Featured Member of the Month
2010-01-18
Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Austria
The Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape is a multidisciplinary research and training institution of the Republic of Austria. BFW supports the sustainable development of society through the preparation of scientific guidelines and the dissemination of knowledge on the multifunctional use of natural resources.
Research focuses on
- sustainable multifunctional use, management and protection of forest ecosystems and catchment areas for drinking water supply,
- long-term changes in ecosystems and biodiversity conservation and enhancement,
- protection against natural hazards and geo-risk management.
Based on its scientific findings, BFW
- develops and optimizes operational methods and procedures as well as guidelines and standards
- tests products and application methods for forest practice
- conducts long-term monitoring programmes
- implements measures for biodiversity conservation
- disseminates knowledge through advisory services, education and training activities
- supports the preparation of national legislative acts
- enables the Federal Forest Office in fulfilling statutory tasks.
BFW comprises six departments and two forestry training centres (Ort at Gmunden and Ossiach), a library and several internal services. The headquarters of BFW are at Schönbrunn/Vienna with branch offices at Mariabrunn/Vienna and Innsbruck. Currently, BFW has a total of 310 staff members.
BFW cooperates closely with other national and international institutions and takes part in many research, development and training programmes of the European Union.
IUFRO was founded in 1892 on the initiative of Karl Böhmerle of the predecessor organisation of BFW, which was one of the founding members. The permanent IUFRO Secretariat has been located at BFW in Vienna since 1973. BFW is IUFRO's member institution no. 0001.
BFW Schönbrunn
Links:
- BFW homepage: http://bfw.ac.at/
- Climatic Change: negative Effects on Flowering trends of forest trees in Austria:
abstract of research paper and Powerpoint presentation; by researchers of the Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Genetics; Vienna, Austria; University of Innsbruck, Botany; Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University of Salzburg, Botany, Austria.
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