Landscape Conservation Fund
The largest nature park in Styria (58,600 m²) – distinguished as a European Geopark and member of the Global Geoparks Network under the auspices of UNESCO – is characterized by a diverse natural and cultural landscape. Magnificent forests, wide meadow orchards, romantic alpine pastures and impressive river valleys are surrounded by the mountain peaks of the Gesäuseberge and the Hochschwab.
In order to preserve this unique cultural and natural landscape, however, a certain amount of maintenance is necessary. Managed and semi-natural forests are the number one cultural landscape in the region and because of their functional, protective, recreational and welfare functions crucial economic factor. On the other hand there are the river valleys of Enns and Salza and open landscape elements. These include hay meadows and pastures, but also orchards, alpine pastures and particularly valuable, naturally open habitats such as raised bogs and areas above the tree line. The open, traditionally managed cultural landscape is of particular importance for biodiversity. However, it is precisely these areas that are becoming less and less. Management is no longer profitable for many owners and tenants, or they simply can no longer manage the maintenance effort themselves. The areas waste until the forest literally grows in through the window or they are converted into another form of use and valuable areas for agriculture and biodiversity may be lost permanently.
As a nature park, we want to counter this problem with corporate volunteering, among other things, and offer companies and their employees an unforgettable experience in nature and the opportunity to make an active contribution!
Would you like to use our corporate volunteering offer to have your cultural or natural landscape maintained?
We can organize the following services for you:
(click for more information)
Orchards are valuable habitats for many animals, plants and fungi, provide us with healthy fruit and are also a real eye-catcher in the otherwise often cleared-out landscape. In order to retain these properties in the future, however, they must be maintained regularly. Care measures relate to mowing (e.g. traditionally with the scythe), hay production, fruit tree pruning and care and whatever else arises.
- Equipment: non-slip shoes, rainwear, drink
- Duration: half or full day
- Price:
40 € per person half day
60 € per person all day
provided for a long time Meadow orchards provide people in the region with fresh fruit, which is why there are also unique regional fruit varieties. In many places, however, people no longer bother to use fallen fruit from these trees. Help with the harvest in an orchard, get to know harvesting methods (e.g. fruit stalks) and make a contribution with your company against food waste and for the preservation of our cultural landscape.
- Equipment: non-slip shoes, rainwear, drink
- Duration: half or full day
- Price:
40 € per person half day
60 € per person all day
Ours Alpine pastures are not only resorts, but important cultural landscapes that are often preserved with a lot of idealism. When it comes to maintenance, however, managers often reach the limits of their capacities and support is gratefully accepted. Typical maintenance measures are for example shaving, scythe mowing, removal of pasture weeds, stones, (re)establishment of pasture areas, etc.
- Equipment: non-slip shoes, rainwear, drink
- Duration: half or full day
- Price:
40 € per person half day
60 € per person all day
Are you interested?
Then feel free to contact our employee Lisa Kniewasser
l.kniewasser@eisenwurzen.com
T: +43664/5264688
The team at the Steirische Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark will be happy to advise you on your selection and, if you wish, will take over the overall organization of your corporate volunteering project.
Be a sponsor
for alpine pastures and meadow orchards in the nature conservation jewel of the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark.
for alpine pastures and meadow orchards in the nature conservation jewel of the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark.
With your financial donations, the preservation of the cultural and natural landscape can be secured for generations.
Meadow orchards have multiple uses, they provide fruit and the undergrowth is ideal for extensive grazing by domestic animals. A high level of biodiversity (diversity of species) can develop as a result of gentle care. Diverse herbaceous plants, insects, mammals and bird species find a home in hollow trees or adjacent piles of dead wood, dry stone walls or hedges.
Alpine pastures as an open, traditionally managed cultural landscape are of particular importance for biodiversity. Alpine herbs not only serve as tasty fodder for grazing cattle and game, but also provide a livelihood for numerous butterflies, wild bees, beetles and other insects.
However, the existence of meadow orchards is threatened in the Steirische Eisenwurzen, since management by today’s standards is too complex and the rural area is experiencing a decline in population, which can ultimately lead to the decline of the meadow orchards. For the same reasons, alpine farming is also declining and leads to bush encroachment or forest cover on alpine pastures, which can only be restored with large investments.
In the Styrian Eisenwurzen there have been efforts for years to preserve alpine pastures and meadow orchards and to implement sustainable care. A driver here is certainly the Steirische Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark, which works together with farmers to preserve it. Various projects have been used in recent years to raise awareness, try out new uses and promote the maintenance and creation of meadow orchards. The financing of the projects was covered by national funding programs. But this fundraising has its limitations. For this reason, a landscape conservation fund was set up to protect the meadow orchards and selected alpine pastures from the threat of bush encroachment.
That’s why you are in demand – with your sponsorship you help us to preserve the cultural and natural landscape of the Styrian Eisenwurzen for future generations.
Become a sponsor or sponsor!
Sponsorships for private individuals:
With this sponsorship for private individuals you support 150 €
- planting a fruit tree
For your support you will receive
- a certificate
- the attribution of a tree
- a website appearance with a mention by name
With this sponsorship for private individuals you support with 350 €
- planting a fruit tree
- and pruning 2 fruit trees
For your support you will receive
- a certificate
- the attribution of a tree
- a website appearance with a mention by name
- an orchard gift basket
Sponsorships for companies:
With this sponsorship for companies you support 1500 € per year
- the planting of 2 fruit trees
- the pruning of 5 old trees
- a half-day care assignment on an alpine pasture
For your support you will receive
- a certificate
- a website appearance by name
- a media appearance in the form of a social media post about the award ceremony
- a training course for 10 participants on the topic of alpine farming or fruit tree pruning
With this sponsorship for companies you support with 2800 € per year
- the planting of 4 fruit trees
- the pruning of 8 old trees
- a full-day care assignment on an alpine pasture
For your support you will receive
- a sign with your company’s logo placed on an orchard
- a company presence on our website as a main supporter
- a media appearance in the form of a press release and a social media post about the award of the certificate
- Team building excursion with a focus on orchards with nature guide tour for 20 people
Are you interested?
Then feel free to contact our employee Lisa Kniewasser
l.kniewasser@eisenwurzen.com
T: +43664/5264688
We would be delighted to have you as a sponsor for our beautiful landscape!
