Mountain wood from the biosphere reserve "Grosses Walsertal" (Bergholz aus dem Biosphärenpark Grosses Walsertal)

Best Practice

Topics

• Protected areas
• Regional value added

Short description

* Project updated on 9 May 2007 according to information from the project contact persons * The project “Bergholz” is an amalgamation of cabinetmakings, sawmills, carpenters, municipalities, manufacturer of ovens and foresters. The objective is to build wooden houses, items for houses and furnishing with regional wood on a high level of quality. The forestry is done in a sustainable manner.

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Project executive

Bergholz GesmbH

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Participants

Carpenter Kaufmann Gottlieb, Carpenter Konzett Günter, Carpenter Sparr, Sawmill Holzhandel, Sawmill Martin Urban, Carpenter Holzhäuser, Carpenter Müller Lothar, Ovenconstruction Pfister & Schnetzer, Municipality Thüringerberg, Municipality St. Gerold, Propstei St. Gerold, Municipality Blons, Municipality Sonntag, Municipality Fontanella, Municipality Raggal, Municipality Marul, rural cooperative Fraßenwald, Baron v. Gemmingen, rural cooperative Thüringerberg, rural cooperative St. Gerold, rural cooperative Schnifis

Objectives

To produce regional high quality products of wood and to safeguard employment.

Activities

Construction of wooden houses, items for houses and furnishing with regional wood on a high level of quality. Networking between forestry, municipalities and

Process

The amalgamation got bigger with the time. More and more forest enterprises and carpenters are participating

Results

A well known and successful project, not only in the region. Success factors "concept" are: Proximity by regional and direct marketing. Production of high quality products. Certification and label. Own marketing and design group Success factors „people“ are: Integration of enterprises of the whole production chain. Assistance by an external management consultant Success factors “process” are: Communications with customers and continuous optimisation.

Evaluation

Success and increasing memberships are the best evaluation. More over an external management consulting is integrated.

Difficulties

One to two leader are enforcing the project. The enthusiasm and identification of the other participants are not so strong

Budget

120.000 Euro in 4 years (Euro)

Financial backer

Leaderplus project. Financed by the EU, state of Austria and federal state.

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.bergholz.at

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Forestry is done regional and in a sustainable manner.

Economic value added

promotion of the regional economy, stop of movement of labour

Socio-cultural value added

More communication, cooperation, respect and credit between the participants. The point of view changed from a rival to competitors.

Innovative content

Professional marketing, own design group and external management consultant

PR impact

Website, participation at expositions, advertising in radio and newspapers, brochures, folders, broadcast in television in cooperation with the governmental broadcast

Multiplier effect / networking

This project is not only in the region wellknown. Promoted as a good showcase the multiplier effect exists.

Transferability

Yes

Remarks

Longer projects often have good working phases and not so good ones. These low points have to be conquered by new ideas. Every year the project participates at an exposition. In 2005 for example the mountain wood team organized a manufacturing exposition. Of the good cooperation resulted the foundation of the business association "Verein Wirtschaft Großes Walsertal" in 2006. The aims of this association are to make use of the benefits of cooperations, to raise the publicity, to establish a common marketing, to have common orders and a common image, to achieve a better position of business companies within the region, to make expert speeches and excursions, to create and maintain jobs, to raise awareness, to create a pool for employees and a pool for tools and a project fair. The contact person is also Gottlieb Kaufmann.

Further information