27 million to protect biodiversity: protected areas should be expanded

This year, the Climate Protection Ministry’s biodiversity fund is focusing on expanding protected areas in Austria. 27 million euros will support the establishment of new areas and the expansion of existing protection zones. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) recently announced this during a visit to the Kalkalpen National Park. The money from the fund is intended to give the outstanding biodiversity in Austria more space to develop freely.

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The funding is aimed at states, municipalities and existing protected areas. What is important for the new areas is that habitats and species that are particularly worthy of protection are also present there. During a recent visit to the Kalkalpen National Park, Gewessler and the chairwoman of the Biodiversity Fund Commission Astrid Rössler were convinced of the excellent work in the Austrian national parks. National Park Director Josef Forstinger and his team showed the minister from the Wurbauerkogel panorama tower possible expansion areas of the Kalkalpen National Park towards Warscheneck and Haller Mauern. The national park presented itself at its best in the sunshine at the Steyrsteg bivouac site along the Krummen Steyrling.

“Our nature is unique. Lynxes, peregrine falcons and the oldest beech forests on our continent live in the Kalkalpen National Park. This diversity is impressive and proves that the environment deserves our protection. This is only possible if we give her space and places to retreat,” said Gewessler. The employees of the Kalkalpen National Park have also announced to the ministries that the lynx is on the verge of extinction. We have been waiting in vain for offspring since 2018. Urgent cooperation with the federal states of Styria and Lower Austria is required to jointly establish a viable lynx population of 25 to 30 animals.

“Long-term secured nature conservation measures”

“We must recognize that the loss of species and habitat can only be stopped through long-term, secured nature conservation measures. That’s exactly why the current funding program provides, in addition to ecological improvements, for the purchase or a lease of at least 30 years for new protected areas,” says Astrid Rössler, environmental spokeswoman and chairwoman of the Biodiversity Fund’s commission.

Currently, around 29% of the country’s area in Austria is protected in different categories with varyingly strict protection requirements. The local protected areas represent a fascinating range of habitats. From high alpine mountain areas to the salt pans in the steppe area around Lake Neusiedl. Austrian biodiversity is an important natural treasure of the country – and the new funding is intended to ensure even more comprehensive protection. In addition to its old beech forests, lynxes and white-backed woodpeckers, the Kalkalpen National Park is internationally known and respected for its diversity of so-called jungle relic species. 41 of these relict species – such as beetles – have so far been detected in the national park.

The Austrian Biodiversity Fund was set up in 2021 and supports the preservation of local biodiversity. For the first time, new protected areas are now being specifically promoted. Funding starts at the beginning of May and submissions are possible until the end of September. Different categories of protected areas are supported: from biosphere reserves and nature parks to wilderness areas and national parks.