Our story
With a population of 6100 and an area of 586 km², the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature & Geopark was founded by 7 Styrian municipalities in 1996. The Eisenwurzen Nature Park is shaped by a diverse natural and cultural landscape. Beautiful forests, wide meadow orchards, romantic alpine pastures and breath-taking river valleys are surrounded by the mountain peaks of the Gesäuse and Hochschwab mountains. In the 15th and 16th century, when Eisenwurzen was in its prime, hammer mill owners, charcoal burners and raftsmen shaped the region with ore being extracted from the Styrian Erzberg mine and then manufactured into high-quality products in the Eisenwurzen (“iron roots”).
Our tasks and goals
A Nature Park is a protected landscape that owes its existence to the interaction of man and nature. Our objectives enshrined in the Nature Park regulations are as follows: preservation, education, recreation and regional development. A benefit for the landscape, nature and regional population can only be achieved if we focus on all four features. A well-coordinated Nature Park team has dedicated itself to the cause of making the Nature Park accessible to the public in all its diversity and disparity.
Our team
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Oliver Gulas-Wöhri MSc CEO and Geoparkmanagement“Our region is full of hidden natural and cultural gems. I would like to make my own contribution to preserving them for the future.”
Oliver has been our project manager since 2015 and our CEO since 2020. He studied mountain and climate geography at Karl-Franzens-University Graz. Among other things, he is responsible for Geopark matters. -
Martin Gebeshuber, MA KLAR! MODELLREGIONSMANAGER
“Climate change affects all sections of the population, the good thing is that in Austria we have the means to adapt to the negative effects, reduce risks and take advantage of opportunities.”
Martin studied European energy economics at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences and environmental and sustainability management at the IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences. Since March 2022 he has complemented the nature park team as KLAR! Model Region Manager. -
Elisabeth Riegelthaler Accounting
“Making the Nature Park and the value of unspoilt nature visible and tangible is a matter of great importance to me.”
Elisabeth has been responsible for accounting since 2014. -
DI Eva Maria Vorwagner Project management, forestry, biodiversity expert
“The existence of Nature Parks ensures healthy livelihoods for plants, animals and humans through sustainable forms of protection, maintenance and use; it is nice to be a part of the process.”
Eva Maria studied forestry at BOKU Vienna and is in charge of various projects relating to sustainable forest development in the region. She is also our biodiversity expert. em.vorwagner@eisenwurzen.com -
Andrea Matousch Nature Park Travel Agency
“Those who find their way to nature also find their way to themselves.”
Andrea has been working in the Nature Park office since 2016. She is responsible for coordinating school trips and the eventmanagement. -
Gabriel Kirchmair, MSc Naturpark- & Projektmanagement
“Only those who go out and experience the biological diversity that surrounds us for themselves will be willing to preserve this diversity. The principle of protect and benefit applies here in the nature park.”
Gabriel studied biology with a focus on ecology in Graz and has been our biodiversity expert since February 2022. -
Barbara Nachbagauer TOURISM OFFICE SALZATAL
“In the silence of nature, the soul comes to life, diversity flourishes in the nature reserve, and in the gentle rhythm of tourism we find harmony between people and the environment.”
Barbara has been working in sustainable tourism since 2022 (in cooperation with the Gesäuse Tourist Association) and oversees our information office in the Wildalpen Nature and Geopark community. b.nachbagauer@eisenwurzen.com -
Julia Kaufmann PROJECTMANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
“In the nature park, I appreciate the diversity in all its facets. The opportunity to promote sustainable tourism and innovative projects here through local and international cooperation excites me.”
Julia studied Social Economics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. She has been working in the Nature Park team in the areas of sustainable tourism and project management since 2024. j.kaufmann@eisenwurzen.com
