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A NATURAL

SALZBURG JEWEL

BLOSSOMS!

UNTERSBERG FORELANDLIFE NATURE PROJECT

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Only when we look at nature together, can we preserve this

treasure in the province of Salzburg. Nature conservation is only

successful when working together with citizens and land owners.

The importance of the regionbecomes particularly clear in the“Land of Butterflies” film. We havea natural treasure at our doorstep,which we have to take good careof. This film shows us before oureyes, how diverse our nature canbe. The citizens and farmers havenewly discovered the importanceof the Untersberg Foreland.

I am pleased that the conservationof this valuable landscape issuccessful through the supportof the European Union.

Your Member of the RegionalGovernmentSepp Eisl

This is why this Natura 2000 site,with the new observation tower,the butterfly educational path andthe hay meadow exhibition is soimportant. It offers everyone theopportunity to come in close con-tact with the various animals andplants. At the foot of the Unters-berg mountain, in the Salzburgopen-air museum the visitors canexperience a cultural treasure, aswell as an animal and plant worldof European importance.

PREFACE

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At the foot of the Untersberg mountain, before the gates

of Salzburg lies the Natura 2000 site Untersberg Foreland,

a butterfly paradise, where 70 different butterflies are found,

some of which are very rare Europe-wide

bedding in the stables. Since themeadows are not fertilized and onlymowed once a year in the autumn,they are particularly rich in meadowflowers and insects. Their attractiveflowering plants, many of which arebotanical rarities, are also particu-larly pretty to look at. The Salzburgopen-air museum also lies in themiddle of the Natura 2000 site.

T

THE LAND

OF BUTTERFLIES …

Natura 2000

“Natura 2000” is a Europeannetwork of protected areas.With Natura 2000 all EuropeanUnion member states cooper-ate to secure the unique Euro-pean natural heritage for theupcoming generations.

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he “star” among them is the ScarceFritillary (Euphydryas maturna) 1who has one of its last significanthabitats here in all of CentralEurope! The butterflies are depen-dent on the traditional agriculturalcultivated landscape of the Unters-berg Foreland. Here, there is stillthe typical near-natural mosaic ofonly extensively used habitats,from forests with structural-richforest edges to species-rich haymeadows 2.The grass cuttings ofthese hay meadows are used as

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… WAS IN GREAT

DANGER

What is LIFE?

LIFE is a European Unionsubsidy program to co-financenature conservation projectsin the NATURA 2000 sites.

less and less suitable ash-rich forestedges and clearings needed for livingspace and walking passages. Hightime to do something!

Therefore in 2006, a EuropeanUnion co-sponsored LIFE Natureproject was started with the goalof preserving the various speciesand habitats of the UntersbergForeland. The local farmers and thecitizens should also be made moreaware of the value and the worthi-ness of the Nature 2000 site

Woods began to overgrow the mead-ows 3 and threatened the butter-fly’s habitat. In addition, the stillexisting meadows and forest bio-topes were often separated fromeach other by spruce forests 4 andmonotone intensely used grassland5, so that butterflies from differentparts of the area found it ever moredifficult to find common ground.The genetic exchange and thereforethe long-term survival of the specieswere in danger. The Scarce Fritillarywas particularly affected which found

But there were problems in the Land of Butterflies: Some hay

meadows were abandoned years ago because the laborious

scythe mowing was not productive for the farmers anymore. The

tractors could not be used on the wet meadows which could not

bear the load.

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� Two hectares of grassland werepurchased and regeneration into aspecies-rich wet meadow wasinitiated.� The maintenance of 20 hectaresof hay meadows was optimizedtogether with the farmers for thebutterflies and plants present there.� A “butterfly path”, an “obser-vation tower” and a “hay meadowexhibition” were established forthe visitors of the Salzburg open-airmuseum.

� Numerous small ponds to beused as spawning pools were laidout for the Yellow-bellied toad.� There are new guided tour offersfor school classes about “Butterfliesand Hay Meadows” at the open-airmuseum.� The film “Land of Butterflies”was produced in professionalquality and is continually shownin the open-air museum.� Various public relations andconscious-shaping information

� Three and a half kilometers offorest edges were reshaped in sucha way that they could be used ashabitat for the Scarce Fritillary.� Six hectares of hay meadows andfens were restored and saved frombeing overgrown.� A special “mowing-mobile” forthe maintenance of particularly wethay meadows was acquired.� Typical hay meadow plants werebred and then planted in the area.

THE LIFE

MEASURES

IN OVERVIEW

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were provided (flyers, brochures,posters) and numerous excursionsand informational meetings wereheld for farmers, other interestedpeople and students.� The project websitewww.untersberg-vorland.atsupplies background knowledgeabout the Natura 2000 site andcurrent information about theLIFE project.

www.untersberg-vorland.at

NEW FOREST EDGES

FOR THE SCARCE

FRITILLARY

For this purpose spruce groups wereremoved and young ashes werenewly planted in suitable locations(southeast facing, damp grounds).By doing so innumerable forest edgebays 1 were developed thus creatinghumid microclimates important forthe Scarce Fritillary caterpillar 2.

3.5 km of monotone forest edges were reshaped into new habitats

for the Scarce Fritillary.

Groves

Young ashes

Forest edge

Sketch of an idealScarce Fritillary Habitat ©

Land

scha

ft+

Plan

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the meadows were cleared witha € 300,000 mowing-crawler 1.The extremely robust mowingattachment had its European pre-miere in the Untersberg Foreland!Step by step real hay meadowsdeveloped again. Now they can bemowed by farmers again, who inreturn are offered special subsidies.

A further desired effect of themaintaining strategies was that

light-needy plants, such as theinsect-eating sundew spread onceagain. In this way over six hectaresof hay meadows were restored andthus secured the butterfly’s habitatfor the future!

INSTEAD OF SHRUBS

MULTICOLORED

HAY MEADOWS AGAIN

At the beginning of the LIFE project many former hay meadows

had already nearly disappeared. After many years the abandoned

land was heavily overgrown with bushes and trees and the tufts

of the hay meadow grasses formed half meter high mounds and

the so-called “Bulte” developed.

Mowing the meadows with normalequipment, at the time was notpossible. One could hardly crossthese areas by foot. In order toachieve hay meadows that couldbe mowed, a lot of effort had tobe put into “initial care”.

First the trees and shrubs were re-moved - partly by hand, partly withthe help of a power saw and partlywith special machines. Afterwards,

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A MOWING MOBILE

FOR “DIFFICULT MEADOWS”

the soil pressure is comparativelylow.

Purchasing the mowing mobile wit-hin the LIFE project insures that af-ter the conclusion of the LIFE pro-ject further maintenance of the“difficult hay meadows” will becontinued. The farmers can rent themowing mobile for a reasonableprice. Meanwhile, the mowing mo-bile is also used in other protected

areas in Salzburg for example inthe Natura 2000 site Weidmoos.Within the framework of a schoolproject Großgmain students createda colorful-bright design for themowing mobile.

Thus an alternative had to be found.After a long search and critical ex-pertise by experts and field workersone finally found the ideal equip-ment:

The mowing mobile 2, developedby the inventor Peter Estner fromGroßgmain, can complete mowingand loading in one operational step.The delicate meadows must bedriven on much less. Furthermore,

Some particularly wet hay meadows could not be cultivated with

normal agricultural equipment even after the LIFE “initial care”.

Tractors and self-loading bale trailers would have sunk into the

soft ground. Also the previous scythes mowing technique cannot

be expected to be done today by anyone.

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exhibition in the Salzburg open-airmuseum, in order to be able to pre-sent the typical hay meadow plantsthere.

NEW FLOWERS

FOR THE

UNTERSBERG FORELAND

Under the leadership of the Univer-sity of Salzburg Botanical Gardensseeds from typical hay meadowplants in the Natura 2000 site werecollected and 1,500 pot plants werecultivated 1. The reproduction pro-ject took place in cooperation withthe HALM Biotope Nature Conser-vation Group. Some of the plantswere planted on the purchased twohectares grassland 2 – as a “star-ting-help” for regeneration into aspecies-rich damp meadow. Anotherpart was used in the hay meadow

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NATURE EXPERIENCE

IN THE SALZBURG

OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

vated landscape of the open-airmuseum and at the same time alook into the Scarce Fritillary’s habi-tat. Climate measuring instrumentsillustrate the special warm-humidmicroclimate in this habitat. Thethird element is the innovative haymeadow exhibition. Here the visitorimmerses into a light and rainpermeable metal platform and intoa typical hay meadow, which was“enriched” with numerous bredhay meadow plants. The visitorcan experience all of the typical

meadow flowers during thechanges of the seasons. Thesethree attractions are complementedby the new guided tours for schoolgroups about “Butterflies and HayMeadows”. This offer is roundedoff by the film “Land of Butterflies”which is presented in the museum.The film shows the unique picturesof the diversity and beauty of thebutterflies and hay meadows inthe Natura 2000 site and presentsthe LIFE project.

In close cooperation with the mu-seum management the new natureexperience facilities were establishedaround the so-called “Sillweiher”(pond). They consist of three ele-ments: “butterfly path” 3, “obser-vation tower” 4 and “hay meadowexhibition” 5. On the butterfly pathone becomes acquainted with themiraculous world of butterflies at nu-merous partially interactive stations.

From the observation tower one hasan overview of the traditional culti-

The Salzburg open-air museum with its excellent infrastructure

offers the ideal conditions for many people to come in closer

contact to the Natura 2000 site without harming nature.

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found for the caterpillars of theMarsh Fritillary 2 as well as manyother insect species. Also lateblooming and fruit-bearing haymeadow plants such as the MarshGentian can mature their seeds inpeace here. However, it is importantthat the piece of fallow land ismoved every year, so that it willnot become overgrown with woody

plants again. In order that thismaintenance can be continuedafter “LIFE”, special subsidies willbe offered.

HAY MEADOWS –

OPTIMAL

MANAGEMENT

The LIFE project also served to find out, which maintenance for which hay meadows is best. Together

with the farmers five different types of care were developed. Depending upon plant population and

present butterflies every hay meadow was assigned a certain type of care.

Along with the nature conservationrequirements a practice-orientedcultivation was naturally also takenin consideration. A characteristic ofmost management types is theso-called “migrating piece of fallowland” 1. Thereby, five to ten percent of a meadow are left to standand not mowed. Here, an importantretreat and hibernation area can be

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HOW HAS THIS

ALL HELPED?

� Consciousness for the unique-ness and worthiness of protectionof the Natura 2000 site clearly rosefrom the property owners and thecitizens. Many farmers actively takepart in the nature conservationmeasures and identify themselveswith THEIR hay meadows andbutterflies.

� Through the initial care measure-ments and the guaranteed sub-sequent care of the hay meadowsa unique cultivated landscape wasprotected from disappearance.

� The population of the FenOrchid 3, one of the rarest orchidsin Europe, has multiplied thanksto the optimized hay meadowmaintenance 4.

� Scarce Fritillary: Newly createdhabitats were already populated bythe butterflies’ caterpillars. Thus theproject made an important contri-bution to conserve the ScarceFritillary before becoming extinct.

2000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Start of theLIFE tendingmeasures

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©S.

Gew

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(mod

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Individual numberwith blossoms

Individual numberwithout blossoms

Development of the Fen Orchidpopulation in the Natura 2000 site

FURTHER INFORMATION

ABOUT

THE PROJECT

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LIFE PROJECT

DATA AND FACTS

Duration: October 2006 – October 2010

Size of the area: 190 hectares

Responsible Land Salzburg –for the Project: Nature Conservation Department

Project Partner: Großgmain Municipality

Budget: € 819.500

Financing: 50% EU-LIFE46% Land Salzburg3% Federal Ministry of Agricul-

ture, Forestry, Environmentand Water Management

1% Großgmain Municipality

phone under: +43 662 8042 5532.Information on guided schoolgroups about “Butterflies andHay Meadows” in the Salzburgopen-air Museum is under:www.freilichtmuseum.comand/or by telephone under:+43 662 85 00 11

Background information about theproject and brochures to downloadare on the project websitewww.untersberg-vorland.at

The official final project report isavailable starting at the beginningof 2011 which is also possible todownload.

The 17 minute film “Land ofButterflies” can be ordered at thewebshop “LandVersand” atwww.salzburg.gv.at or by tele-

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Page 1: View in the project area, haymeadow in foreground, Untersbergmountain in the background

Page 4: Scarce Fritillary on a dogwoodblossom; hay meadows with orchids(Green-winged Orchid)

Page 5: Species-poor spruce forestwithout forest edge; abandoned haymeadow with wide-spread trees andshrubs; species-poor grassland.

Page 6: The project area in the summerfrom a birds perspective

Page 7: Scarce Fritillary butterfly eggs onash leaf; newly established forest edgebay with ash saplings; Scarce Fritillarycaterpillar on ash leaf

Page 8: Hay meadow with Hochstaufenmountain in the background; the mowingcaterpillar, a converted snowcat, withinitial care of a hay meadow which wasuncultivated many years

Page 9: The Stemless Gentian benefitsfrom the tending strategies during careoperations; the purchased LIFE “mowingmobile”; the Peacock butterfly also lovesthe flowery hay meadows

Page 10: Offspring of the hay meadowplants in the University of SalzburgBotanical Gardens; the attractive

Small Scabious also multiplied from thewild seeds; members of HALM biotopeprotection group while planting the bredhay meadow plants

Page 11: The hay meadow exhibition,with the light and rain permeable visitorplatform; one of the interactive stationson the butterfly path; the observationtower; Member of the Regional Govern-ment, Sepp Eisl (right in picture) andLIFE project manager, Bernhard Riehlat the presentation of the film“Landof Butterflies”

Page 12: In the annual migration ofthe fallow land on the hay meadows theseeds of late flowering species can alsomature; the European-wide protectedMarsh Fritillary also profits from thefallow land

Page 13: Fen Orchid

Page 14/15: The Natura 2000 siteUntersberg Foreland in the overview

Page 16: Hay meadow with the Hoch-staufen mountain in the background;students on a LIFE excursion; beetle ona Laserpitium prutenicum.

PHOTO

REFERENCES

Linz/Wien

UNTERS

BERG

Freilassing

Bad Reichenhall

Bayer. GmainGroßgmain

Hallein

Berchtesgaden Villach

Sbg.WestExit 297

(

SALZBURGMünchen

A8

A10

A1

Natura 2000 is aEuropean network ofprotected areas to secureEurope’s rich and diversenatural heritage.

LIFE is a EUsubsidy programto co-finance natureconservation projectsin Natura 2000 sites.

SALZBURGERFREILICHTMUSEUMSalzburgs größtes MuseumGemeinde Großgmain

Imprint:Publisher: Großgmain MunicipalityConception and Text: Bernhard Riehl, Nature Conservation DepartmentEnglish translation: Andrea Sando-SeitlingerPhotographs: Christian Eichberger (p. 10), Johannes Gillmann (p. 12),Paul Heiselmayer (p. 10), Thomas Herrmann (p. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16),Klaus Leidorf (p. 6/7, 14/15), Bernhard Riehl (p. 5, 11), Science Vision (p. 5),Oliver Stöhr (p. 10, 13), Franz Wieser (p. 11)Graphics: graficde’sign pürstinger, SalzburgPrinter: Druckerei Land SalzburgDate: October 2010

A hearty thank you to everyone who contributed

to the successful implementation of the LIFE project!

Bernhard Riehl, Project Manager