Between conservation and recreation – the Föhrenberge Nature Park

A nature park is a particularly valuable natural and cultural landscape that has been shaped by human activity. Its aim is to preserve characteristic habitats whilst at the same time enabling their responsible use. Nature parks combine nature conservation, recreation, education and sustainable regional development. Local authorities, landowners, the agricultural and forestry sectors, associations, educational institutions, businesses and the local population work together in partnership to achieve this.

There are currently 47 nature parks in Austria, 20 of which are located in Lower Austria.

Nature reserves and national parks protect valuable landscapes, but they take different approaches. In a national park, the focus is on allowing natural processes to develop as undisturbed as possible within large, specially protected areas.

A nature park, on the other hand, preserves a cultural landscape that has evolved over a long period through human use. Agriculture, forestry, recreation and regional development are therefore part of the nature park concept. The aim is to ensure that people and nature coexist responsibly – to protect a species-rich landscape teeming with life.

The Föhrenberge Nature Park is situated just south of Vienna and covers around 6,600 hectares of diverse natural and cultural landscape. It takes its name from its pine forests, home to the well-known umbrella-shaped black pines (Pinus nigra).

Species-rich dry grasslands and pastureland, flowering meadows, deciduous and pine forests, vineyards, rocky outcrops and former quarries form a diverse mosaic of habitats. Special natural gems such as the Perchtoldsdorf Heath and the Gießhübler Heath are home to numerous characteristic plant and animal species.

At the same time, the nature park is an important living and recreational space in the south of Vienna. Eleven nature park municipalities, with a combined population of around 85,000, share responsibility for its sustainable development.

The work of the Föhrenberge Nature Park is based on four equally important pillars: conservation, recreation, education and regional development.

Conservation means maintaining valuable habitats, linking them together and preserving the diversity of native species.

Recreation offers visitors a restorative break and a mindful experience of nature. Visitor guidance, well-maintained paths and clear nature park rules help to combine recreation with nature conservation.

Education makes nature accessible. Nature interpreters, nature park schools and nature park nurseries invite children and adults alike to discover ecological interrelationships using all their senses.

Regional development strengthens sustainable businesses, regional products and cooperation within the nature park region. In this way, value creation, knowledge and responsibility remain within the region.

It is only through their combined action that the four pillars achieve their full effect.

Read more about it here!

The landscape of the Föhrenberge Nature Park has evolved over centuries through the interplay of nature and human management. Grazing, haymaking, viticulture, arable farming and forestry have created a diverse range of habitats, such as pastureland, dry grasslands, meadows, vineyards and structurally rich forests.

Many special species of flora and fauna depend on the regular, nature-friendly management of these areas. If management were to cease entirely, open habitats could become overgrown with scrub or turn into woodland, thereby losing their characteristic biodiversity.

Preserving the cultural landscape therefore means implementing nature conservation in partnership with the people who live here, manage the land and take responsibility for it.

The Föhrenberge Nature Park is committed to long-term partnerships and collaboration on an equal footing. Local authorities, associations, schools, nurseries, scientific institutions, funding bodies, businesses, agricultural and forestry enterprises, as well as volunteers, can get involved in a variety of ways.

Opportunities include nature conservation and educational projects, joint events, research activities, landscape conservation initiatives, regional products, sustainable initiatives, or financial support for specific measures.

Interested organisations and businesses can contact the nature park team directly. Together, we will explore which form of cooperation best suits the nature park’s objectives and the needs of the respective partner.