We take care of our meadows and alpine pastures!

For more than a decade, hundreds of farmers have been saying "We look at our meadows and alpine pastures!".

The regular observations of the more than 700 participants impressively show that on more than 80 % of the monitoring plots in extensive grassland the number of individuals of the species observed has remained the same or even increased.

By observing the animals and plants every year, the perspective with which the farmers perceive their meadow changes and a process of more conscious action is set in motion.

Background

In monitoring extensive grassland, participants look at which management practices promote or inhibit the occurrence of individual plant and animal species.

The Austria-wide observations of plant and animal diversity provide new insights into the benefits of management in extensive grassland. (By extensive grassland we mean species-rich meadows that are mowed a maximum of two to three times a year or not at all or only slightly fertilized and gentle grazing.)

The species-rich grassland has been displaced by a frightening 90% since the 1960s due to structural changes in agriculture and land use change! The last occurrences of colorful flower meadows are therefore landscapes with a high number of species and important retreat areas for plant and animal diversity in Austria!

By regularly observing the development of indicator species, the meaning of different agri-environmental measures (ÖPUL) such as contractual nature conservation, organic farming (BIO) and environmentally friendly and biodiversity-promoting management (UBB) is made understandable and it is observed at farm level whether agricultural subsidies also have an effect on the area.

The nature conservation monitoring will show which type of management is well suited for the type of meadow under consideration and therefore leads to safe stocks of the observed indicator species. As a result, management requirements can be better evaluated on the basis of feedback from farmers and funding can be awarded in a targeted manner.

Participate

All farmers with (potentially) extensive meadows and pastures who take part in the agri-environmental measure ÖPUL “Organic farming (BIO)” or “Environmentally friendly and biodiversity-promoting management (UBB)” can take part. At the beginning there is an enrollment by an ecologist. It is agreed which indicator species are to be observed and counted annually. The participants then document the indicator species and the management of the meadow every year and enter the data on the online platform www.naturschutzmonitoring.at.

Project duration: until 2029

Information on participation:

• Hotline: +43 677 643 130 71
• Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Quotations of participants

„This year I deliberately left a patch of rambling bellflowers so that they could sow seeds. Now I am already curious whether they will be more next year!“

„This project is going places. My son wanted to reforest our rough pasture some time ago, because the fodder is worth nothing and mowing takes a lot of time. Since your expert showed him that there are a lot of rare animals and plants living in it, he hasn't said anything about it. He even helps me counting now.“

„What makes me particularly happy is that for once it is not about control or money, but about seeing and appreciating the beautiful aspects of our work.“

You can also follow the ÖKL on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for further information.

Project management

Barbara Steurer
Österreichisches Kuratorium für Landtechnik und Landentwicklung (ÖKL)
Gußhausstraße 6
1040 Wien, Austria
www.oekl.at

This project fulfils version 1.1 of the quality criteria for citizen science projects on Österreich forscht.

Since 2008, the Institute of Silviculture at BOKU University, Vienna, has been analyzing the occurrence, distribution, causes and characteristics of forest fires in Austria as part of various research projects. The data series spans several decades and includes around 8000 fires, of which around 7000 are forest fires. The last 20 years are the best documented. The Institute of Silviculture has created the web GIS platform “Fire Database”, which is freely accessible and allows interested parties to query forest fire events and generate statistics or graphics.

Most forest fires are recorded in spring and summer. Parts of Carinthia, Tyrol, Styria and southern Lower Austria are particularly frequently affected by forest fires. In most cases, the cause of the fire is human behavior, such as an out-of-control fire, a carelessly discarded cigarette or hot ash. In the summer months, lightning induced fires also play a significant role. Several forest fires have been investigated as case studies to analyze the fire behavior, the mortality of the affected trees and the regeneration of forest stands.

Anyone who would like to actively participate as a citizen scientist in forest fire research can do so via the mobile app spotFIRE, which was launched in 2024. spotFIRE is available for Android, iOS and as a web version and enables the on-site documentation of wildfires. In addition, spotFIRE can be used to record the forest structure and fuel quantities. With their participation, citizen scientists support the continuation of the forest fire database and enable scientists to make better estimates of forest fire behavior in Austria.

Podcast episode

In June 2023, project coordinator Mortimer Müller was guest on the Österreich forscht podcast Wissen macht Leute - you can listen to the episode here (in German). 

Citizen Science Seminar

In 2021, poject coordinator Harald Vacik held a lecture about "Fire Database" as part of the lecture series "Citizen Science Seminar" at BOKU University: "Challenges of forest fire research in the alpine region" (in German). 

Links

• spotFIRE App
• Forest Fire Database Austria
• Forest Fire blog Austria
• Forest fire research at BOKU
• European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)

• Cloud of smoke from the forest fire near Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, on 1st August 2013 Cloud of smoke from the forest fire near Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, on 1st August 2013
• Forest fire near Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, on 1st August 2013 Forest fire near Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, on 1st August 2013
• Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (1) Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (1)
• Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (2) Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (2)
• Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (3) Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (3)
• Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (4) Damage caused by the forest fire near Neunkirchen (4)
• Number of forest fires 1994-2014 (reported via Fire-Database) Number of forest fires 1994-2014 (reported via Fire-Database)
• Distribution of forest fires over the year (totals from the years 1994-2014; reported via Fire-Database) Distribution of forest fires over the year (totals from the years 1994-2014; reported via Fire-Database)
•  

This project fulfils version 1.1 of the quality criteria for citizen science projects on Österreich forscht.

Have you ever seen a sparrow hawk in Vienna? Did a badger cross your path on your way home at night? Or do you have swallow nests at your housing complex? We are interested in your observations in Austrian cities!

The project works specifically in urban areas. With the help of Austrian city dwellers we want to get an overview of the distribution and way of life of mammals and birds in urban areas. We hope to obtain a broad data base based on sighting reports in order to better assess the distribution of diverse birds and other wildlife in Austria's cities.

Research platform

On the internet platform "www.stadtwildtiere.at" you can report your observations and view other observations. Find out about current sightings in your area and obtain further information on the biology of wild animals and their distribution in the city. You can also call up assistance in cases of conflict and for finding helpless or injured wild animals. We will also be happy to assist you with questions regarding your observation. The platform is so far unique in Austria: specialised in the occurrence of birds and wildlife in urban habitats and linked to scientific research.

Where pathways cross …

Understanding the city as an important habitat for humans and animals and creating a good coexistence - this is what we want to make possible with the establishment of the project "StadtWildTiere " and our research platform. Our goal is also to be able to provide adequate management proposals in the event of conflict or damage.

Become part of our research project!

In the Science Interview with Eva with Richard Zink and Theresa Walter, you can get a look behind the scenes of the project. (in German)

You can also find StadtWildTiere on Facebook.

Podcast episode

For the Österreich forscht podcast's first birthday, Peter Kovar, a dedicated Citizen Scientist in the project, gave interesting insights into the project in March 2023 - tune in! (in German)

Citizen Science Seminar

In 2022, poject coordinator Richard Zink held a lecture about StadtWildTiere and Wilde Nachbarn (in German) as part of the lecture series "Citizen Science Seminar" at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU). 

This project fulfils version 1.1 of the quality criteria for citizen science projects on Österreich forscht.

In this citizen science project of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, we would like to create an overview of where animals are roadkilled and what reasons there might be for this.

In the Roadkill project, we would like to cooperate with you in many ways, because citizen science means for us an active cooperation between research and society, in which everyone can contribute expertise and is highly valued. The collaboration is on a voluntary basis and can therefore be freely designed.

You can find out in which ways you can participate in the Roadkill project in the section "Participate in research".