Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park
Current events in the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park
What is a nature park?
A nature park is a protected landscape area (in Upper Austria: designated as a "landscape conservation area") that has been shaped over the centuries by traditional human management. These valuable cultural landscapes are made accessible as recreational areas and are particularly suitable for imparting knowledge about nature. The aim is to continue the balanced interaction of "protect and utilise" in the future. The title "Nature Park" is an award for this approach. Experience the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park at first hand on one of the numerous nature park themed tours, during a workshop or on a hike.
Biodiversity in the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park
The youngest Upper Austrian nature park Attersee-Traunsee connects the two lakes in the Salzkammergut: Lake Attersee and Lake Traunsee. The landscape is characterised by its great variety of blossoming fruit trees in spring, gentle larch meadows, hidden mountain pastures and a diverse forest wilderness. One of the special features is the genetic diversity of plums, which grow semi-wild and without any real care around human settlements. Many plum species, e.g. Bidling, Krieche, Pemse, Punze and Zwispitz, are now threatened with extinction in the region.
The blackthorn is not only the mother of all plum species, but is also of great interest to the red-backed shrike, a songbird the size of a sparrow.
The "Plum Kingdom" project is a high priority in the nature park.
The project began in 2016 with large-scale field research, during which well over a hundred specimens of plum-like species that are true to their seeds and roots were found and secured. Subsequently, measures were taken to revitalise old trees and a breeding programme (grafting of plum species and propagation via root shoots) was launched in the region. The creation of a variety conservation garden is also planned in co-operation with the ARCHE NOAH association.
What's going on in the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park?
"On the catwalk into the plum kingdom"
Since May 2019, the nature park's barrier-free, multimedia permanent exhibition in the Steinbach village centre has been accessible to everyone. This exhibition centres around the nature park landscape in general and the plum in particular.
There is a lot to learn, observe and explore under expert guidance: Energetic and motivated helpers aged 18 and over (or under 18 accompanied by a parent) are very welcome at the environmental construction sites.
The first star park in Austria
Since April 2021, the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park has been Austria's first star park.
Star parks are light conservation and landscape protection areas designed to protect sensitive nature and us humans from light pollution, as well as to preserve the breathtaking view of the clear starry sky - a sight that few people are able to experience at home.
