The six Departments of BFW

BFW consists of six research departments covering a broad array of topics ranging from traditional forestry problems over natural hazard research and the management of georisks to landscape development and protection.

Department of Forest Growth and Silviculture
		Head: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Markus Neumann The Department of Forest Growth and Silviculture deals with the establishment, management and utilisation of forest stands taking into account also ecological and economical aspects. Emphasis is placed on forest growth as a central criterion for sustainability and on the assessment of silvicultural management concepts.  >>>

Department of Forest Genetics
Head: Univ.Doz.Dr. Thomas Geburek The Department of Forest Genetics is concerned with the analysis of genetic information about forest trees and other organisms living in the forest and the dynamics of genetic processes in forest stands. Activities concentrate on genome research, population genetics and provenance research. An important task is the execution of the Austrian Federal Act on Forest Reproductive Material.

Department of Forest Ecology and Soils
		Head: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Ernst Leitgeb The Department of Forest Ecology and Soil investigates the relationships of forest trees with their environment and the interdependence of plants and animals. Major site factors of forest ecosystems include climate, geology, relief and soil. They have an impact on forest growth whereas the forest has a modifying effect on these factors, although within certain limits. >>>

Department of Forest Protection
Head: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Christian Tomiczek The Department of Forest Protection studies biotic and abiotic damaging factors, develops control strategies and elaborates guidelines for legal measures in the field of air pollution control. Monitoring and interdisciplinary forest protection projects provide the basis for environmental policy measures. In addition, the Department assumes legal responsibility for quarantine pest control in compliance with the provisions of the Austrian Federal Act on Plant Protection. >>>

Department of Forest Inventory
		Head: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Klemens Schadauer Key task of the Department is the planning, execution and evaluation of the Austrian Forest Inventory. Large-scale surveys provide information on the raw material wood including status of and changes in forest ecosystems. The outcome is a content-rich database for many scientific projects. The Department hosts also the Austrian-wide Natural Reserve Programme. >>>

Department of Natural Hazards
Head: Ass.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Karl Kleemayr Research into natural hazards such as avalanches, floods, erosion and landslides is increasingly gaining in importance with regard to climate change and societal developments in particular. In an atmosphere of conflicting interests of historical, recent and future utilisation the Department of Natural Hazards makes an effort to position itself as a research institute for the development of practically-oriented methods for the sustainable protection of human settlements and infrastructure.  >>>