flats

The Austrian Forest Development Plan is an essential instrument of forest spatial planning, which is intended to contribute to the sustainable and best possible preservation and realisation of all forest functions through forward-looking planning. The four forest functions described in the Austrian Forest Act (Section 6(2) ForstG 1975) are assessed and the function in the primary public interest is presented as a guiding function. Useful function (green): Especially the economically sustainable production of the raw material wood. Protection function (red): In particular, protection against elementary hazards and harmful environmental influences, as well as the maintenance of soil power against soil flooding and depletion, debris formation and landsliding. Welfare function (blue): Influence of the forest on the environment, balance of climate and water balance, purification and renewal of air and water. Recovery function (yellow): Recreation room for forest visitors. Value shall be qualified by a value digit expressing the degree of public interest in the respective function. For the protection, welfare and recreation function, the value is defined by values (0= no public interest, 1=low public interest, 2=increased public interest, 3= special public interest). The utility function is not subject to a multi-stage evaluation and is then the guiding function if none of the other three functions have a high value (value number 3).