Forest photo in Untersberg
Photo credit: proHolz Salzburg
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Economy & Infrastructure

Use wood, protect the climate

Sustainable forestry and timber industry, sustainable forest management, wood as a building material, proHolz

In today's interview with DI Martin Winkler, Managing Director of proHolz Salzburg, we shed light on how wood can contribute to climate protection, the challenges facing the industry and which innovations are paving the way for the future.

Managing Director Martin Winkler
Photo credit: proHolz Salzburg

proHolz Salzburg is committed to strengthening the local forestry and timber industry and promoting wood as a sustainable, climate-friendly building material. With a wide range of advice and public relations work, proHolz Salzburg not only supports professionals such as architects and property developers, but also sensitises the public to the importance of wood in the construction industry.

 

#schongenial: Mr Winkler, how does proHolz Salzburg see its own role in promoting a sustainable forestry and timber industry?

Martin Winkler: Our work is geared towards strengthening the local timber industry in the long term. For more than 20 years, we have been offering product- and company-neutral timber construction advice, which is available free of charge to property developers, architects and private builders. This service will remain a central component of our work in the future. We also promote public awareness of the timber value chain.

#schongenial: What measures is proHolz Salzburg taking to raise awareness of wood as a sustainable building material?

Martin Winkler: Our main task is to raise awareness. Wood is a sustainable building material that actively contributes to climate protection. Our current awareness campaign "Hey, forest! Using wood cares for the forest" shows how sustainable forest management works. With wood, we create a "second forest" in the built environment, which makes an important contribution by storingCO2 over its entire life cycle.

#schongenial: How can the use of wood promote regional economic cycles and a sustainable way of life?

Martin Winkler: Wood as a building material strengthens the local economy as it is a regionally available raw material. This is particularly impressive when municipalities or public institutions rely on wood. This makes the quality and sustainability of the material directly tangible for the population, which raises awareness of regional products and sustainable construction.

#schongenial: What innovations do you see as key to the future of the timber industry?

Martin Winkler: The timber industry is already very sustainable, as the entire tree can be used and no waste is produced. Innovations such as modular construction, resource-saving production techniques and digital wood processing - for example through BIM-supported processes - are crucial. The recyclability of wood also plays a key role: wood can be processed several times until it is ultimately used for sustainable energy generation.

#schongenial: What are currently the biggest challenges for the timber industry in Salzburg?

Martin Winkler: The decline in the new construction sector is clearly noticeable. However, timber construction shows its strengths in redensification and the creation of ecological living space in existing buildings. Another challenge is the climate-friendly conversion of our forests, which requires intensive management. This is the only way we can adapt our forests to future climatic conditions.

#schongenial: Why is a positive social perception of the timber industry so important?

Martin Winkler: A positive mood in society creates trust in climate-friendly and sustainable construction with wood. This trust is essential in order to achieve long-term climate targets and strengthen the willingness to invest in sustainable solutions. This is the only way we can shape a climate-friendly future together.

#schongenial: Thank you very much for the interview.

Interior view of Kuchl community centre
Kuchl community centre | Photo credit: Susanne Reisenberger-Wolf
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