Est. 2007

Goals & Objectives:
Conservation of the cultural landscape as well as the biodiversity.

Regional & Environmental Challenges: 
Like every region, we face the challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity. The issue of the availability of water in limestone mountains could be an interesting topic one day. Natural hazards such as avalanches and mudslides are a current challenge.

Successes:
In 2023, 1,163 species of insects were documented in the Nature Park on just 12 specific sites. We have managed to preserve habitats for the Parnassius apollo. The Weißbach Nature Park is also one of the last areas in Salzburg where the Iphiclides podalirius can be found. In 2022, 60 species of butterflies could be found in the Weißbach Nature Park (at the moment there are 150 species of butterflies listed for the whole of Salzburg).   

Learn more about Weißbach Nature Park's initiatives and projects on their website.

What challenges do you see for protected areas in the coming years/decades? 
First of all, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Perhaps also the increasing number of visitors, combined with a lack of knowledge about how to behave in nature.

How important do you think protected areas will be in the coming years?
In relation to the last point, they could play an important role as 'stepping stone biotopes' to link species populations and maintain habitats.

Are you optimistic about future generations' relations with the Alpine environment?
Yes, I think we are seeing a growing interest in nature and the mountains among young people. I believe that because young people are witnessing, for example, the shrinking of the glaciers, awareness of the value of the Alpine environment is quite high.