INDUSTRY FUNDING
Austria’s cooperation platform:
Forestry Wood Paper Thomas Leitner, forestry expert at the Chamber of Agriculture, explains how the Austrian forestry and wood industries are organised and funded.
F
orst Holz Papier (FHP) is a cooperation platform for forestry, wood and paper which relies on several host organisations. Established in 2005, its main objective is to combine the full financial power of the wood sector and to promote the use of wood using a joint up approach. The vision is for FHP to be seen as a positive creative force that represents the interests of the whole supply chain at all times.
Structure and governance At the head of FHP is the executive committee, which is the decisionmaking board of the cooperation. This group consists of representatives from all of the host organisations and industry types under the direction of the FHP chair. The Strategy Group, which consists of the chairs of the cooperation partners, is responsible for preparing the strategic orientation and for the
decision–making basis. The organisation, coordination and monitoring of activities, including actions in the working groups, fall to the FHP office with the support of the cooperation partner offices.
Collection of funds The levy is voluntary for the forestry sector, but mandatory for the processing sector. Sawlogs - Forestry When a forest owner sells sawlogs to the industry in Austria, they can voluntarily pay 30 cents/m3 (Holzcent). Around 80% of the forest owners are willing to pay this levy. The money is collected by the industry and transferred quarterly to the federal Chamber of Agriculture. When the forest owner sells his sawlogs for export and is willing to pay this levy, the trader has to collect this money and also transfer it to the federal Chamber of Agriculture.
FACT BOX Cooperation Partners Forestry • Austrian Chamber of Agriculture • Austrian Forest Cooperatives • Austrian Land and Forest Owners Association Wood • Association of the Austrian Wood Industries Paper • Association of the Austrian Paper Industry Associated Members • Austrian Association of Construction Materials, Hardware and Timbertrade • Austrian Professional Association of Timber Construction • Forest Worker Association
Principles Secure supply – to improve and protect sustainable and efficient availability of wood as a raw material in Austria Promote selling – to lobby for timber sales and in each case to identify the most attractive uses along the value chain
Strategic priorities of FHP • Optimising wood availability • Positioning wood as a basic and building material • Focusing on wood and its role within the energy system • Providing market information about the timber industry • Advertising and providing information about wood • Internal marketing and communication
Working groups To fulfil the principles and strategic priorities, working groups are formed and organisations of common interest are financed or supported. • Dataservice and Wood balance • Harvesting and delivery • Woodflow and logistics • Measurement and classification of round wood • Energy The working groups are staffed in a balanced way with experts from the forestry, wood and paper sector.
Organisations of common interest • proHolz - Image campaigning • PEFC - Certification system • Professorship (Vienna and Graz)
56 FORESTRY & TIMBER NEWS • December 2019
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