Nature Restauration Law
RESULTS OF THE COMPANY VISITS
In September and October we visited five farms in Tyrol, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg and discussed the following aspects of the practical implementation of the Renaturation Ordinance with the farmers:
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What do the regulation objectives mean specifically for the company?
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What measures are already being implemented in the company and what could be improved in the future?
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What special requirements need to be taken into account when implementing ideas?
In an exciting online live conversation on November 11, 2024 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with all participating farmers, we gave insight into the results of the visits carried out and the implementation options discussed.
The recording of the conversation is available at www.renaturierungsgesetz.at .
" Current projects
30 years of ÖPUL
RESULTS OF THE COMPANY VISITS
This year, ÖPUL celebrates its 30th anniversary. For three decades, ÖPUL has been providing financial support for the environmental achievements of Austrian farmers. Over the past three decades, around €16 billion has been paid out to Austrian farms for environmental and nature conservation services.
To mark this occasion, we have created a brochure and produced a short film.
https://www.zukunftsraumland.at/30-jahre-opul-neue-broschuere/
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FarmBioNet
Network for Agriculture and Biodiversity
The Farmer-focussed Biodiversity and agricultural knowledge Network (FarmBioNet) project was launched in January 2025. The project, led by Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
The aim of FarmBioNet is to identify biodiversity-friendly farming practices and help farmers create habitats that provide food, security and protection for biodiversity on their farms.
Under the leadership of Suske Consulting, national agriculture and biodiversity networks will be established, composed of farmers, foresters, researchers, NGOs, consultants and other relevant actors of the agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS). FarmBioNet will use these national networks to collect and disseminate knowledge and information.
Managementplan
Almenland Nature Park presents measures for the future
The management plan was developed by Suske Consulting in collaboration with the nature park management, farmers, affected communities, educational and tourism institutions, and nature conservation officers. The measures defined in the management plan are intended to support the nature park in preserving the species-rich alpine pastures and meadows, thereby protecting one of the largest contiguous alpine landscapes in Central Europe.
The Almenland Nature Park covers 268 square kilometers in eight municipalities in eastern Styria and includes extensive alpine pastures on the Teichalm and Sommeralm.
Since 2015, the number of farms in the Almenland Nature Park has declined by eight percent. In view of increasing economic pressure, many farmers are deciding to keep their livestock in the barn even in summer in order to save costs and time.
This leads to alpine pastures becoming overgrown with trees and shrubs, causing the habitat and its biodiversity to disappear. This also affects animals and plants that are on the red list of endangered species, such as the Arran brown, the Tree pipit, Gymnadenia minor, and the Carthusian pink. Due to the shift of livestock farming to the valley areas, the meadows around Passail and Fladnitz are mowed more frequently and fertilized more, which also leads to a loss of biodiversity there: bellflowers and daisies are becoming increasingly rare.
In order to counteract the disappearance of alpine pastures, to protect biodiversity in the region and strengthen regional characteristics, the 2025-2023 management plan with its 22 measures is based on the four central tasks of the nature park: protection, recreation, education, and regional development. For example, the aim is to bring “the nature park to the plate”: restaurants are awarded the title of “Almenland-Genusswirte” (Alpine pasture gourmet restaurants) and promoted if they offer regional agricultural products.
© picture: studio draußen
