The impact of storm damage on small-scale forest enterprises in the south-west of Germany |
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Authors: | Christoph Hartebrodt |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Forest Economics, Forest Research Institute, Baden-Württemberg, Wonnhaldestrasse 4, D-79100 Freiburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | Storm damage is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for forestry in Central Europe. At the end of 1999
a centennial storm event hit the south-east of Germany and Switzerland, as well as central and western parts of France, and
caused great damage. Forests in Baden-Württemberg were severely affected, with 30 M m3 of timber felled due to storm damage, three times the amount of the normal annual cut. Approximately 5.2 M m3 of the wind-thrown timber was in private forests, of which most were located in the central Black Forest. Smaller shares
came from other regions of Baden-Württemberg. The economic damages and strategies of the forest owners were analysed in a
multi-dimensional approach, using economic data from long-term accountancy networks, in combination with the results of a
qualitative opinion poll amongst private forest owners. A storm coefficient was devised as a suitable indicator for the concerns
of owners or ownership classes. The predicted operating income of the private forest owners is related to this coefficient.
Cash flow simulations suggest that enterprises with a coefficient of more than 100% suffer from a reduction of their economic
base. By combining the results derived from the accountancy networks with findings from the opinion poll it was found that
the owners took an active decision towards self-processing and were able to save more than 30 M £ by choosing this strategy.
State support which was provided in a variety of ways is also identified. A range of programs and institutional support measures
mitigated the impact of the storm disaster. The effectiveness and acceptance of these measures by forest owners was confirmed
by the results of the opinion poll. |
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Keywords: | Black Forest storm events wind-thrown timber disaster response strategies |
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