Lower precipitation and bark beetles are destroying forests
Climate change has now also reached our forests in recent years. Besides storm damage, the ongoing lower precipitation levels and bark beetle infestation in particular have severely affected shallow-rooted tree species such as spruce. In certain districts of the Waldviertel, Weinviertel, and Mühlviertel, bark beetles have destroyed more than 50 percent of the forest area; entire forests needed to be felled.
Every tree counts
Many hundreds of hectares of forest have disappeared in these areas as a result and cannot be replanted by the forest owners themselves due to the lack of acceptable returns and the great amount of time required to do so. However, these forests are needed – by all of us. For forests have a key impact on the environment due to their ability to absorb and store carbon. Every tree counts! Furthermore, natural mixed forests are not only home to a great variety of tree species, shrubs, herbs, ferns, mosses, mushrooms, and lichens, but also provide a habitat for many kinds of animals, insects, and micro-organisms. They ensure biodiversity.
Therefore, we are lending a hand and supporting the Waldviertel-based start-up Wald4Leben in reforesting the previously cleared areas as mixed-species forests. Wald4Leben ensures that the new forest is suited to the climate, and that the newly planted tree species – such as oak, Norway maple, wild cherry, larch, silver fir, Douglas fir, common beech, and lime trees – can also grow well and flourish in warmer, drier conditions.
You can participate!
You, too, can make a contribution towards the replanting of forests in the northern parts of Lower Austria. The Wald4Leben website provides detailed information on our project partner. If you need no further convincing, you can go right to the donation shop here!
A habitat for bees
Due to the near-natural management and different flowering times of these forests, they also provide an ideal habitat for honeybees. Consequently, Wald4Leben is additionally planning to put up beehives right in the forests or in their immediate vicinity. This shall serve to promote a healthy bee population.
Cultivation using drones to lower carbon footprint
The clear-cut areas shall be cultivated by means of drones. As a consequence, no heavy diesel-powered vehicles such as tractors will need to be used for the cultivation. The individual work steps can be electrically powered and energy-efficient. This, too, has a positive impact on the environment.
Raiffeisen Capital Management is a participant in the Raiffeisen Fund Forest project, and supports the reforestation: Five trees are planted to create mixed woodlands for every newly concluded sustainable asset management agreement.