Eisenwurzen nature reserve
Starting signal for Austria's largest nature night area
Milestone laid for the preservation of the natural night sky:
Starting signal for Austria's largest nature night area and submission to DarkSky International.
On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the festive closing event of the "Stars above the border triangle" project took place at the Haus der Wildnis in Lunz am See. This evening also marked the official launch of Austria's largest nature night area - the Eisenwurzen nature night area. The federal states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Styria are working together to preserve the last areas in Europe with largely untouched night skies, reduce light pollution and thus protect ecological diversity in the long term.
Only around 1% of people in Europe still live under a naturally dark night sky, free from light pollution. The Kalkalpen and Gesäuse national parks, the Styrian Eisenwurzen, Lower Austrian Eisenwurzen and Ötscher-Tormäuer nature parks and the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area developed the new nature night area in order to create a place where the dark night sky can be experienced with all its ecological and health benefits. This cooperation was complemented by scientific and organizational partners such as the E.C.O. Institute, the University of Vienna and the Umweltdachverband. Nineteen municipalities are already part of the area and are actively adapting their public lighting with compliant street lighting or blue light filter film to further reduce light pollution. There are also numerous other supporters from regional organizations and companies.
Presentation of the nature night area and DarkSky International
During the event, the importance of darkness, milestones achieved and the future management of the nature night area were presented. "For thousands of years, living creatures have adapted to the natural day-night rhythm. Animals, plants and human health need natural darkness. However, light pollution, a recent but rapidly increasing phenomenon, endangers this and is one of the most underestimated environmental threats on our planet today," says Stefan Wallner (University of Vienna). "This area is five times the size of Vienna in total," added Anna Kovarovics (E.C.O. Institute). Furthermore, a presentation by Nicole Eder (Mayor of Steinbach/Attersee) and Clemens Schnaitl (Managing Director of the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park) provided valuable insights into the development of Austria's first star park as well as its challenges and benefits.
At the end, the representatives of the protected areas signed the "Eisenwurzen Nature Night Area", confirming their joint commitment to the protection of the dark nights and the submission to DarkSky International.
This successful closing event and the broad support of the municipalities, protected areas and political representatives have laid the foundation for the sustainable continuation of the nature night area. The cooperation will continue in order to further expand and secure the protection of nocturnal landscapes in the long term.
