LTER-Austria - Austrian Society for Long-term Ecological Research
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Short Description
The Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park is the first cross-border National Park in Austria and the first Austrian National Park recognised by the IUCN. It covers in total about 90km² on Austrian territory. About 50% of the area (about 4500 ha) is a Nature Reserve Zone, which remains untouched by humans. This zone is dominated by the southernmost Austrian part of the reed belt from Lake Neusiedl. Important habitats like 160 km² of reed belt and around 40 periodically dry saline lakes, as well as sand habitats, dry and wet meadows can be found closely associated with vineyards, cropland, touristic infrastructure and rural settlements.
Contact Person
Harald Grabenhofer
Research Services
Long-term monitoring programs regarding bird populations, fish ecology or the grazing management enable the cross-border National Park Neusiedler See - Seewinkel to provide biological data from flora and fauna. Furthermore, all approx. 40 saline lakes are monitored frequently regarding salinity, oxygen, temperature, color etc. and biological parameters such as species diversity and quantity of macrozoobenthos.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The Conservation Zones are mainly cultural landscapes and require landscape conservation measures and habitat management like pasturing, mowing, cutting reed or water retention. These measures are taken to preserve the cultural landscape and its biodiversity that has developed over centuries.