Nestled between the Enns and Steyr rivers at Sengsengebirge and Reichraminger Hintergebirge lies Austria's great forest wilderness - the Kalkalpen National Park , covering an area of around 210 square kilometers. Floods, avalanches and storms are constantly changing the landscape. For millions of years, the forces of nature have been the driving force of evolution. For centuries, steep mountain walls have protected this place, now it is up to us to allow wilderness. Because in our modern world, we need magical places like this. It is therefore our duty to protect nature in small and large ways.
All the activities of Kalkalpen National Park are guided by the vision of preserving this unique area as a natural heritage for present and future generations:
The Kalkalpen National Park protects Austria's largest forest wilderness, species-rich habitats and near-natural cultural landscapes.
The management of Kalkalpen National Park is based on the legal framework, overall long-term corporate plans, corporate concepts and annual work programs.
Twelve key objectives
They determine the long-term direction of the National Park Management
- The national park includes all legally designated areas and is integrated into supra-regional protected area networks.
- 75% of the national park area is wilderness, where nature is left to its own devices.
- The UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" is secured for the long term.
- Near-natural cultural landscapes that have been created through traditional agricultural use are being preserved.
- Protected assets for which Kalkalpen National Park bears special responsibility are maintained in a favorable condition in the long term.
- The biodiversity of Kalkalpen National Park is recorded through inventory and monitoring projects. The results are communicated through educational and public relations work.
- The quality and success of nature and visitor management measures are supported and documented by targeted, practice-oriented research.
- A high-quality educational program teaches children, young people and adults about the special features, natural development and wilderness of the national park.
- The national park offers visitors an impressive experience of nature and motivates them to treat nature with respect.
- The national park has high-quality infrastructure that supports the educational and visitor objectives.
- The national park is a strengthening, integral part of regional development and offers added economic value for the regional communities.
- The National Park supports the federal and state governments in implementing national and international obligations and is a committed stakeholder in Nationalparks Austria.
