Spatial management measures to improve the protective effect of forests on objects

With the funding measure Area-based measures to improve the protective effect of the forest, the State of Salzburg, in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has established a comprehensive grant program that supports protective forest management interventions. It is aimed at private individuals, interest groups, associations, cooperatives, and companies, covering topics ranging from environmental and nature conservation to disaster and infrastructure protection, as well as energy efficiency, climate protection, and social and urban development. The goal is the medium- to long-term preservation and strengthening of endangered protective forest stands through maintenance measures, thinning, and the moderate expansion of forest access roads and walking paths. All eligible expenses can be subsidized at 100%, thereby effectively securing the continuation and expansion of the forest’s protective functions.

A prerequisite for a successful application is a project approved by the Ministry, including a textual and plan-based presentation of the restoration areas, as well as a detailed annual work program with a timeline and cost plan. The work program must be submitted no later than March 31 of each year; measures may only commence after submission of the official approval record. Complete application submission also requires proof of coordination with the torrent and avalanche control authorities, as well as confirmation by an authorized expert (state employee, civil engineer, or forestry technical office). Interim and final inspections by the approval commission, as well as random checks by the responsible forestry authority, ensure the proper implementation of the measures. This initiative makes key contributions to environmental, disaster, and climate protection.