Lack of precipitation in winter, subsequent drought, human carelessness: difficult times could be ahead for Austria's forests.

Even a seemingly devastating forest fire can be an important stimulus for nature. In California, Australia and parts of the Mediterranean region, flames can rejuvenate habitats, provided fires don't occur too frequently. Austria's forests, however, have no plant species whose seeds only open and germinate under intense heat. 

When Austria's native forests burn, it takes around three decades before they come close to returning to life. The devastating fires in Allentsteig, Lower Austria, in March 2022 alone destroyed 400 hectares of forest and 430 hectares of grassland. In total, that is equivalent to five times the area of the Schönbrunn Palace Park. Read the full article at: derstandard.at