The AMAG forest - benefits for people, nature and the climate

AluReport: We’re here on the Brücke der Begegnung - the Bridge of Encounters. What kind of encounters happen here?

BG: This bridge fosters connections in many respects. It connects our employees’ workplace with their homes, creating a safe route to work with the option of sustainable mobility, and connects working at a key Austrian industrial site with the ability to relax and recuperate in the forest. It connects industry with nature, and AMAG with the region.

AluReport: What’s your connection to the structure?

GS: I believe the bridge tells a story. It traces an arc from AMAG’s past to its present and is also a symbol of my personal story with AMAG. AMAG’s history is detailed on this slice of the trunk from a roughly 180-year-old oak tree (Figure 4). My contribution has focused in particular on the topic of sustainability.When I visited AMAG for the first time almost ten years ago, and as I came to know the company better, I was genuinely impressed by the wide-ranging measures the company had already put in place. I remember being struck by the high rate of recycling in its material use. In keeping with my professional roots in forest management, the forest was obviously a topic of interest - but so, too, was rewilding green spaces to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Our discussions about sustainability throughout the entire value chain were absolutely fascinating, too. I realized that AMAG was serious about doing more than just “business as usual”. After all, AMAG was a founding member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), an aluminium certification system. At the time, I had been working with global forest and wood certification systems for more than 15 years, so I was able to contribute a few important aspects to the ASI - which, I think it’s fair to say, was still very much in its infancy. Our first discussion about sustainability opened the way for successful projects, the results of which can be seen today. Ultimately, I’ve come to know an exceptionally dedicated management team and dynamic employees.

AluReport: The AMAG forest path has been open for a few weeks now. What are the key aspects of this path and who is the target audience?

BG: The forest path and the clearing in the forest are intended to serve as spaces for the public, schools and employees to learn and relax.In thematic terms, we’re tracing a broad arc according to the motto: “Where industry and nature meet.” We hope to address many of these topics by drawing on history, because that’s the only way to understand what shapes our actions today. We want to convey that the topics of environmental protection and resource conservation are high priorities for our company’s day-to-day activities. And, of course, that includes the AMAG forest, which is very special.

AluReport: What’s special about the AMAG forest?

GS: To answer that, I have to take us back in time. AMAG has been the owner of a 180-hectare area of forestland, which is part of the Lachforst forest complex, for the past 80 years. Nowadays, forest management faces serious challenges. In the past, the forest was subjected to high emissions. When a forest management plan was drawn up in 1988, around 34% of the forest was designated as smoke damaged, which meant that proper forest management was almost impossible.The pollutant burden has improved drastically since the aging smelter was decommissioned in 1992. Due to historical use, the forest is today made up in large part of spruces, which are struggling to handle the effects of climate change.Over the last 50 years, the average annual temperature in Austria has increased by around 2°C. Here in Ranshofen, the annual average is now about 10°C. These elevated temperatures, where are set to rise even further in most climate forecast scenarios, are outside spruces’ comfort zone. In deeper-lying areas, like here in the Lachforst, it’s simply too hot for spruces. Remedying the damage caused by storms, drought and bark beetles has put immense strain on forest management operations, especially in recent years.Unfortunately, ash trees - which make up some of the stock in the AMAG forest - have been particularly hard hit in the last few years. Both here and across Austria, ash trees are severely impacted at present by ash dieback, with extensive areas of this valuable species dying off in some places. The entire AMAG forest has been designated a “welfare forest” (Wohlfahrtswald) in line with the forest management plan for Upper Austria. These areas are particularly important for the forest’s compensatory effect on the climate and water balance along with its ability to cleanse and renew the air and water. Significant portions of the forest, especially to the south of the industrial site, have also been designated groundwater priority areas, which means they play a special role in protecting groundwater levels.In addition, the AMAG forest is part of a network of footpaths and cycle routes, which are primarily used by local people across the region as well as by AMAG employees as a place to relax. So, there are wide-ranging challenges and claims on our forest.

AluReport: How is AMAG tackling these challenges? What specific measures have been implemented?

GS: AMAG has chosen a very professional approach based on scientific fundamentals.In 2022, my colleagues from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) conducted an inventory of the forest’s condition. They surveyed the entire forest. We now have a relatively good idea of which tree species live here, how they’re distributed throughout the area and what the forest’s age structure looks like. We also know important parameters in terms of biodiversity, such as the deadwood prevalence and the number of microhabitats. Based on these fundamentals and the challenges we’ve mentioned, we drew up a forest management plan.Promoting biodiversity, building a climate-ready forest and securing key forest functions - including as a place for recreation, conservation and leisure activities for local people - are at the heart of our forest management activities. Developing stable, richly structured and diverse mixed woodland is of key importance. We aim to have at least 3 or 4 site-appropriate and future-proof tree species in each stand. As for wood production, we strive to achieve high wood quality, which makes it possible to produce wooden products with optimal durability. The Bridge of Encounters is built by using larch wood from the AMAG forest, which stores around 9 tons of carbon or roughly 33 tons of carbon dioxide.

It’s also very important that we maintain a healthy partnership between forest management and hunting activities so that the forest can rejuvenate. Close coordination with Forest Rangers makes it possible to keep the forest and its wild animals in harmony. When it comes to the sale of wood and hunting permits, our aim isn’t to maximize profits. All the same, we strive to abide by the principle of economic viability and aim to cover our costs. So, we do still try to turn a profit.  

AluReport: You mentioned biodiversity protection. Away from the forest, what action is AMAG taking to promote biodiversity?

BG: AMAG is committed to promoting biodiversity on all the land it owns. On the company premises, for example, trees and bushes have been planted, while tall oatgrass meadows are replacing monotone grassy lawns.Wildflower meadows have been planted, which support a variety of species, and bee colonies allowed to settle. While erecting protective barriers around the company premises, areas have intentionally been designed as protosoil areas to create valuable biotopes for different species of plants and animals. The trees on the company premises, which now number over 300, are a source of shade and play an important role in the microclimate and as a home for birds and insects. Anyone walking through the industrial site will notice how green AMAG is. Over 4.5 hectares of water infiltration areas also contribute to this. On the one hand, they protect the premises against flooding; on the other hand, these grassy areas play an important role in maintaining the water balance and alleviate the pressure on local sewer systems.

AluReport: What are you planning for the future?

BG: We should resolutely stay on our current path. Promoting biodiversity, climate protection, recreational value and the safety of visitors and guests should remain priorities in the forest. By creating and maintaining the forest path, we hope to enable people from the region to experience the AMAG forest. We’ll continue to support this by providing information materials and organizing excursions. And, as we work to achieve all these targets, we should continue to follow a scientific approach.

GS: AMAG also plans to devote itself to generating scientific information and forestry practice. We’re trying to set up long-term testing and demonstration areas. This should produce a pool of data that can be used in scientific education as well as in tackling highly practical problems. For example, AMAG hopes to generate and provide important information about transforming poorly structured spruce forests into diverse, well-structured, old growth forests. This information should help other forest owners in the region to tackle the issues they face.

AluReport: Finally, a personal question for you both: you’ve been working together for almost ten years now. How do you enjoy working together?

GS: I recognized years ago that business and industry would have a vital role to play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - the sustainability targets set out by the United Nations. Here at AMAG, there’s a highly motivated team working to achieve these targets. It starts with the Management Board and runs through every department. Personally, I’m happy to be part of this team. I don’t feel like an external service provider; I feel like a valued partner. Together, we work on current and future challenges. We’ve established a friendly form of collaboration, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in that.

BG: Collaborating with Gerald Steindlegger has taken the awareness of our forest, and our work with our forest, to an entirely new level. When you think that, at around 180 hectares, the AMAG forest is significantly larger than the current industrial site at 100 hectares, it’s easy to see the potential of forest management activities guided by clearly defined targets of climate fitness, biodiversity and maintaining a welfare forest. We cherish Gerald Steindlegger as a renowned expert.