Austria's Natural Wealth: Exploring The Country's Top Resources

Austria is a highly developed, industrialised country with a strong service sector. It has a diverse range of natural resources, from arable land and beautiful scenery to minerals and energy sources. Austria's economic prosperity can be attributed to its utilisation of these natural resources, which have drawn visitors from all over the world and made it one of the wealthiest nations.

Arable land

Austria's arable land is used for the cultivation of a variety of crops, including wheat, rye, sugar beets, corn, barley, potatoes, apples, and grapes. The eastern edge of the country is the most agriculturally productive region, as the terrain is relatively flat.

Austria is the number one organic country in Europe, with more than 25,000 organic farms in operation. Every fifth Austrian farmer is an organic farmer, and every fourth hectare of arable land is cultivated according to organic guidelines. The country has a long tradition of organic farming, with the first organic farmer being officially registered in the 1920s. The topographical circumstances of Austria, with 70% of the country being mountainous, favour organic farming.

Austrian farmers have been able to produce enough milk products and cereals to satisfy the country's demands. Additionally, Austria is a leading producer of natural magnesite, a magnesium carbonate used extensively in the chemical industry.

Minerals

Austria has an unusually diverse range of mineral resources for a small country. Mineral deposits are found throughout the country, with the largest deposits in the northeastern region, particularly Styria.

Austria is the world's largest producer of magnesite, a magnesium carbonate used extensively in the chemical industry. Other significant mineral deposits include lignite and iron ore. There are also smaller deposits of wolfram, antimony, gypsum, graphite, dolomite, talcum, kaolin, quartz, and salt.

In 1990, mineral production accounted for about 2% of Austria's GDP, a decline from previous decades. However, mining remains a significant source of income and employment in certain mountainous areas. In 1991, the sector consisted of 109 firms employing about 6,700 people. The principal mineral products in 1990 were lignite (2.4 million tons), iron and manganese (2.3 million tons), magnesite (2.0 million tons), gypsum (753,000 tons), and kaolin (474,000 tons).

Austria also has the largest underground tungsten ore deposit in the Western world, the largest talcum deposit in Central Europe, and the largest siderite deposit globally. The country's mining sector extracts high-quality raw materials that are processed into sought-after products worldwide. For example, Austrian micaceous iron ore is used in anti-corrosion paints on bridges like the Bosporus Bridge in Turkey and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

Austria's industrial sector relies on these natural resources for iron and steel production, which has long been a leading industry in the country. The basic oxygen process, or LD process (named for the cities of Linz and Donawitz), is an important Austrian innovation in steelmaking, used under license by steelworks worldwide.

Forestry

Austria's forest management is guided by the Austrian Forest Act, which outlines several key principles. These include the conservation of woodland and forest soil, preservation of forests to ensure their economic and social functions, and the protection of forests against pests, fires, and air pollution. The Act also addresses the importance of forest grants, which aim to improve forest conditions rather than raise the income of forest owners.

Austria's forests are predominantly owned by private enterprises, with approximately 214,000 forest holdings. The majority of these holdings are small, with 140,000 being smaller than 5 hectares. The remaining holdings are distributed across various categories, including medium-sized and large private enterprises, as well as forests owned by the church, communities, and provinces.

The country's forest inventory, managed by the Federal Forest Research Institute, continuously assesses the state and development of forests. This includes monitoring ownership, types of forest management, growing stock, distribution of tree species, age and growth classes, damages, silvicultural treatments, and more. The Institute also plays a crucial role in researching and providing solutions to forest problems, with a focus on understanding and mitigating the causes of worldwide forest decline.

Austria's forests serve multiple purposes beyond timber production. They offer recreational opportunities, provide an environmentally friendly raw material, protect against natural hazards like avalanches, contribute to climate protection through carbon dioxide storage, and produce pure spring water through their filter function.

The forestry sector in Austria provides employment for approximately 300,000 people and contributes significantly to the country's foreign trade surplus. The main consumers of Austrian timber are the sawing, paper, and board industries, with an increasing amount being used for energy generation.

Fishing

The beautiful landscapes and emerald green lakes of Austria provide the perfect backdrop for fishing enthusiasts. Lake Traun, for example, is known for its wealth of pike, with 10 kg catches not uncommon. Lake Traun is also suitable for fly fishermen, offering a utopia for anglers. Lake Traun is 12km in length and 3km in width, and it is where the river Traun flows into the lake. Corn and bread are often used as bait to catch carp, while a mother-of-pearl fishing lure can attract river and rainbow trout.

Another great spot for fly fishing is the Strasserwirt Landhotel in St Ulrich, where the Pillersee offers an unlimited number of rainbow trout, river trout, and brook trout. The carp in this lake are also known for being strong fighters, providing a challenge for anglers.

The Austrian state of Tirol is also a haven for fishing enthusiasts, with its rushing streams, calm lakes, fresh air, and spectacular landscape. Tirol's rivers and lakes are home to trout, grayling, Danube salmon, and artic char. The calm waters in the east of the region, known as the Unterland, have large populations of pike, perch, perch pike, carp, and tench. Local anglers typically use weighted flies for bait.

To fish in Tirol, anglers need a permit from the owner of the lake or river, which is generally issued as a guest card or day card. Anglers must also be members of the Tirolean Fishing Association and must attend a course on correct fishing practice and technique. However, there are also many private fishing areas that do not require a license.

Wind power

Austria has set ambitious renewable energy and climate protection targets, aiming for 100% electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Wind power is an important part of this.

In 2008, Austria was the world's 17th largest producer of wind power, with an installed nameplate capacity of 995 megawatts (MW). This increased to 3,146 MW in 2022, and 3,977 MW in 2023. Wind power accounts for 11.1% of the country's electricity consumption, or 8.2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh).

The first wind turbine in Austria was set up in St. Pölten in 1994, with a capacity of 110 kilowatts (kW). Another was put into operation in Zistersdorf six months later, and in 1995, the first wind turbine was built with civic participation in Michelbach. In January 1996, the first 500 kW turbine was placed in Eberschwang, establishing the first "wind farm" with two plants.

The Austrian government has implemented measures to support the wind power industry, such as the Green Electricity Act 2002 (Ökostromgesetz 2002) and the renewable energy support scheme EAG (Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz).

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