Not only are Wetlands precious areas of biodiversity, but they also play a vital role in sequestering CO₂. As I explained in my introductory report on Wetlands, these unique ecosystems store large amounts of carbon and thus help to avert climate change and global warming. However, wetlands are being slowly consumed to provide for industry and agriculture.

 

Austria has initiated various campaigns and best-practice projects for conservation of wetlands that include:

• -  Non-intensive agriculture practices in floodplains in favor of threatened bird species
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• -  Habitat restoration and networking measures at small scale for amphibians
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• -     Creation of flood retention areas that provide at the same time flood protection and wet grassland habitats
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• -    Restoration of the typical forest rivers and measures to allow fish to migrate freely again along the river
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• -    Conservation and restoration of man-made ponds that provide habitats for specific amphibians, reptiles and dragonflies
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• -   Transboundary public awareness and education programmes in the Alpine Rhine valley, shared between Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
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• -  Rehabilitation of river floodplains, integrated water management, biodiversity enhancement and increase of public awareness on ecological aspects of local development
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• -  Restoration and creation of stop-over and breeding habitats for migratory birds
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• -       Wise use and conservation of the wetlands
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• -  Inventory of wetlands and freshwater sources providing refuge habitats for specific mosses and fishes

Austria is implementing novel ways to protect her wetlands, some examples of which I have outlined below.

 

Preserving wetlands by providing habitat for indigenous species

Marchegg wetlands in Eastern Austria, were once part of a huge ecosystem stretching along three meandering rivers, the Thaya, the Morava and the Danube, and covering hundreds of square kilometers. Farming and flood mitigation reduced this area to a few thousand hectares, co-owned and preserved by the WWF.

 

The distinctly diverse landscaped including brown fields and meadows contribute to the rich biodiversity of this reserve, providing habitat to species like storks that need swamps and water, in addition to other species such as the Konik horse that need dry meadows in the summer. Wild Konik horses have been imported from Poland and reintroduced to the Marchegg wetlands. Their grazing assists the storks and other birds in their search for insects and field mice.

 

From Mine to Preserved Wetland

Another wetland area north of Austria at Schrems, close to the Czech border, a 300-hectare area of peat-land, moor, and lagoon has been set aside for preservation and for visitors to explore. In the past, the area was heavily mined for peat to fuel the furnaces of the local glass industry, but now tourists come to the visitor centre known as Unterwasserreich, or Underwater Kingdom, to learn about the region's wildlife.

 

Land-use app

Steffen Fritz, a scientist at the International Institute for Applied Sytems Analysis (IIASA), an Austrian-based international organization, which studies global systems, especially climate change, has developed an app for mobile devices called FotoQuest Austria to get the public involved in mapping the country's remaining wetlands. Citizen scientists interested to help gather important land-use and land-cover data can download the app, and can find points which IIASA is exploring, what is the land cover on those points and then contribute very valuable data in terms of land cover and land use. Such involvement of the public will certainly help in conservation efforts.

 

Conclusion

 

Since World War II, Austria had turned 350,000 hectares of river landscape and wetlands over to farmland. However, it is now European and Austrian government policy to preserve wetlands.

The Ramsar convention entered into force in Austria on 16 April 1983. This Convention on Wetlands, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world?s geographic regions, have acceded to become 'Contracting Parties'.

 

Austria currently has 23 natural sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 124,968 hectares. Additionally, there are Human-made wetlands like seasonally flooded agricultural lands, Aquaculture ponds, Canals and drainage channels or ditches, Canals and drainage channels or ditches filter, Water storage areas/Reservoirs. With such efforts and collaboration of authorities, NGOs and the public, I see a marked upward shift in conservation of Wetlands in Austria.

 

 

Sources and References

http://www.dw.com/en/storks-apps-and-wild-horses-protecting-austrias-wetlands/a-18691119

https://www.ramsar.org/wetland/austria

https://www.ramsar.org/news/wasserleben-brochure-highlights-austrias-best-wetland-projects