under this motto, LIECO invited guests to its anniversary celebration in the old greenhouse in the forest garden in Kalwang.
Kalwang: September 19, 2025 – Forty years ago, the decision was made to establish an independent company from a forest garden in the company's own forestry operation. This idea gave rise to LIECO – today a leading supplier of container seedlings and innovative solutions for sustainable forest management.
Anniversary celebration in Kalwang
The 40th anniversary was celebrated with around 300 guests in the forest garden in Kalwang. In addition to looking back on the company's success story, the event also focused on optimistic perspectives for the future.
The event kicked off with a speech by Tatjana Liechtenstein, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Liechtenstein Group, who emphasized the close connection between LIECO, the Liechtenstein Group, and Styria. “With 40 years of experience in forest seedlings cultivation, a unique team spirit, and strong customer relationships, we as owners are very positive about the future and are convinced that LIECO will continue to develop as a partner for forest owners at home and abroad,” she concluded in her speech.
Norbert Totschnig, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Climate Protection, Environment, Regions, and Water Management, then sent a video message congratulating the company. In his message, he emphasized the positive role played by our forests, which are both the problem and the solution: “An actively and sustainably managed forest is an essential pillar in the fight against climate change. Forest regeneration and the associated forest conversion are central to this, as young forest stocks play an important role in carbon storage.”
This was followed by welcoming remarks from Landesjägermeister Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau and Dr. Irene Seling, CEO of AGDW – Die Waldeigentümer, as well as from Mayor Mario Angerer (Kalwang) and Mayor and National Council member Andreas Kühberger, who emphasized LIECO's role as a regionally rooted company with international appeal.
Finally, Oliver Hilpold (CEO, THE LIECO COMPANY) and Christoph Hartleitner (Managing Director LIECO, Sales Management THE LIECO COMPANY) welcomed the guests on behalf of the company. The technical side of things got exciting with a talk by Dr. Silvio Schüler, Director of the Federal Research Centre for Forestry, who gave an impressive presentation entitled “Forestry at a crossroads: How genetics and forest plant production can help tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis,” highlighting how important innovation and research are for the future of forests.
Another highlight was the premiere of the anniversary film, before Stephan Langer (CEO of the Liechtenstein Group), Dr. Silvio Schüler, Oliver Hilpold, and Christoph Hartleitner discussed their motivation and strategies for preparing for the future in the concluding talk “ A look into the future.”
This was followed by a lively celebration with music, personal conversations, and an optimistic look ahead.
Responsibility for the future
Especially in times of climate change, LIECO is committed to responsibility: with climate-friendly forest plants and innovative services, the company is helping to secure the ecological and economic value of forests in the long term.
The vision for the future is clear: together with partners and customers, LIECO wants to create resilient, diverse, and sustainable forests—for future generations.
