Renaturation Act

Carinthian forestry companies demand more say

The forest is an important economic factor. More is still growing in Austria than is being used.(Bild: Adrian Hipp)

Carinthia's agricultural and forestry businesses are angry about the EU's planned renaturation law. Because: In Austria, much more forest grows back every day than is used.

Carinthia's agricultural and forestry businesses are currently not very happy with the EU. At their most recent general assembly, which re-elected Christian Benger as chairman, he called for more say. "The EU does not make an appropriate distinction between functioning constitutional states like Austria and other countries that have brought us these problems," says Benger.

Our forests grow back every day and our forestry sector is exemplary. But the EU treats us like countries where the forest is dying out.

Christian Benger, Obmann der Land- und Forstbetriebe

One of the strictest forestry laws
He fears that the bureaucracy in Brussels could place too great a burden on functioning domestic forestry operations: "In Austria, more forest grows back every day than is used. Our forestry industry is a role model for sustainable management. But the country is often treated in the same way as southern countries, where there is hardly any forest left."

Like the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Austria has one of the strictest forestry laws. "The companies want to have a say. Using nature and protecting nature only go hand in hand."