Welcome
We are the Alpine Forest Association, and organisers of the Helvetia Protective Forests Prize. We are also responsible for the Mountain Forest Managers course, and knowledge transfer in the form of conferences and publications. Find out more about what we do in the Activities section.
About us
The Alpine Forest Association is comprised of eight forest associations from across the Alpine region of Central Europe.
Our association was founded in 1981, and since 2015 has been run as its own association rather than an informal union.
The Tyrolean, Bavarian, Graubünden, South Tyrolean, and Vorarlberg Forest Associations are founding members. The Carinthian Forest Association was incorporated in 2008, followed by the Liechtenstein Forest Association in 2009 and St. Gallen Forest Association in 2010.
The purpose of our association is leveraging the inter-regional exchange of ideas to address the problems of Alpine forest management, and find mutual solutions and initiatives.
Common issues such as transit traffic, air pollution, forest and wildlife or rampant recreational use call for joint and cross-border initiatives.
Every three years, the members of the association meet for a cross-border expert conference in one of the partner regions.
In addition, the Helvetia Protective Forests Prize is awarded every year. Since 2014, the international insurance company Helvetia has generously supported this prize as the main sponsor.
Association Committee
Bruno Cozzio
Präsident
DI Andreas Wildauer
Vice President, Treasurer
Mag. Walter Amann
Vice President, Recording secretary
Activities
Joined-up thinking for protective forests!
As an association, we organise the annual “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize”. We’re also responsible for the Mountain Forest Managers course, and knowledge transfer in the form of conferences and publications.
The “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize”
Since 2006, we have been honouring exemplary and successful projects for the preservation and improvement of mountain forests in the Alpine region with the Helvetia Alpine Protective Forests Prize. The aim is to raise awareness regarding some of the issues facing protective forests. Take a look at the award-winning projects in your region, or apply now for the next event and be among next year’s winners!
Mountain Forest Managers
Since 2010, foresters and interested individuals committed to Alpine nature and local development have been training to become certified Mountain Forest Managers. The training helps incorporate into daily work important elements such as the design of participatory processes, the moderation of difficult conflict-prone situations, as well as effective communication. This strengthens the skills of participants in effectively managing the various stakeholders they deal with day-to-day. (Training only available in German; link on main page)
Association Conferences and Publications
Since 2002, we have organised a cross-border forestry conference every two to three years. In addition, we regularly release publications and press releases with the goal of furthering inter-regional exchange. Common issues in the Alpine region – including transit traffic, wild animal management, growing recreational use and nature conservation – know no borders and demand joint solution initiatives. With the advent of our association, the protective forest initiative has a unified voice!
The individual members of our association organise a forestry conference every two to three years, with the organiser changing each time. The last conferences were held in:
- Vaduz, 2019
- Kufstein, 2016
- Bad Reichenhall, 2013
- Meran, 2010
- Falera, 2007
- Innsbruck, 2004
- Dornbirn, 2002
Protective Forests
With the Protective Forests Prize, we honour exemplary and successful projects for the preservation and improvement of mountain forests in the Alpine region. The aim is to raise awareness regarding some of the issues facing protective forests. Take a look at the award-winning projects in your region, or apply now for the next event and be among next year’s winners!
The “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize”
The “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize” seeks out the best projects and ideas concerning protective forests.
Since 2006, through this prize the Alpine Forest Association has been honouring exemplary projects for the preservation and improvement of protective forests in the Alpine region and raising awareness of the issue in the public consciousness.
More information about the prize
The international insurance firm Helvetia has been generously supporting the Protective Forests Prize as the main sponsor since 2014.
Protective Forest Projects
Find out more about our projects using the map (only available in German).
Filter according to country, category or year:
The “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize”
The “Helvetia Protective Forests Prize” honours the very best projects concerning protective forests.
Since 2006, through this prize the Alpine Forest Association has been honouring exemplary projects for the preservation and improvement of protective forests in the Alpine region and raising awareness of the issue in the public consciousness. The projects are judged according to their originality, creativity, exemplary nature, and the involvement and participation of different groups.
The international insurance firm Helvetia has been generously supporting the Protective Forests Prize as the main sponsor since 2014.
Many thanks for your interest in the Alpine Forest Association. Below you’ll find our press releases and other information for your use.
Our press releases
29.1.2021: “Wald nützen heißt Klima schützen” press release (in German)
Our logos
