Forestry

The staff of the Provincial Forestry Authority play an efficient and crucial role in the management of the mountainous areas of the province. By implementing the measures contained in the Forestry Law of the Province of South Tyrol (LG 21/1996), the demands of forest owners can be reconciled with the requirements of the general public. Most of the forest land in South Tyrol consists of small management units.

For the correct and continuing management of the forest stands each unit area should have approximately the same number of trees in each of the different age classifications. It has been possible to establish an increase in the average age of the stands. Because of the lack of economic interest in forestry management a few decades ago, several forests are showing signs of neglect. This is also partly down to the long rotation times involved in forestry management – a mature tree will be at least 100 to 150 years old. The aim of the State Corps of Foresters is to ensure that the forests are as balanced as possible and to carry out planned activities such as maintenance, thinning and other forestry usage. The current organisation of forestry management as practised in the State Forests is a role model for showing other forest owners the potential of forestry management. This structure, which has been optimally refined over recent years, serves as a model for the future.