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Management at Gesäuse National Park

Management


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success for nature

The Gesäuse National Park is a national park according to IUCN II, i.e. the main task is the free development of nature (wilderness). You can find out here which successes we have already celebrated in nature conservation and beyond.

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Our path for the next 10 years

Strategic Management Plan

The Strategic Management Plan contains longer-term
Objectives for National Park management. The achievement of these goals means a qualitative further development of the Gesäuse National Park in accordance with its legal mandate. The task for the national park administration in the coming years is to work out ways to achieve these goals.
Browse through the Strategic Management Plan and get an insight into the work in the Gesäuse National Park until 2031 and beyond.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

Strategic Management Plan N...

14.6 MB

Alpine meadow management

The alpine meadows of Gesäuse National Park are rich in biodiversity. If the grasslands were not used, maintained and managed as alpine pastures, the survival and conservation of these partly endangered habitats and the species living there would be uncertain or impossible. The preservation of natural resources and biodiversity of these areas requires a specific management plan. It includes identifications of site criteria and objects of protection as well as plans of action. Nature conservation and traditional farming are brought together.

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NPG-Alpine meadows - german only

8.7 MB

Visitor Management Plan

Even though nature conservation is our main focus, we are happy to welcome everyone as making the area of Gesäuse National Park accessible for educational as well as recreational purposes is one of our goals. Taking the “Natura 2000” requirements and hazard analyses for protected species into consideration, we designed a plan for visitor management. When exploring the national park please stick to the rules provided in the Fair Play Folders We are looking forward to seeing you!

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG Visitor Management Plan - german only

3.3 MB

bedload management plan

Huge amounts of rubble are part of the characteristic landscape of Gesäuse National Park. They are the result of the weathering of dolomite, the rock that forms the base of the Gesäuse mountains. This debris is transported by rivers and gravel banks are built along their courses, creating habitats for many plants and animals such as the common sandpiper. During floods the rubble carried along in the waters can pose additional danger to roads and railways. The management plan is a concept which was developed to protect the roads and bridges while still allowing natural bedload flow.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG Bedload management - german only

15.6 MB

Water management plan

One of the characteristics of Gesäuse National Park is water. The Enns river, sometimes roaring and at other times quietly flowing, the unpredictable Johnsbach creek, the unique Sulzkarsee lake and countless hidden springs are part of the majestic landscape. The water management plan, or limnological concept, deals with the biological and ecological structure and functions of the waters and the accompanying habitats, which are irreplaceable for so many animal and plant species. In order to protect endangered species and to allow the rivers to run freely, measures are proposed in this management plan.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG Limnological concept I - german only

2.9 MB

NPG Limnological concept II - german only

480.0 KB

Management plan for invasive species

All invasive species introduced directly or indirectly by humans after 1492 (year of the discovery of America) are called "neobiota". While some types are inconspicuous, there are others that disturb the sensitive balance of the native flora and fauna. Many of them even invaded the remote mountain valleys of Gesäuse National Park, covering areas as far as the eye can see. Today, the "problem areas" lie mainly outside the national park boundaries as in many places, people are still watching inactively while glandular balsam, Canadian goldenrod and knotgrass, plants which have successfully been supressed in the national park, multiply en masse. The procedure of repressing invasive species is described in the management plan.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG - management for invasive species - german only

5.8 MB

grouse management

The grouse management plan is fundamentally for the protection of grouse in Gesäuse National Park. Capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse and ptarmigan are heavily exposed to human activities such as ski touring and hiking. Experts are worried that process protection alone may not be sufficient and consequently several objectives and measures in the areas of "habitat design", "visitor guidance", "wildlife management & regulation", "infrastructure" and "communication" introduced.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG - grouse management - german only

1.7 MB

game management

Traditionally the area of the Steriermärkische Landesforste was used as settlement area, for forestry and as hunting ground. When Gesäuse National Park was founded in 2002, the hunting lease agreements expired and a national park compliant game management plan was needed. The main aim of the nature reserve is to let nature unfold naturally on three quarters of its territory. Hunting activities such as shooting and conservation are to take place on the remaining area. As these sections are also used for alpine farming, siviculture, visitor management and traffic, the regional development planning, which is laid down in this management plan, is particularly important.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG game management - german only

6.1 MB

Nationalparks Austria game management - german only

1.2 MB

forestry management

Up until the foundation of the Gesäuse National Park in 2002 the forests of the area were managed like every other commercial forest. For forestry, spruce has always been the number one tree species and was promoted on all possible and impossible sites. Many natural wood communities, especially in easily accessible areas such as the Gstatterbodener Kessel and the alluvial forests along the river Enns, had to make way. The natural timber development will certainly produce adapted mixed woodland again at some point. The national park and the Steiermärkische Landesforste are helping to speed up the process for which the forest management plan provides an important point of reference.

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FURTHER INFORMATIONS

NPG - forestry management - german only

2.1 MB

Faktenblatt_Waldmanagement - german only

Biotope Protection Forest Map

12.0 MB