The ÖBf’s forest damage balance – i.e. the costs for beetle prevention and control, infrastructure damage as well as losses in contribution margin and storage costs for damaged wood – amounts to around €49 million in 2024 (2023: €32 million), making it the highest of all times. The volume of beetle-damaged wood, on the other hand, has fallen from 730,000 m³ (2023) to 270,000 m³ (2024), according to ÖBf board member Andreas Gruber. Storms characterized the year 2024, being the cause of almost 70% of the damaged wood.
