Forest-Culture Austria

NetworkNetwork „„ForestForest--CultureCulture AustriaAustria““ -- aa newnew wayway toto developdevelop andand encourageencourage socialsocial andand culturalcultural dimensionsdimensions ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement

Elisabeth Johann Seminar on ForestryFachausschuss and Our Forstgeschichte 13-15 June 2005 Cultural HeritageÖsterreichischer Forstverein 1 ContentContent

1. IntroductionIntroduction 2. ImplementationImplementation andand strengtheningstrengthening ofof thethe culturalcultural performanceperformance andand potentialspotentials ofof AustrianAustrian‘‘ss forestryforestry 3. NetworkNetwork „„ForestForest--CultureCulture AustriaAustria““ 4. ConventionConvention concerningconcerning thethe protectionprotection ofof thethe WorldWorld CulturalCultural andand NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage 5. DiscussionDiscussion 6. ConclusionsConclusions

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 2 1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

„ Austrian‘s forests have always been and are still the most characteristic element of the landscape (>47% of the territory)

„ The woodland and its products (energy and nutrition) were the precondition for the welfare of the population from the first settlements till the 1850ies

„ Already from the 16th century onwards a remarkable shortage of fuelwood caused by high industrial demand gave raise to the development of sustainable forest management and legislation Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 3 EpochEpoch ofof forestforest aestheticsaesthetics 19th19th centurycentury

„ Social demands „ Owner‘s demand and forest management

„ Ethical, social and „ Foresters developed cultural values of silvicultural methods woodland became following the concept more important and of nature. were highly „ Thereby they wanted appreciated to meet the economic particularly by the interest of forest urban society owners as well as the „ The idea of nature demand of society protection was forced by nature enthusiasts. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 4 LandscapeLandscape protectionprotection inin thethe 19th19th centurycentury

„ ProtectionProtection ofof naturalnatural landscapeslandscapes andand maintenancemaintenance ofof artefactsartefacts andand monumentsmonuments ofof culturalcultural heritageheritage „ Protection,Protection, maintenance,maintenance, promotionpromotion andand securingsecuring ofof naturenature justjust forfor itselfitself „ EmphasisEmphasis onon thethe ethical,ethical, aestheticalaesthetical andand socialsocial valuesvalues ofof forestsforests besidebeside theirtheir economicaleconomical importance.importance.

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 5 2.2. ImplementationImplementation andand strengtheningstrengthening ofof thethe culturalcultural performanceperformance andand potentialspotentials ofof AustrianAustrian‘‘ss forestryforestry

„ 2.1.2.1. StartingStarting pointpoint „ 2.1.1.2.1.1. EuropeanEuropean commitmentscommitments „ 2.1.2.2.1.2. GlobalGlobal developmentdevelopment „ 2.1.3.2.1.3. DevelopmentDevelopment ofof Austrian'sAustrian's forestryforestry

„ 2.2.2.2. GoalsGoals

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 6 2.1.2.1. StartingStarting pointpoint 2.1.1. European commitments: „ 4th Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe 28-30 April 2003 Vienna „ The “Vienna Living Forest Summit Declaration: European Forests – Common Benefits, Shared Responsibilities” emphasises that co-ordination and partnerships leading to shared responsibilities are crucial for the provision of common benefits from forests in the future. „ The representatives of the Signatory States and the European Community committed themselves to „ Benefiting rural livelihood and urban societies „ Building strong partnerships „ Tackling global challenges „ Putting MCPFE commitments into action Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 7 ResolutionResolution 3:3: PreservingPreserving andand EnhancingEnhancing thethe SocialSocial andand CulturalCultural DimensionsDimensions ofof SustainableSustainable ForestForest ManagementManagement inin EuropeEurope

„ The role of social and cultural values of sustainable forest management has been increasingly perceived by the European society „ Social and cultural dimensions of sustainable forest management are an important asset to the education, recreation, environment, rural development and economy of society „ There is a demand of society to promote public access to historical and cultural important sites but also the wish to save the interest of forest owners. Seminar on Forestry and Our „ 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 8 AustrianAustrian ForestForest DialogDialog

„ AnAn interdisciplinaryinterdisciplinary andand interinter -- sectoralsectoral dialogdialog betweenbetween allall forestforest –– relevantrelevant sectorssectors andand stakeholdersstakeholders „ ProvidesProvides thethe frameworkframework forfor concreteconcrete forestforest –– politicalpolitical strategiesstrategies „ BasisBasis forfor thethe „„AustrianAustrian NationalNational ForestForest ProgramProgram”” „ SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement areare discusseddiscussed inin chapterchapter 33 (Environment(Environment andand Society)Society) ofof thisthis dialogdialog andand areare addressedaddressed atat allall levelslevels

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 9 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement Art: (Painting, Literature, Music, Sculptures ect. )

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 10 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement

„ •• LandscapeLandscape (Traditional(Traditional utilizationutilization practisespractises i.ei.e.. pollardingpollarding))

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 11 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement

„ WoodWood processingprocessing „ WoodenWooden architecturearchitecture

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 12 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestryforestry

„ TraditionTradition

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 13 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement

„ SightsSights andand monumentsmonuments

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 14 SocialSocial andand culturalcultural aspectsaspects ofof sustainablesustainable forestforest managementmanagement

„ RecreationRecreation (health,(health, wellwell--beingbeing i.e.)i.e.)

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 15 2.1.2.2.1.2. GlobalGlobal developmentdevelopment

„ InIn 19721972 thethe GeneralGeneral assemblyassembly ofof UNESCOUNESCO hashas agreedagreed thethe conventionconvention concerningconcerning thethe ProtectionProtection ofof thethe WorldWorld CulturalCultural andand NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage withwith thethe goalgoal toto protectprotect thethe witnesseswitnesses ofof pastpast andand presentpresent treasurestreasures ofof culturescultures andand naturalnatural landscapeslandscapes ofof excellentexcellent beautybeauty andand biodiversitybiodiversity andand toto maintainmaintain itit asas aa WorldWorld HeritageHeritage forfor thethe benefitbenefit ofof futurefuture generations.generations. „ TheThe addressedaddressed ““WorldWorld HeritageHeritage SitesSites”” areare divideddivided intointo threethree categories:categories: CulturalCultural Heritage,Heritage, NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage andand CulturalCultural Landscape.Landscape.

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 16 2.1.3.2.1.3. DevelopmentDevelopment ofof AustrianAustrian‘‘ss ForestryForestry

„ The economic situation of the rural population is characterized by a remarkable loss of income (low price for agrarian products, high price for energy) „ farms become abandoned, farmers are migrating to the neighbouring agglomeration centres „ the still existing rural infrastructure is increasingly vanishing Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 17 „ The sustainable management of the mountain forests and the maintenance of the cultural landscape are increasingly endangered.

„ This is also due to the fact, that 85% of the forest land is in private ownership; about 70% of it is small scale farming.

„ The dogma – taught at forestry schools almost up to date times - that the profit margin earned by the selling of timber is sufficient enough to offer the multiple benefits of forests to everybody free of charge is not valid any more.

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 18 2.22.2 GoalsGoals

„ Forestry has to work towards an improved understanding and to establish partnerships within civil society in order to enhance public awareness and understanding of the multiple benefits of forests for society and its contribution to the overall well-being of society. „ By an increasing social appreciation of qualified benefit- based forest management forest enterprises might be able to achieve other sources of income beside timber. „ It is necessary to find sources of income resulting from services which are demanded by the society and offered by forestry. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 19 3.3. NetworkNetwork „„ForestForest--CultureCulture AustriaAustria““ Foundation: „ 2002 by the Austrian Forest Association (Working party Forest History) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Watershed Management. Need: „ Present time forestry is based on a long history of forest-culture „ There is a substantial public and private interest in maintaining the traditional monuments and elements of forest utilization practises and to make these historical information accessible to the public „ There is a loss of past knowledge Members: „ The network joins together „ Scientists „ Institutions „ Forest enterprises „ Various stakeholders being involved in forest culture Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 20 NetworkNetwork „„ForestForest ––CultureCulture AustriaAustria““ ImportantImportant institutionsinstitutions andand Forest stakeholdersstakeholders inin AustriaAustria enterprise Farm- forestry

Museum

Community Tourism

Forest association Various government institutions

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 21 ForestForest--CultureCulture inin AustriaAustria

„ Forest culture deals with the multiple interrelationship between forests, forest management and the human society, which have changed in the course of history. „ It is not only confined to demonstrating historical developments, but contributes also considerably to a better understanding of the present situation of forests and the development of the cultural landscape.Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 22 ForestForest--CultureCulture inin AustriaAustria

„ Hunting, bee-keeping, fishing, timber management, lime burning, resin tapping, charcoal burning, but also transport, utilisation of litter, forest pasturage, animal husbandry, fruit growing are just some examples of partly traditional partly historical types of forest utilisation and the resulting typical forest stands. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 23 ForestForest--CultureCulture inin AustriaAustria

„ Due to these types of land use, which have been practised over centuries, first rank cultural objectives such as fortresses, castles and chapels could be preserved until present time. „ The increasing interest of the society in such objects of forest culture offers also additional sources of income to forest owners.

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 24 ForestForest--CultureCulture inin AustriaAustria

„ Innumerable generations of poets, painters, composers and artist craftsmen have gained inspiration from the diversity of forests. „ The pious ness of the population, historic events and the close relation of men to the forest have left a wide variety of cultural assets: Places of pilgrimage, memorial trees with pictures or inscriptions shrines, tablets with pictures and inscriptions in memory of a person killed in an accident, wooden or stone niches with a crucifix or saint’s image, chapels ect. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 25 ForestForest--CultureCulture inin AustriaAustria

„ Today a considerable number of museums and educational institutions dedicate their work to forest, environmental and regional history.

„ There is a long tradition of forest science and education

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 26 NetworkNetwork „„ForestsForests––CultureCulture AustriaAustria““:: PlatformPlatform andand networknetwork

Input:Input:Collection Collection andand aggregationaggregation ofof history-history- relatedrelated informationinformation Historical Libraries Research Archives elements of Enterprises landscape

Museum Network „Forest – Farming Culture Austria“ culture Platform and network „To usethechallengeof history as an instrument for shaping the future. “

Output:Seminar onConsumer Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 27 ConsumerConsumer

„ Enterprises,Enterprises, institutions,institutions, stakeholdersstakeholders inin thethe fieldfield ofof „ ScienceScience „ PolicyPolicy „ PractisePractise „ TourismTourism

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 28 OutputOutput

Î Collection and aggregation of forest-history-related data

Î Making acquainted with the term „Forest-Culture“ in Austria

Î Stirring the discussion in Austria and taking part in the discussion on the European level.

Î Strengthening of the co-operation forest enterprises - tourism

Î Consulting concerning the implementation of forest-culture-related initiatives into practise (museum, trails with forest history-related themes, charcoal burning, and rafting as an touristy event

Î Information about historical methods of utilization and management of landscapes.

Î Consulting with regard to the work out of management concepts based on long-term development and tendencies in the fields of „ Utilisation of the cultural landscape (forestry and agriculture) „ Sustainable development „ Development of the Seminarcultural on landscapeForestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 29 NetworkNetwork „„ForestsForests––cultureculture AustriaAustria““:: PlatformPlatform andand networknetwork PreviousPrevious activitiesactivities

„ Seminars and workshops to introduce examples of best practise (forest-culture related activities of forest enterprises) to a broader audience (target group forest enterprises) „ Workshop targeting different stakeholders (forest enterprises, tourist enterprises, museums (topic networking) „ Workshop focusing on legal and tax aspects of forest- culture-related activities of forest enterprises

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 30 PreviousPrevious activitiesactivities

„ Organization of an International Conference on “Woodland- Cultural Heritage” (Vienna 2004) „ Involvement in the „Forest Dialog“ by sending experts „ Documentation of all institutions in Austria dealing with forest culture in a broad sense „ Journal „News of Forest History“ „ issue 2004 “Forest-Culture in Austria” „ issue 2005 (in press) Proceedings of the International Conference on „Woodland – Cultural Heritage“ Vienna 2004

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 31 PresentPresent andand futurefuture activitiesactivities

„ An important part of the working program is the setup of a databank collecting and documenting forest-history- relevant relicts, artefacts and monuments of cultural and historical value on a voluntary basis that means with the agreement and involvement of the forest owner. „ Before this collection will start a workshop will be organized by the network in autumn 2005 in order to clarify the sights which should be protected for the benefit of society. „ Further involvement in the „Forest Dialog“ by sending experts to strengthen the link to tourism, education, research, communication, etc. because the results of the „Forest Dialog“ will shape the „Austrian Forest Programme“ and further on the program rural development. „ Consulting activities related to the equipment of a new forest museum in Austria Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 32 4.4. ConventionConvention ConcerningConcerning thethe ProtectionProtection ofof thethe WorldWorld CulturalCultural andand NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage

„ WorldWorld HeritageHeritage conservationconservation isis notnot onlyonly anan instrumentinstrument forfor peacepeace andand reconciliation,reconciliation, forfor enhancingenhancing culturalcultural andand biologicalbiological diversity,diversity, butbut alsoalso aa factorfactor ofof regionalregional sustainablesustainable development.development. „ NewNew approachesapproaches toto integratedintegrated managementmanagement ofof WorldWorld HeritageHeritage havehave provedproved successfulsuccessful andand promotedpromoted economiceconomic growthgrowth andand benefitsbenefits toto locallocal communities.communities.

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 33 CulturalCultural Heritage,Heritage, NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage andand CulturalCultural LandscapeLandscape inin AustriaAustria

„ ItIt waswas notnot beforebefore 19921992 whenwhen AustriaAustria signedsigned thethe conventionconvention whichwhich waswas implementedimplemented 1993.1993. „ TillTill 20032003 AustriaAustria hashas shownshown 88 WorldWorld HeritageHeritage sites.sites. „ TakingTaking intointo accountaccount thethe sizesize ofof thethe countrycountry thethe numbernumber ofof WorldWorld HeritageHeritage sitessites isis remarkable.remarkable. „ AboutAbout 1717 furtherfurther proposalsproposals areare underunder discussion.discussion. „ TheThe overalloverall utilizationutilization ofof thethe landscapelandscape inin thethe pastpast isis thethe reasonreason whywhy WorldWorld NaturalNatural HeritageHeritage sitessites cancan hardlyhardly bebe foundfound inin Austria,Austria, butbut CulturalCultural HeritageHeritage sitessites andand CulturalCultural Landscape.Landscape. „ TouristTourist enterprisesenterprises areare increasinglyincreasingly advertisingadvertising WorldWorld HeritageHeritage sitessitesSeminar onandand Forestry gaingain and Our moremore andand moremore 13-15benefitsbenefits June 2005 fromfrom it.it. Cultural Heritage 34 „ Austrian‘s forests cover 47% of the surface and are predominant 5.5. DiscussionDiscussion ancient forests. „ As a result they contain an abundance of interesting sites of more or less high cultural value.

„ Small scale forestry which is mostly practised in Austrians forests hardly endangers these sites.

„ The investigation of historical interesting objects and sites referring to forest utilisation in the past and the grant of public access to these sites can only be realized satisfactory with the agreement of the owner of the land (farmer or forest enterprise) and therefore voluntarily. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 35 DiscussionDiscussion

„ However forest enterprises and farmers being interested in tourist activities are invited to co-operate within this network but nobody should be forced to do it by local authorities or public interest „ Legal protection of forest culture-related monuments apart from the convention concerning the World Heritage are neither achieved by the government nor by the Austrian Forest Association in order to avoid conflicts between the rural (protecting) and the urban (demanding) society. „ However Forest-Culture should become a trading mark of high quality with regard to sustainable forest management as well as to the protection of the cultural heritage. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 36 AA newnew approachapproach forfor coco--operationoperation ofof forestforest andand touristtourist enterprisesenterprises hashas beenbeen developeddeveloped toto improveimprove networkingnetworking ::

„ Forest enterprises should have the planning competence and leadership in developing new strategies such as the maintaining of cultural interesting sites of high value in the forest and the grant for public access, the opening of forest roads for mountain biking, nature protection ect.) „ A cross-sectoral attempt by networking with other institutions, the establishment of partnerships to improve the regional development by gaining synergistic effects (prehistoric artefacts in the forest, establishment of a forest or regional museum). Caused by these activities initiated by the forest enterprise the rural population will be able to get a higher revenue. „ Because of these activities additional sources of support for forest enterprises can be expected (program rural development). Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 37 6.6. ConclusionsConclusions

The experiences of activities which have been practised so far have proved some important aspects: „ It is important to analyse the suitability of the location with regard to the planned activity „ It is necessary to offer something special (no competition with neighbouring activities but to look for a niche). „ The initiative should come from the region. „ You have to look for appropriate partners. „ In developing forest-culture-related activities new jobs can be created in the region. „ In rising awareness of the public it is important that the land use is in line with sustainable forest management. „ Forest-culture-related activities should also be seen from the view of the guest; a routing of visitors is possible. Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 38 ThankThank youyou forfor youryour attentionattention

Seminar on Forestry and Our 13-15 June 2005 Cultural Heritage 39