Blockheide pond, © POV

Our Nature Parks in Lower Austria

20 of the 46 Austrian Nature Parks are located in Lower Austria. With a total area of about 55,000 hectares, they are located across 50 municipalities and are home to around 204,000 people.

The aim of the protected areas is to preserve these intact natural spaces in their original diversity and together with all their beautiful and unique features through sustainable use – as well as to preserve them for future generations. The impact of climate change, which is felt not only globally, but also here in Lower Austria, highlights the importance of these efforts. Biodiversity is declining and soil loss is increasing. Therefore, pioneering protection, a commitment to conservation and cooperative and respectful stewardship of natural resources are more important than ever.

Naturschutz-Charta NÖ & Natura 2000 (Lower Austrian Nature Conservation Charter & Natura 2000)

Our nature parks maintain and improve biodiversity as well as species diversity and are committed to upholding the Lower Austrian Nature Conservation Charter. Likewise, nature parks play a significant role in implementing the objectives of Natura 2000 protected areas, as 70% of nature park areas are located in European nature reserves.

The Pillars of Nature Parks

The Lower Austrian Nature Parks are based on four pillars, which are outlined in our Mission Statement:

Protection

Preserve the natural area in its unique diversity and remarkable beauty and maintain the landscape in harmony with nature through sustainable use:

Environmental information, soft mobility, protected area management, research projects, contractual nature conservation, awareness raising.

Recreation

Attractive facilities to recharge the body and soul using all your senses and a wide range of family-friendly offers – always in harmony with nature in the respective protected area and its characteristic landscape:

Hiking, cycling and bridle paths, rest and relaxation areas, family-friendly, near-natural and wheelchair-friendly adventure playgrounds, nature park festivals and events

Education

Experience the exciting interplay of nature and culture as a community. Interactive approaches to understanding nature provide exciting aha-experiences and make learning come to life: Themed trails, information centres, nature park schools, adventure tours, seminars, courses, exhibitions suitable for target groups, preservation of customs and traditions.

Regional development

Create incentives to increase regional added value and ensure quality of life: Close collaboration on equal footing between nature park, agriculture, tourism, trade and culture; create jobs, socially and environmentally compatible tourism e.g. in nature park restaurants, trading with nature park products according to defined criteria.

The implementation of the Mission Statement is elaborated in the Lower Austrian Nature Parks Strategy 2025. This serves as a motivating and unifying guide and commitment for us to successfully lead the nature parks of

Lower Austria into the next decade. In this way, the Lower Austrian nature parks can continue to grow gradually in the future and act confidently and in partnership in order to foster the development of rural areas.

The 20 nature parks of Lower Austria:

  1. Ybbstal
  2. NÖ Eisenwurzen
  3. Ötscher-Tormäuer
  4. Jauerling-Wachau
  5. Mannersdorf
  6. Blockheide
  7. Dobersberg
  8. Geras
  9. Heideneichsteiner Moor
  10. Hochmoor Schrems / UnterWasserReich
  11. Kamptal
  12. Nordwald
  13. Leiser Berge
  14. Eichenhain
  15. Föhrenberge
  16. Purkersdorf
  17. Sparbach
  18. Falkenstein-Schwarzau im Gebirge
  19. Hohe Wand
  20. Sierningtal Flatzer Wand

Mission Statement for the nature parks in Lower Austria Lower Austrian Nature Parks Strategy 2025