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