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Study tour on:
Rural development by sustainable management of forests and water
9th - 14th June 2013
Austria and Germany
REPORT
June 2013
Introduction:
The goal of the study tour was to introduce the representatives from South Easter Europe
with successful examples of rural development by sustainable management of forests and
water. More specifically, the study tour included topics of forests and water as main
contributors to rural welfare (living and working in rural areas, climate change and recreation
in rural areas) - implication of forest and water resource management in EU member
countries (Austria and Germany), considering the ecological and socio-economic balance of
the rural areas, particularly the positive impact of social collaboration at local areas which
contributes to the rural income by means of water and forest management.
The study tour promoted successful examples of mutual understanding and cooperation
among the stakeholders, regional actions implemented in function to sustainable water and
forest management and economic growth of the rural areas, in particular taking care of the
cross-border aspects.
Target group:
The target group of the study tour included representatives from the Ministries responsible
for environmental protection, water and forest management, including academics and
experts working in the field of water and forest management. Representatives from public
enterprises and NGOs working in the relevant sectors were also present at this event.
Venue:
The study tour was executed in the period 10th- 14th June 2013. Arrival of the participants
was on the 9th of June and departure on the 14th (afternoon).
The study tour i.e. the sites and the institutions which were visited included Germany –
Bavaria and Austria – Upper Austria (cross-border areas between the two countries).
10th June 2013 (Monday)
C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. Centre
C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V., founded in July 1992, is a nonprofit association working in the field of
biomass. Since 2001 it is part of the Competence Centre for Renewable Raw Materials in
Straubing.
Since the beginning C.A.R.M.E.N. (Central Agricultural Raw Materials Marketing- and
Development-Network)has co-ordinated and guided all biomass projects financially
supported by the state of Bavaria. C.A.R.M.E.N. counts among its 70 members the
Government of Bavaria, industrial and farmers associations as well as large and small
companies. It is well-founded in Bavarian society but has also members throughout
Germany, in France, and in Austria.
The mission of C.A.R.M.E.N. is to promote the research, study, development and use of
renewable raw materials. It provides services for interested individuals as well as
companies, organizations and public institutions concerning all matters of renewable
resources. In this way it acts as a regional consultancy bureau (RCB) within COACH
BioEnergy.
The representatives of the study tour had a presentation on the provision of heat energy
through biomass and exhibition visit "from plant to product".
Technikum - Technology and Support Centre "TFZ"
Within the visit of the C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V. Centre the participants had the opportunity to also
visit the Technikum - Technology and Support Centre "TFZ" where a presentation and site
visit was done on furnace test station.
11th June 2013 (Tuesday)
Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management
In 1976 the Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management (ANL)
was established by decision of the Bavarian Parliament, therefore it is a directly subordinate
institution of the Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health.
Their tasks include:
Environmental education by extracurricular events and publications,
Application-oriented research in nature conservation,
Implementation of research results into teaching, and into the conservation and
landscape management practices
The representatives from the academy presented the “Strategy for Preservation of Biological
Diversity in Bavaria” through implementation of the project “Tiere live” in environmental
education in schools and outside of schools.
A presentation was done on "Alpine Pastures Active – New Ways for Biodiversity" which
aims to enforce long-term protection of the nature conservational values, with a special focus
on the integration of regional economic aspects.
Additionally, in respect to the topics, the participants also had an opportunity to hear an
example of successful cooperation between nature and water management in Bavaria. Ms.
Riehl from the ANL presented the key policy requirements as well as important factors of
integrative projects (shared resources, inclusion of stakeholders and land owners) for such
successful cooperation.
Presentations of the Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape
Management can be found in Annex II.
Austrian Forest owner association “Waldverband Österreich”
Since 2000, organized at the provincial level forest associations are active nationwide. In
addition to the professionalization of the sequence organization in the areas of timber
harvest, supply management and marketing is the satisfaction of members and timber
buyers of particular concern.
Objectives of forest associations are:
Adding value to their members
Introduce the use of wood to the growth (??, balancing of increment and cut?) and
mobilize resources use
A sustainable supply of customers
A customer-oriented, demand-supply the sawmills of all size categories
Reduction of imports
Development of core competencies such as land use planning, harvesting, logistics
management and marketing.
The strategy paper " Forest associations of Austria - Challenges and Goals 2020" of the
forest associations is a concise overview of the framework of the Community Forest
management in Austria. The main target of the Waldverband Österreich is to strengthen the
income of farm families by mobilizing forest resource and professionalizing forest
management.
The presentation of the Waldverband Österreich can be found in Annex III.
12th June 2013 (Wednesday)
Municipality of “Scharnstein”: Municipality building Scharnstein
The actions taken on behalf of the Municipality of Scharnstein for the local community
provided a successful example of rural development in different areas of the selected region.
The local development focused on forestry, rural employment, renewable energy, tourisum
etc.
Construction of the local kindergarten is one of the examples of local value added in the
Municipality of Scharnstein.
Details on the actions taken by the municipality of Scharnstein can be found in Annex IV.
Wolf Haus: Rural Employment
The foundation stone of the WOLF Group is laid by Johann Wolf when he sets up Wolf
Systembau Gesellschaft m.b.H., Scharnstein. The first products were innovative
prefabricated houses made of timber that developed into one major success and a
continuing important business line for Wolf Group.
An expansion of the product range providing buildings for agriculture (machinery and general
purpose halls, stalls, extension buildings, etc.) and concrete tanks and silos for farming and
renewable energy production rounds off this provision.
The Wolf Systems as a wood processing industry has been employing the local community
and is therefore substantially contributing to the rural employment in the area.
13th June 2013 (Thursday)
Small hydro power and biomass fired district heating – KFD
The company has been active since 1899, firmly rooted in the Almtal area. KFD has an
experience around the issues of energy, electrical, metal and wood.
In respect to biomass, KFD burns mostly not recyclable wood waste (wood chips, sawmill
residues,, wood dust) which in turn the local sawmills and wood industry comes to good and
thus strengthens the economic situation in the region. As seen wearing the use of biomass
as a fuel is also at the regional job security.
The biomass district heating system contributes to the region of Scharnstein and therefore is
an important contribution to climate protection, since the heat generated is recovered,
neutral CO2 and thus fossil fuels can be saved. As the biomass is sourced from the region
the heating is also substantial contributing to local, rural income.
Torrent and Avalanche Control Area Almtal
Mr. Stephan Vollsinger on behalf of the die.wildbach presented to the group the watershed
and hazard management in the Alm Valley.
On the state level in respect to the activities taken in the Alm Valley the following actions
have been presented:
Regional study "Almtal", Hazard Zone Map "Grünau";
Plan and Realize Mitigation measures.
On the provincial level the following actions have been taken:
River Management Concept "Alm";
Flood Risk Map;
Riverbank protection.
In relation to the Alm area Mr. Vollsinger also present the rural development concept for the
Alm Valley.
14th June 2013 (Friday)
Meeting of the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group
The regional expert advisory working group on water and forest management had a short
meeting on Friday morning in order to discuss and define the future steps and actions to be
taken. The following issues have been agreed:
1) Additional comments, suggestions to proposals, March – April 2013
2) Proposal -> any other needs to get support? (except Forest conservation, hazard risk
management project concepts-consultation scheduled at the Forestry Faculty in
Belgrade on 20.06.2013 ) -possible consultation meeting for the other two project
proposals end of August.
3) End of June a draft proposal should be ready
4) Final discussions at the forum (Mid of October 2013), Pristina
5) End of October 2013 Project Document has to ready
6) Meeting of Ministers (mid of November 2013), Serbia
7) End of 2013, political commitment & endorsement fixed, agreed
8) 2014: start of funding tour
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