Economy, Forestry and Fishing

Some 47 percent of the total land area is forest. A comprehensive reforestation and conservation program has been in progress since the early 1950s to compensate for damage inflicted during World War II and for postwar overcutting of forest trees. About 78 percent of the forests consists of conifers, mostly spruce, which are important in the paper and pulp industry as well as in building construction. In 2000 some 13.3 million cubic meters (469 million cubic feet) of roundwood were cut.

Processing and consumption of fish are low in Austria, and most table fish are imported. Sport fishing in the mountain streams is popular.