Lehrforst Rosalia - Austria

The Lehrforst Rosalia (Rosalia University forest) is about 1000 ha, covered with all major tree species and forest types in Austria (Norway spruce, Fir, Larch, Scots pine, Beech, Oak, etc). The forest area is located in the Rosalia Mountains near the Lower Austria/Burgenland border. The Demonstration Forest (950 ha) was set up in 1972 with an agreement between the Austrian Federal Forests (Österreichische Bundesforste, ÖBf, https://www.bundesforste.at/english.html) and BOKU. Nevertheless, the University is active in this area since 1875; considerable documentation regarding forest description and planning was elaborated by that time. It is located on the western slope of the mountainous ridge called „Rosaliengebirge“ in the southeastern part of Lower Austria (LAT 47°42’N, LON 16°17’ E). Elevation is between 300 and 720 m a.s.l, annual mean temperature of 6.5 deg C and 800 mm annual precipitation. The forest is mainly composed of beech associations (Fagetums) , peripheral also spruce-fir-beech forest association (Abieti-Fagetum). The Key task of the Forest Demonstration Centre is supporting the educational and research work of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Accordingly, accommodation, work and teaching facilities are provided. The research focus lies on following areas: · Collection and hold ready of area-based and environmental data · Establishing and monitoring of sample plots especially for beech growth and treatment related questions · Characterization of local and microclimate · Environmental impacts to forest ecosystems · Monitoring and modelling of small forested watersheds Essential research and educational infrastructure are: · 4 weather monitoring stations · 2 scaffolding towers for measuring (35m) with instrument cabin · 4 measuring weirs for runoff monitoring (Watershed 230 ha) · radio linked data collection and on-line hosting · Surveying and mapping equipments (terrestric and GPS) · Long-term experiment simulating drying and rewetting of forest soils (DRAIN Station) · Laboratories and work rooms · Lecture Rooms · Accommodation for more than 40 people The available data range from base data (GIS-Data), meterological and hydrological time series (since 1990), inventory data of growing stock, data of different plots to measuring data related to numerous projects.