Award ceremony: Protection Forest Prize

Honours exemplary projects for the preservation and improvement of mountain forests in the Alpine region and for raising awareness of the issue of protection forests

The forest protects the human habitat from natural hazards such as mudslides or avalanches, it protects the soil from erosion and is also important for flood protection. A healthy protection forest is of great importance for settlements, infrastructure and agricultural areas. The Helvetia Protection Forest Prize honours exemplary projects for the preservation and improvement of mountain forests in the Alpine region and for raising awareness of the topic of protection forests.

The prize is being awarded for the 18th time this year, and this year's award ceremony is being organised by the South Tyrolean Forestry Association. The event is held under the patronage of the Euregio.

Luis Walcher, Provincial Councillor for Forestry, will present the awards.

Projects were submitted in the categories of school projects, successful projects, public relations work - protective forest partnerships - innovation. A special jury prize and a press prize will also be awarded and a protection forest sponsor will be honoured. A total of twelve projects will be presented and honoured at this year's award ceremony, four of which are from South Tyrol.

The Protection Forest Prize is awarded annually in one of the countries that belong to the Working Group of Alpine Forestry Associations, i.e. the forestry associations from Bavaria, Graubünden, St. Gallen, South Tyrol, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Liechtenstein. The working group has existed since 1981 and aims to strengthen and secure the future of mountain forests as a near-natural habitat in the Alps through joint projects such as the Protection Forest Prize and the exchange of experiences.