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Agriculture & Forestry - Forestry
The forest as an economic factor
Wood has a long tradition in Vorarlberg as a domestic, renewable building material and fuel. As the growth of wood is double what is used, there is a large reserve which has to be used up. 3,500 people work full-time in the forestry and timber industry in Vorarlberg. Many farmers and part-time workers have a supplementary income from the forest. This takes the pressure off the job market, particularly in rural, structurally weak areas.
Declining yields, however, have become a major problem for the domestic forestry industry:
In 1960 the income from one cubic metre of timber would pay a forestry worker for 50 hours, today it will only pay for 4. This is threatening forest management and utilisation, as the yield from timber is now hardly enough to feasibly finance operations. Cheap imports from countries with low labour costs and ruthless exploitation of the forests have led to a fall in prices. Despite the current subsidisation schemes, forest owners would hardly be able to continue orderly forest management without supplementary incomes.
Declining yields, however, have become a major problem for the domestic forestry industry:
In 1960 the income from one cubic metre of timber would pay a forestry worker for 50 hours, today it will only pay for 4. This is threatening forest management and utilisation, as the yield from timber is now hardly enough to feasibly finance operations. Cheap imports from countries with low labour costs and ruthless exploitation of the forests have led to a fall in prices. Despite the current subsidisation schemes, forest owners would hardly be able to continue orderly forest management without supplementary incomes.