UNUSUAL INSIGHTS INTO THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF A NATIONAL PARK HUNTER
The life of a National Park hunter is an exciting one, but also a tough one. The Junior Rangers from the 3rd grade of the NMS-Admont were able to experience this first-hand. Being in the forest all day at temperatures just below freezing does lead to one or two cold toes. Thanks to Hubertus, the pupils did not have to practise sitting in the forest. Nevertheless, they were given a comprehensive insight into the world of game regulation in the Gesäuse National Park by Martin Friesenbichler, a hunting trainee from the Provincial Forests.
TOGETHER IN THE GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK
Normally, the partners of the national park have to fulfil conditions. Now they are getting their very own new edition, and in book form. The photographer Stefan Leitner and the authors Vera Bachernegg and Katharina Zimmermann were sent out to document a piece of contemporary history in pictures and words. In the process, doors were opened and very personal insights were granted. In addition to the presentation of the businesses, there is also room for love stories and funny anecdotes. The Gesäuse is the setting for all this and the National Park is the common denominator.
NEWS ABOUT THE FEATHER CARNATION
The distribution, ecology and reproduction of the ornamental feathered carnation are the subject of the recently completed master's thesis by Walter Köppl. The ornamental feathered carnation is considered an endemic species due to its limited distribution. It is found exclusively in the north-eastern Limestone Alps on the southern side of the Dachstein massif and the Grimming, in the Tote Gebirge and in the Gesäuse mountains. To learn more about this rare and protected species, the populations in the Gesäuse were studied in the summer months of 2014 and 2015 in the course of a Master's thesis.
The known sites were visited and the areas of the populations and sub-populations were surveyed. Eight permanent observation plots were also set up in order to be able to observe the carnation plants present there specifically over longer periods of time and to record their population dynamics.
To assess germination and establishment rates, seeds were collected and sown both on site and in the Botanical Garden in Vienna (HBV). This work provides basic surveys and analyses for later studies on meta-population dynamics.
You can find more information on this master's thesis in the publications section.
LONG-TERM GUESTS IN PARLIAMENT
Since September, the Gesäuse National Park has been a guest in the parliament building. Around 20 portraits of National Park partner businesses decorate the premises of the Federal Council. Mario Lindner, photographer Stefan Leitner, Mario Brandmüller from Regional Management Liezen and NP Director Herbert Wölger were present at the finissage. The photos show National Park partners at work or in their free time, always real. always as they are. Stefan Leitner took on this photographic challenge. "To come and take a nice picture, it wasn't that easy," says the photographer. In order to photograph the people of the Gesäuse authentically, he had to approach them and their world cautiously. He succeeded, and the photos in the parliament are proof of that.
ADVENT PLAY OF THE VS ARDNING
"It's Gesäuse, not Gseis. Ge Säu Se!" The animals of the National Park are preparing for Christmas. This is the theme of the current Advent play by the National Park partner school in Ardning. There is a snake, a deer, an owl, a book-rate and countless other animals. Even a beautiful oaf, a two-humped camel, gets lost in the Gesäuse forest.
At the premiere on 26 November in the VS Ardning, there was contemplation to be heard, all kinds of fun to be seen and both the children's joy in acting and the play's wit provided touching entertainment. By the way, the author of the play is director Gisela Remich.
For those who didn't have time (or no place in the overcrowded gym): there is a second performance: at the Advent in the Weidendom.
OFFSPRING AT THE FOOTPRINT
Our "Walkable Ecological Footprint" has once again grown!
A project seminar of the Hohenburg High School/Bavaria makes it possible. The first walkable ecological footprint in Germany has now been inaugurated in the Königsdorf youth settlement Hochland.
Thinking up clever environmental questions, making phone calls to construction companies and the district office, winning sponsors, planting hedges, organising the opening ceremony: Six Hohenburg secondary school students put all that their project seminar had implemented in the classroom and beyond into a sketch. Two years in ten minutes. Once again, the students had shown their creativity. Those 11th graders who, together with their teacher Tamara Höcherl, created Germany's first walkable ecological footprint.
They had invited around 80 guests to the topping-out ceremony at the Königsdorf Hochland youth settlement, where the hedge maze, 40 metres long and between 10 and 18 metres wide, has now been completed. Höcherl took a scant school hour to thank all the helpers and sponsors. "It's nice to see so many people in the district pulling together." Martin Hartmann travelled from Styria. In 2012, he had implemented his idea of a walkable footprint in the Gesäuse National Park in Styria. His intention at the time: "Not to raise an admonishing finger, but to make people think in an exciting and also humorous way." A concept that immediately infected and inspired Hohenburg teacher Höcherl, who has no car and avoids air travel.
Now, a few years later, the maze in Königsdorf is also adorned with question-and-answer boards that explain in a youth-friendly way how to heat properly, travel in an environmentally friendly way, and save water and electricity. For example, those who decide against cycling or public transport and opt for the taxi mum will end up in a dead-end street. So does someone who prefers to tilt the window for hours rather than air it for five minutes. the ecological footprint is a scientific concept that compares lifestyles worldwide based on CO2 per capita consumption. "We Austrians would need three planets for our demands," Martin Hartmann explained. Just like Germany. Inevitably, countries like Peru or Bolivia are far below the average.
The mayor of Lenggries, Werner Weindl, who was invited on behalf of the "Association of Friends of Hohenburg Schools", expressed his admiration for the students: "You even worked during your holidays. That would not have happened here in the past.
(Source: "Tölzer Kurier")
Drone photo: Hias Krinner
Photo with people: Stephan Bammer
Photo Maze, terrestrial: Archbishopric Ordinariate Munich, Klaus D. Wolf
DIRNDLBALL
On 5 November, the 7th Dirndl Ball of the National Park Partners took place at the Gasthof Mooswirt in Mooslandl. The National Park Partners - above all Lisi Gössweiner - together with Karoline Scheb organised a wonderful ball in a cosy atmosphere. And so the numerous guests celebrated the common values until the early hours of the morning. Special thanks go to the entire team around the Gasthof Mooswirt, which made this ball possible - for the first time in this form.
MORE SAFETY FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS!
In the course of the renovation of the Johnsbach bridge, approx. 800 m of the Ennstal road were renovated directly at the Weidendom adventure centre. Improvements for visitors to the National Park were also implemented. A wide shoulder provides more safety for pedestrians and cyclists, at least on the south side in the direction of Gstatterboden (see photo).
The crossing area has been slightly changed: Turners to Johnsbach are now travelling a little slower and the bus stops have better bays. Between Weidendom and the car park, a new pavement was built parallel to the road. And last but not least, an amphibian tunnel has been integrated, so that in future the tedious manual collection of amphibians during their migration periods can be dispensed with.
GESÄUSE PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL - COURSE PROGRAMME 2017
Schauplatz Natur - Following the motto "Nothing touches us like the untouched", course participants at the Gesäuse Photo School can expect not only untouched nature in the 2017 season, but also like-minded people and a passion for nature and landscape photography. The new course programme for the 2017 season can be downloaded here:
RED DEER IN WINTER
Recordings from one feeding site are transmitted daily. Follow the animals feeding here throughout the winter.
Want to be there yourself? Find out in the event programme about the Wildlife watching in the Gesäuse National Park.
Why the red deer are fed here is explained to you by our Cloven-hoofed Game Management Plan.
IN THE GSEIS - NEW ISSUE!
on 24 October 2016.
The time has come! A new issue of the National Park Magazine "Im Gseis" has been published. Issue 26 goes to press. For all the impatient ones - the online version is already available for download here on our homepage!
You can also subscribe to the magazine free of charge: Just send an e-mail with your name and address to Karin Lattacher - karin.lattacher@nationalpark.co.at or a fax to +43 3631 21000 18.
OFFLINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
No mobile phone reception, no internet, but fantastic nature in the French national park "Mercantour" - the best conditions to get fully involved in the topic of nature and environmental education. This year Martin Hartmann and Markus Blank from the Gesäuse National Park accepted the invitation from ALPARC, the network of Alpine protected areas.
A NEW FOREST AND MEADOW PLAY AREA IS BEING CREATED
17 October 2016.
Not long ago, the Rohrstadel meadow in Gstatterboden was still overgrown with dense bushes and almost impenetrable stinging nettles. In order to create space for research and discovery, the 3rd grade of the NMS-Admont spruced up the area as part of a Junior Ranger Day. With the help of the Steiermärkische Landesforste, the pupils helped with the mowing and then cut the grass. Now the area is accessible again and can be used for national park projects and excursions. The class was fully motivated from the beginning and made a satisfied impression in the end.
MEMBERS WANTED FOR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
National Park seeks members for Youth Advisory Council
With the support of Grazer Wechselseitige Versicherung and its youth brand "GRAWE sidebyside", the Gesäuse National Park is founding a Youth Advisory Board.
Behind the somewhat unwieldy title "Youth Advisory Council" lies an innovative idea. The aim is to initiate or implement small projects with their own budget. Through the cooperation with GRAWE, the young people have the opportunity not only to talk or plan, but also to do.
We are looking for young people between the ages of 15 and 29 who are interested in nature conservation and public relations, want to have their say and get involved themselves.
Interested parties should contact the National Park at office@nationalpark.co.at with the keyword "Youth Advisory Council".
WEDDING UNDER WILLOWS
This is where all green hearts go: celebrating a wedding outdoors. The Weidendom offers a spectacular and unique setting for this. Since last year, the Weidendom Education and Experience Centre can boast of being the official wedding venue of the market town of Admont. Since then, many a flower child has strewn petals along the path of the newlyweds. Whether it is their love of their homeland, their love of nature or simply the fairytale appearance of the Weidendom that brings couples to us, they all radiate pure happiness when they say "I do" under the living structure.
START OF THE JUNIOR RANGER YEAR OF THE NMS ADMONT
On 21 September, the 3rd grade of the NMS Admont started their Junior Ranger year with the Gesäuse National Park. During the first module, the construction of a herb spiral was on the agenda. Harald Leitner, a horticultural professional, was in charge of the construction and provided the pupils with help and advice. From drawing the spiral on the ground, to arranging the stones and filling the spiral with rubble and soil, to planting the herbs - the 3a of the NMS-Admont helped energetically and with great enthusiasm. In total, the pupils processed more than eight(!) tonnes of material, sponsored by Paltentaler. The class was visibly proud after the work was done.
The herb spiral can be seen at the visitor entrance of the NMS Admont.
NEW HOME FOR THE MINNOWS OF SULZKAR LAKE
An extraordinary nature conservation project is currently being implemented in the Gesäuse National Park at Lake Sulzkar. The originally fish-free lake, the only lake in the National Park, was stocked with char in the 1970s. Minnows served as forage fish. After the national park was founded, the char were fished out and the minnows multiplied even more. Now these small fish, originally from Lake Zell in the Pinzgau, are being returned to their place of origin. The municipality of Zell am See is pleased about this unique opportunity to reintroduce the fish that disappeared there.
The fish are fished out of Lake Sulzkar with fish traps and brought to Lake Zell by fish transporters. In Lake Zell, new habitats for the reproduction and growth of the young fish are created by introducing gravel. This will ensure the future of the minnows, the fish of the year 2016!
CLEAN ... XEIS
Refrigerators, car tyres or bicycles were not found during this year's Xeis cleaning. The "highlight" of 2016 was an old excavator seat that was pulled out of the embankment.
Many thanks to the 21-strong group of helpers: staff from the administration and rangers of the Gesäuse National Park, friends and two representatives of the rafting provider Absolute Outdoors (Fa. Strobl), who also provided two boats to free the Enns from rubbish.
Despite the large group, the "yield" was significantly lower than in previous years. Has the environmental awareness of visitors and drivers changed?
NETWORKING IS NOT CHEESE!
The projects on the ecological network of the Gesaeuse region are also interesting for the Swiss parks. The rapidly growing network of Swiss protected areas met in Emmental, more precisely in the Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve, to reflect on their country's "ecological infrastructure". Among them was Alexander Maringer from the Gesäuse National Park, who contributed his experiences from the Econnect and Network Natural Forest projects as an impulse lecture at a workshop on 1 September 2016. An exciting exchange of experiences, because even as a non-EU country, Switzerland faces very similar challenges in networking and preserving alpine and subalpine flora and fauna.
SCHOOL PROGRAMME 2017
The new 2017 school programme of the Gesäuse National Park is here!
Just in time for the start of school, the current school programme of the Gesäuse National Park is landing in the mailboxes of all Styrian schools - and beyond! The Gesäuse National Park stands for untouched nature in abundance, wild water and steep rock - an ideal place for children and young people to experience nature, a place of adventure and research, of observation and understanding.
The Gesäuse National Park, awarded the Austrian Eco-label for extracurricular educational institutions and winner of the Climate Protection Prize 2012, offers all the ingredients for exciting project days and project weeks and combines exciting shared adventures, enjoyment of nature and fun in the class community with the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with natural processes.
Accompanied by highly trained and certified National Park Rangers, the days in the National Park become a very special experience with exciting content. Partner establishments in and around the Gesäuse National Park are involved as accommodation for programmes lasting several days. The "Gesäuse Lodge" in Gstatterboden is a new accommodation option which, thanks to its ideal location in the middle of the National Park, offers particularly cost-effective and attractive packages without additional transfers! Focal themes such as the natural experience of rock, the water habitat or the infinite diversity of the original forests of the Gesäuse offer a lasting experience through the perfect combination of experience, adventure and knowledge transfer. Overnight stays in the ranger camp, first climbing experiences around the alpine workshop in the Haindlkar or the nature experience trip along the untouched banks of the Enns offer plenty of opportunities to experience this unique natural jewel: the only Styrian Gesäuse National Park!
All information as well as assistance with registration & booking of school experience programmes from: Dr. Isabella Mitterböck, Tel.: +43 3613 211 60 60 and: info@nationalpark.co.at
JUNIOR RANGER DAYS 2016
Packed with research equipment such as magnifying glasses, landing nets, brushes, microscopes and binoculars, the 12 Junior Rangers explored the Gesäuse National Park for three days. They followed in the footsteps of dragonfly larvae, the Gesäuse woodland leprechauns, chamois and golden eagles and discovered one or two exciting secrets of the three characteristic habitats in the National Park. Pure adventure!
TWO NEW PRIMEVAL FOREST BEETLES!
The exciting find was made in a near-natural high montane spruce-larch forest under the loose bark of a dead spruce. The big one: Peltis grossa and the little one: Ostoma ferruginea (this also has a German name: Rotrandiger Schild-Jagdkäfer). Both are considered relict species of primeval forests! This means that as beetles that live in deadwood, they are dependent on conditions typical of primeval forests (e.g. sufficient deadwood). They have always been lucky to find "primeval forest-like" conditions in sufficient proximity in the Gesäuse. As not all forest corners in the Gesäuse were ever used, they were able to survive and are now protected by the National Park in the long term.
EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE HIGH TAUERN
The situation of cloven-hoofed game and marmots in the Hohe Tauern National Park was the subject of an excursion to Matrei in East Tyrol. Gesäuse and Hohe Tauern are both mountain national parks, but with great differences in terms of wildlife habitat (topography, altitude levels, vegetation). The ownership structure and legal framework situation regarding hunting is also clearly different, as wildlife ecologist Gunther Gressmann and National Park Director Hermann Stotter explained. In any case, the ibexes were impressive for the visitors from the Enns Valley. Only rarely does an ibex stray into the Gesäuse, but around the Großglockner these animals are common and easy to observe.
YOUTH AT THE TOP IN THE GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK
Searching for clues in the realm of chamois and golden eagle
Youth at the summit - a project initiated by ALPARC - took place for the second time this year in the Gesäuse National Park. Together with expert National Park rangers, 15 young people from the region set off for the Haindlkar - the home of chamois and golden eagles. They went up through the stream bed, over boulders and mountain pines, and down again the next day over the steep Gseng and scree fields. In between, the young alpinists were able to observe chamois, climb rocks, solve orientation puzzles, enjoy a spectacular sunset and write elf poems (see pictures). Once back in the valley, they escaped the heat by cooling off in the Johnsbach stream. A humid, happy end to two "horny as a monkey" [Quote from a participant] days.
THE PETERNPFAD IS PASSABLE AGAIN!
The Peternpfad is passable again!
Dot markings lead along the partially newly dug path to the waterhole, after which the route is unchanged. Nevertheless, caution and attention are a survival requirement on every ascent, as rockfall is always an issue in the mountains. (Rockfall in the Dachl North Face on 25 May 2016)
BIG SPECIES SEARCH IN THE GOFE
On Saturday 16 July, the GEO Biodiversity Day took place in the Gesäuse National Park. On this day of action, which incidentally does not only take place in the Gesäuse, the aim is to detect as many species as possible within a defined area of investigation. Researchers, among them numerous motivated young biologists, accepted the invitation of the Gesäuse National Park to investigate the flora and fauna around the Goferhütte. Forests, mountain pine bushes, scree gullies, springs and alpine pastures are among the diverse habitats of the study area. A total of 23 participants searched for species from a wide variety of groups. Despite the wet and cold weather, numerous animals and plants were identified. The results are now being collected and will be presented in a new volume of the Gesäuse National Park series.
HIGH VISIT
Minister Andrä Rupprechter is responsible for Austria's national parks. Recently he honoured our Gesäuse with a visit. He likes to be out in nature himself, although ministerial duties do not allow him too much time for hiking. So the Minister particularly enjoyed the excursion into the wild nature of our "rainforest". The Enns was in flood and the Gesäuse showed its rough side. As consolation for the weather, National Park Director Herbert Wölger presented him with a volume of "Gesäuse - Landschaft im Wandel" as a farewell gift.
FIRST NATURE POETRY SLAM
The stage at the ecological footprint was boiling when pupils from the 6th and 7th classes of the Admont Abbey Grammar School read out their own texts. The Gesäuse National Park organised this kind of language competition for the first time on Wednesday, 29 June, with the expert support of professional slammer Markus Köhle and organised by Prof. Elisabeth Glanzer.
The high quality of what was heard was astonishing. The only downer: the motif of nature was not taken up directly. Apparently, it is other topics that touch the young people emotionally and drive them to perform linguistic acrobatics. But at least the slam was held outdoors, so it was a nature poetry slam and - to be continued.
You can listen to the Nature Poetry Slam on National Park Radio:
https://cba.fro.at/321976
GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Behind this unwieldy title lies an innovative concept. The "Youth Advisory Council" is not intended to assist the National Park with advice, but rather the National Park administration wants to give a group of 5 to 10 young people the opportunity to initiate small projects or to realise them themselves. The nice thing about it: the group gets its own budget, which it can dispose of itself! So, if you are between 15 and 25 years old, interested in nature conservation, want to have your say and get involved yourself, please contact us at office@nationalpark.co.at under the keyword Youth Advisory Council.
Photo. © Stefan Leitner
YOUTH AT THE TOP 2016
Community event "Youth Summit" - Youth at the Top on 19 and 20 July 2016
This is the title of a large-scale joint project for young people taking place simultaneously in seven Alpine countries from 19 to 20 July this year. The aim of this partnership project between ALPARC and the French mountain environmental education network Educ'Alpes is to strengthen children's and young people's mountain culture and their sense of belonging to the region, as well as to strengthen their bond with nature and the protected area.
We will be accommodated and fed in the Haindlkarhütte, and the "old" Haindlkarhütte will also be available as a base for our alpine workshop, as it also holds one or two secrets that need to be unravelled. But most of the time we will be out and about anyway. Children and young people from ÖAV and Friends-of-Nature sections are especially invited.
Particularly impressive are the steeply rising rock faces of the Hochtor group, lined with huge boulders and primeval trees. And at the latest when the sunset bathes the mountains in a glowing red, the Haindlkar is transformed into a magical kingdom of nature.
As participants, you will explore the surroundings of the Haindlkarhütte as naturalists, mountaineers and storytellers, and will have great mountain experiences, climb rocks, get to know nature and have exciting adventures. Because these two days should definitely be recorded: at exactly the same time, hundreds of children and young people all over the Alpine arc take part in the community event "Youth at the Top" and then post their experiences online! You can see what it looked like in 2015 here: www.youth-at-the-top.org/de/
The event is financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, the Gesäuse National Park, the Friends of Nature and the ÖAV sections.
Date: Tuesday 19 - Wednesday 20 July 2016
Location: Haindlkarhütte, Gesäuse National Park
Age group: 8 - 14 years, limited number of participants
No costs, but personal equipment and snack required for 1st day.
More information will follow upon registration
CINEMA UNDER THE CLEAREST STARRY SKY IN EUROPE
How well the stars are visible in the night sky is measured worldwide. Austria performs well on an international scale; little light pollution and clean air ensure this (see link). And nowhere over Central Europe are the stars more clearly visible than in the Gesäuse. Reasons for this can be found in the current "Im Gseis", the magazine of the Gesäuse National Park.
On 7 July, "Kino unter Sternen", the open-air cinema at the Weidendom, starts its season. Every Thursday evening there is a feature film, starting with "Salmon Fishing in Yemen", a film by Lasse Hallström. You can find more details about the programme here. Before the main film, there is a small surreal surprise related to Russia and Admont. Let's go.
Photo: © Andreas Hollinger
WHERE IS GEORGIA?
Georgia is a small country (slightly smaller than Austria) and lies to the east of the Black Sea. Austria and Georgia are especially connected by their mountainous character. In mid-June, a small delegation from the various Georgian ministries and the Georgian Embassy in Vienna visited the Liezen district, including the Gesäuse National Park. Mario Brandmüller (CEO of Regional Management Liezen), Peter Kettner (Chamber of Farmers Liezen) and National Park Director Herbert Wölger spoke about different aspects of "mountain area policy" in the district of Liezen.
And in Georgia? "Georgia has eleven state nature reserves. The largest is the Borjomi-Charagauli National Park in the Lesser Caucasus (76,000 hectares). It was established with the help of Germany and the World Wide Fund for Nature and opened in 2001. The Tusheti National Park covers 83,007 hectares, the Vashlovani National Park 25,112 hectares and the Tusheti Protected Area 27,903 hectares. Georgia's oldest national park is Lagodechi National Park with 17,688 hectares." (Wikipedia)
MASSIVE ROCKFALL FROM THE DACHL NORTH FACE
On Wednesday, 25 May 2016, a massive rockfall occurred on the Dachl North Face in the Gesäuse National Park. Parts of the "Peternpfad" were buried, so that it is not accessible until further notice. An exact description of the event and its impact has been compiled by the court-certified expert for alpinism, Jürgen Reinmüller.
BLOOMING TREASURES IN THE STARTING BLOCKS
Finally, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising! While the spring flowers are already coming to an end, many flowering plants are waiting in the wings. One of them is the ornamental feather carnation (Dianthus plumarius ssp. blandus), which is considered a true speciality of the Gesäuse. The endemic species is not very widespread. The species can only be found in the Ennstal Alps, in the Tote Gebirge and on the Grimming. The 10 to 20 cm tall plant prefers to grow on limestone and dolomite scree, in sparse mountain pine bushes and in red pine forests. The pale pink, fringed flowers have a wonderful honey scent. On hikes through the National Park, for example through the Gseng, you can discover this beautiful treasure along the hiking trail during the main flowering season in June. In the garden of Admont Monastery (entrance area from the car park, flower bed on the right, with information board) you can also discover the ornamental feathered carnation!
IT FLIES, IT FLIES... THE BARK BEETLE
It flies it flies ... the bark beetle
The modelling of bark beetle development with climate data from the Gesäuse National Park is entering its 5th year. When the beetles start to fly, how many generations there are and other data can be retrieved online for various climate stations in the Gesäuse. It is also possible to fall back on data up to 2012. Forest owners and foresters get a good overview and the availability of exact information facilitates decisions.
On our page "Weather Stations" you will find a link to the Phenips page of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences.
ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE TO ADMIRE IN THE GESÄUSE!
The orchids are blooming again in the Gesäuse. To enjoy them, you only need two open eyes, and perhaps a National Park Ranger who can give expert information about the orchids. Like Reinhard Thaller, for example: "The orchid diversity in the Gesäuse is unique. And to keep it that way, all plants in the National Park are strictly protected!
Even outside protected areas, picking, destroying or digging up is prohibited. Besides, there is no point in digging up the plants for the garden at home, as they only find the conditions absolutely necessary for germination and growth at their location in nature. These include, for example, certain types of fungi with which they live in symbiosis and which provide them with "food", so to speak. This is why native orchids cannot be cultivated. In the garden they would wither away in no time! So keep your eyes open and take only beautiful impressions from the Gesäuse with you...".
ON SILENT PAWS - LYNX GROUP FOUNDED
In recent years, evidence of lynx in the area between Eisenerz and Admont has been accumulating, with two different lynx confirmed in the Gesäuse National Park in the last 12 months, one of which was from an Upper Austrian litter in 2014.
On the initiative of the Hunting Protection Association Admont / St. Gallen, the National Park Administration organised a meeting of representatives from agriculture, forestry, hunting and nature conservation on 19 April 2016. The representatives from the different areas decided to continue working together to exchange information and to jointly solve any problems that may arise.
In contrast to wolves and bears, lynx are cultural evaders, which is why conflicts with hunting or livestock farming are very rare. An average lynx territory is 10,000 ha in size. Lynx feed mainly on roe deer in our area and need one piece per week.
What do you do if you find a crack that may have come from a lynx? In any case, leave it untouched. Lynx return and consume all the muscle meat. If disturbed, they leave the crack and start hunting again. The lynx group asks you to report any evidence of lynx (cracks, sightings, photos) to alexander.maringer@nationalpark.co.at, +43 3613 21000 31.
EXTRAORDINARY VISIT
29 April 2016.
A high-ranking delegation of national park rangers and protected area staff from Iran also visited the Gesäuse National Park last week during their educational tour of the Austrian national parks. The guests were very impressed by the impressive landscape, the diverse educational and visitor facilities as well as the partner network and also enjoyed the hospitable welcome in our region. Further cooperation, especially in matters of ranger education and training, is being sought and should lead to a more intensive exchange in the field of protected area management between our two countries!
IN THE GSEIS - NEW ISSUE!
27 April 2016.
The time has come! A new issue of the National Park Magazine "Im Gseis" has been published. Issue 26 goes to press. For all the impatient ones - the online version is already available for download here on our homepage!
You can also subscribe to the magazine free of charge. Please send an email with your name and address to Karin Lattacher - karin.lattacher@nationalpark.co.at or send a fax to +43 3631 21000 18.
CONFIRMED: EAGLES BREED AGAIN
18 April 2016.
The monitoring team again observed two breeding pairs of golden eagles in mid-April.
As every year, national park rangers in cooperation with Slovakian eagle experts determined in mid-April how many eagles breed in the national park region. Of three known pairs of golden eagles, two are currently breeding in the national park. Two more broods are known from the surrounding area.
The National Park is concerned that the strictly protected birds are not disturbed during the rearing of their young. In cooperation with helicopter companies, emergency organisations and private pilots, avoidable flights are therefore not carried out near the eyrie. More information on the eyrie protection zones and flights in the National Park at alexander.maringer@nationalpark.co.at, +43 3613 21000 31.
Image: © Lisbeth Zechner
HAND ON
18 April 2016.
The staff of the National Park Office put down their pencils and picked up "real" tools. During the biannual "action day", desks and computers are left to their own devices for an afternoon and it's time to go out into the field, get hands-on and do some manual hacking. The advantages of such an activity outweigh the disadvantages. Together, things get done and the results can be seen immediately. The disadvantage: lack of availability on the phone (at least the participants didn't really mind).
The group in the picture helped with the winterisation work on the willow dome, there are no proof photos of the other group! In any case, everything is ready for visitors!
EVERYTHING FOR THE FISH? THE CONDITION OF THE FISH FAUNA IN THE ENNS IS ALARMING!
on 12 April 2016.
All for the fish? The state of the fish fauna in the Enns is alarming!
The event "Everything for the fish?" organised by the Gesäuse National Park in cooperation with the Styrian Fisheries Association and Schutzwasserbau Steiermark was a complete success. More than 100 participants followed the interesting presentations by the experts on the topics of fish population development, fish genetics, renaturation and the influence of hydropeaking by power plants and predators (cormorant and otter) on the state of the fish fauna in the Enns.
The sad picture on the Enns: the fish population is lower than ever! The causes are manifold, but begin with the regulation of the Enns in 1860 and continue with the construction of power plants and various consequences, from hydropeaking to flushing. The goal is to restore the Enns to a good ecological status, and many measures still need to be taken to achieve this. It is time for an action plan, followed by rapid implementation for the Enns and its inhabitants.
All presentations and a summary of the results can be found at:
NATIONAL PARK PARTNERS IN FOCUS
National Park Partner in focus!On Thursday, 31 March, the time had come. The National Park partner businesses were presented with their pictures from the year-long photo project "Man & Nature". The aim of the project was to portray the National Park partners authentically and to put them in the right light photographically. The photographer Stefan Leitner was recruited for the implementation of the project and the associated creation of a completely new visual language in the region. An excerpt of the pictures was presented in a slide show, framed with new folk music by the music group "Sound Spiela".
PAVILION SEEKS HOSTESS
National Park Pavilion Gstatterboden seeks landlady
Opportunity for restaurateurs: Steiermärkische Landesforste is looking for a tenant for the National Park Pavilion in Gstatterboden. Modern and light-flooded building, bar, restaurant, guest garden, children's playground, large barbecue station.
All information from Wolfgang Pichler +43 664 53 64 125
FROG AND CO ON MIGRATION...
Frog and co on the move...We are hiking again! - To make this possible without danger, an amphibian fence has been erected again at the Weidendom. This way, grass frogs, common toads and alpine newts can safely reach their spawning grounds, the pond in the Lettmair Au. Twice a day, the buckets are collected and the animals are safely transported across the road. Unfortunately, roads are often deadly traps for amphibians. Even if the animals are not rolled flat by the car tyres, many die due to the negative pressure that is created under the vehicle and causes their lungs to burst. A speed of over 30 km/h is already enough for this! If you want to know more about this topic, or if you want to report traffic victims from the animal world, you can do so at http://roadkill.at/…
107 NEW SPECIES FOR THE NATIONAL PARK...
21 March 2016.
107 new species for the National Park...
...and hopefully a lot of new blood for insect research in Austria! These are the results and goals of the ÖEG Insect Camp held in Johnsbach in the Gesäuse National Park in 2015. A total of 43 participants (mainly biology students and trained specialists as supervisors) examined various sub-areas (37) of the National Park from 12 to 18 July for a wide variety of insect and other animal groups. A total of 1017 species were identified, including 38 species of snails. 107 of these were first-time reports for the National Park! These results have now been published in the ÖEG journal:
http://www.entomologie.org/publikationen.php
(ÖEG = Austrian Entomological Society)
Picture: © Ch. Komposch/Ökoteam (click on image to enlarge)
AWARD FOR VEITLBAUER
At the Styrian State Evaluation of Juice, Must & Edelbrand 2016, it rained gold and silver for the National Park partner "Mostkellerei Veitlbauer".
Gold:
- Apple-Apricot Juice
- Apple Softwood Juice
- Jonagored cider
Silver:
- Apple-carrot juice
- Apple-Holler Juice
- Apple juice
- Apple cider Bean apple
- Apple cider Leather apple
- Apple Cider Dreimädlhaus
We warmly congratulate them on this achievement!
Further information about the farm: http://members.aon.at/veitlbauer/ or
http://www.nationalpark.co.at/de/nationalpark-partner/direktvermarkter/
TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE WANTED!
For the second time, the association Nationalparks Austria announces the Nationalparks Austria Media Scholarships. The twelve scholarships are aimed at young writers, young journalists, future professional photographers and video designers. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding, ambitious and talented young people who would like to take a closer look at Austria's national parks. The National Parks Austria Scholarships 2016 have the motto "of course, extraordinary", because thanks to the National Parks it is a matter of course that I can experience extraordinary things.The two-week stay in one of the six Austrian national parks - Donau-Auen, Gesäuse, Hohe Tauern, Kalkalpen, Neusiedler See - Seewinkel or Thayatal - serves to inspire the scholarship holders to engage as intensively as possible with the nature that surrounds them and to be fascinated by it. Rustic, simple accommodation and meals are provided. Also included is a guided hike with a national park ranger, who introduces the scholarship holders to the secrets and special features of the respective national park.
In the course of their stay, the scholarship holders will create an essay, a photo series or short video contributions. The contributions conclude the scholarship, are published and a selection is presented at the National Parks Austria Annual Conference in October in Hainburg.
Application deadline: 31 March 2016 (date of postmark)!All further information on the National Parks Austria Media Scholarship at www.nationalparksaustria.at/Stipendium
Enquiry notice:
National Parks Austria, Agnes Erler +43 676 324 22 11, agnes.erler@nationalparksaustria.at,
www.nationalparksaustria.at
TEMPORARY STAFF MEMBER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
The Gesäuse National Park is looking for a staff member in the field of nature and environmental education for the project "National Park Partner Schools & Junior Ranger Programmes" as of April 2016.The employment is on a full-time basis with a provisional time limit until the end of July 2018.
Further information in the downloadable pdf.
FOREST RESEARCH IN NATIONAL PARKS
At last the time has come! The 12th volume of the Gesäuse National Park publication series has been published. Entitled "Ur-/ Natur-/ Nutz-Wald-Forschung in Nationalparks", it is all about forests and forestry. Primeval and natural forests have been mystical, legendary retreats and ceaselessly bubbling sources of inspiration since earliest times. Around half of the more than 11,300 hectares of the Gesäuse National Park is covered by forests and characterises the habitats of this imposing Eastern Alps region. In eleven articles of almost 200 pages, 17 renowned experts from biology and forestry report on their experiences, some of which have been gathered over decades, on an extremely topical environmental issue - especially in times of climate change: "Nature Conservation & Forestry".
NATIONAL PARK RANGER WANTED!
Part-time National Park Rangers wanted!
Would you like to take part in the upcoming training (start: spring 2016) to become a National Park Ranger for the Gesäuse and Kalkalpen National Parks? If you identify with the idea of the National Park, enjoy travelling in the mountains of the Styrian and Upper Austrian Limestone Alps and would like to pass on your love of nature to our visitors, please send us a short letter of motivation:
Gesäuse National Park, martin.hartmann@nationalpark.co.at or +43 664 8252 304
WRITING WORKSHOP IN THE NATIONAL PARK
When professional copywriter Werner Schandor (www.textbox.at) and 10 staff members of the National Park Administration let their heads smoke and their fingers fly, then it will be exciting. Namely, it will be exciting to see how such a writing seminar affects the quality of the stories that will leave the Gesäuse National Park in the near future. Positively! At least we hope so.
But don't worry, the National Park team will not change professions, will not "print stories", but will continue to carry out its actual tasks with commitment. The aim of the seminar was to learn how dry information can be packed into interesting stories. So open your eyes!
INTERNSHIP NATURE CONSERVATION 2016
Internship in the field of nature conservation and natural space
The Department of Nature Conservation/Natural Space is looking for an intern for the summer months of 2016. The tasks include the input, maintenance and administration of data, especially in the field of geographical data (ESRI ArcGIS) and literature database (MS Access). Regular field work in the national park area is foreseen.
More details on the call are available for download:
