LTER-Austria - Austrian Society for Long-term Ecological Research
Forchtenstein | Website
Short Description
The University forest is about 1000 ha, covered with all major tree species and forest types in Austria (Norway spruce, Fir, Larch, Scots pine, Beech, Oak, etc). The forest area is located in the Rosalia Mountains near the Lower Austria/Burgenland border. The Demonstration Forest (950 ha) was setted up in 1972 by agreement between the Federal Forst of Austria and the University. Nevertheless, the University deal with this area since 1875, at that time considerable documentations and a forest description and planning was elaborated. It is located on the western slope of the mountainous ridge called „Rosaliengebirge“ in the southeastern part of Lower Austria (LAT 47°42’N, LON 16°17’ E). Elevation is between 300 and 720 m a.s.l, annual mean temperature of 6.5 deg C and 800 mm annual precipitation sum. The forest is mainly composed of beech associations (Fagetums) , peripheral also spruce-fir-beech forest association (Abieti-Fagetum). The Key task of the Forest Demonstration Centre ist supporting the educational and research work of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Accordingly, accommodation, work and teaching facilities are provided.
Contact Person
Josef Gasch
Research Services
Forest ecosystem and forest growth and treatment research and teaching
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The research focus lies on following areas:
· Collection and hold ready of area-based and environmental Data
· Establishing and monitoring of sample plots especially for beech growth and treatment related questions
· Characterization of local and microclimate
· Environmental impacts to forest ecosystems
· Monitoring and modelling of small forested watersheds
Essential research and educational infrastructure are:
· 4 Weather monitoring stations
· 2 scaffolding towers for measuring (35m) with instrument cabin
· 4 Measuring weirs for runoff monitoring (Watershed 230 ha)
· radio linked data collection and on-line hosting
· Surveying and Mapping equipments (terrestric and GPS)
· IT-Room with different Software-packages (GIS, Planning Tools etc.)
· Laboratories and work rooms
· Lecture Rooms
· Accommodation
The available data range from base data (GIS-Data), meterological and hydrological time series (since 1990), inventory data of growing stock, data of different plots to measuring data related to numerous projects.