IFFA at Austrian Economic Conference

Peter deMarsh and Ivar Legallais-Korsbakken from IFFA where among the speakers at the Forest Economic Conference in Stift Rhein Austria.

Published: 15.October, 2011

Stift Rhein

The Austrian Forest Owners’ Federation, Land & Forst betriebe Österreich organised the conference 11th October 2011. The Conference where held in conjunction with the annual meeting 2011 of the International Family Forestry Alliance, IFFA, and the big Austrofoma forest exhibition at Stift Rhein.

The theme of the conference was the international future of forest economy and the economic relevance of forests. Peter deMarsh, IFFA, presented investments in locally controlled forestry and gave good examples from his own forest experience in Canada and the international collaboration between family forestry, community forestry and indigenous peoples.

Ivar Legallais-Korsbakken presented Forest owners’ associations as a basis for viability of small forest holdings. He presented the work on a forest federation study to describe successful forest federation and the analyses of factors behind successful organisation of forest holders. He underlined the importance of organising all types of forest holders, especially small and medium holders. Organisations make a decisive difference in combating common difficulties that small holders face, especially where we have a network of organisations from the local to the global level.

The study examines the history, development and driving forces behind forest federations. The elements to be analysed are preconditions, facilitating conditions, incentives, enabling factors and supporting elements. The most important element behind successful organisations seems to be local initiative and control. The study will cover forest federations in Norway, Canada, Sweden and Finland.

Among other speakers at the conference were Christoph Hartebrodt from Baden-Württemberg who presented economic considerations and motivations in forestry and the Swedish professor Sten Nilsson who presented megatrends influencing forest economy. He predicted a considerable demand for forest resources in the future at the same time as present forest industry is struggling.

Read the forest federation study presentation

Stift Rhein and the Austrofoma Exhibition gave excellent inspiration in a conference on sustainability and forests economics in past, present and future.