Influence of tourist activities in Austria on ignition of forest fires

Abstract

In Austria, the number of forest fires has increased the last years considerably, especially since 1980's. Although Central-European forests do not present the characteristics of forests prone to fire, extreme weather conditions in the last years (especially 2003 and 2006) had intense fire seasons as result. Fires have appeared throughout whole Austria, but some regions seem to be "fire hot spots" like Carinthia, Tyrol and the district of "Neunkirchen" in Lower Austria. For these "hot spots" it is necesaary to consider the possible human influence. Socio-economic changes could increase fires. Changes un forest management, rural exodus, abandonment of agriculure land use, ar only some examples of the socio-economic changes with an influence on forest fires. Within this thesis the role of tourism as a possible socio-economic factor, that influences the risk of forests fires, should be analysed.