Austria's big reforestation campaign: 1.3 million new trees in sight!

Austria's big reforestation campaign: 1.3 million new trees in sight!

Oberösterreich, Österreich - On April 22, 2025, the Austrian Federal Forest (ÖBF) started the 7025 reforestation season and plan to plant around 1.3 million young trees. This project has the goal of supporting the relapse after the devastating storms and the bark beetle attack and increasing the diversity of tree species. Andreas Gruber, the board for forestry and nature conservation, underlines the importance of natural rejuvenation in this context.

Austria's forests are under pressure due to increasing extreme weather events, which is why the investment in forest maintenance for 2025 was set at around 17 million euros. There are over 730,000 larches among the newly planted young trees, while the number of spruce is declining sharply. In addition, 85,000 firs, 100,000 oaks and maple trees as well as rare species such as bird cherries, wild bulbs, elms and black poplar are placed in the ground. A total of 40 different tree species are provided for the afforestation.

reforestation areas in Austria

The reforestation activities focus on several regions. In Upper Austria, 330,000 young trees, especially in the Steyrtal and the Mondsee, are planted. In Salzburg there are 315,000 young trees, while in Styria there are 250,000 young trees, especially in storm and bark beetle-damaged forests. Lower Austria receives over 235,000 young trees, the focus here is in the Waldviertel and in the southern part of the country. Tyrol is supported with around 140,000 and Carinthia with around 65,000 young trees, whereby areas near Obervellach and Ossiacher See are being reforested in Carinthia.

innovative approaches to afforestation

An innovative research project by the University of Natural Resources and Load (Boku) Vienna tests the use of sheep's wool as a biodetermination and water storage. Schafwoll-Granulat has the ability to store water up to 3.5 times its own weight and also act as a long-term organic fertilizer. Around 1,200 young trees are planted with this granulate on seven test areas in Lower Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia and Styria. Regular monitoring should document the success and development of these plants.

These national efforts are part of a global challenge. A worldwide relief could absorb considerable amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, according to a study by ETH Zurich. In the past, humans have cut down about 50 percent of all natural forest areas, but the potential reforestation areas are around 900 million hectares in countries such as Russia, the USA and Brazil. This reforestation could remove up to 205 gigatons carbon from the atmosphere, which corresponds to about two thirds of the greenhouse gases emitted since the industrial revolution. Nevertheless, the afforestation also sees challenges such as sick trees and climate change that can endanger their efficiency.

In addition, numerous reports show the crucial role of forests in the global carbon cycle. They absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and store carbon in their tribes, branches and leaves. Therefore, both reforestation projects that create new carbon sinks and forest protection projects are of the utmost importance to prevent the release of carbon through deforestation and forest fires. Both approaches also offer social and economic advantages by creating jobs and promoting biological diversity that is important for local agriculture and ecosystem health.

With the promotion and support of these initiatives in the area of ​​afforestation and forest protection, an integral part of the global climate protection efforts is strengthened, which aims to slow down global warming and create a sustainable future. In this way, Austria can take on a pioneering role and to combat climate change to combat substantial progress while at the same time promoted domestic flora and fauna.