Tyrolean treasures of nature celebrated in Austria
17.11.2014
A broad alliance of twenty conservation organizations and citizens' groups, among which Mountain Wilderness Austria, a member of the Mountain Partnership, met in the centre of Innsbruck, Austria, on 25 October 2014 for a festival on Tyrolean nature. On this occasion, a common declaration was issued.
The Tyrolean natural resources, rushing glacial rivers, imposing peaks, pristine alpine valleys and ancient moors, dominate the landscape. Nevertheless, many of them are threatened by projects involving potentially destructive equipment. The Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act will be amended for the first time in 30 years, causing concern that this could affect natural resources even in protected areas.
The head of WWF Tyrol, Christoph Walder, cited the development of hydropower as an example of the socially and ecologically incompatible use of natural resources. Around 60 projects located in Tyrol are currently pending approval, including Tyrolean Hydropower AG projects. Some of these projects would violate the Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act, said Walder.
Participants at Nature’s Treasures Festival in Innsbruck attended interactive presentations, a climbing wall and a bouncy castle. The musical group Bluatschink preformed a concert for children in the afternoon followed by a performance of the rock group, Zabine. Read more
By Hugues Thibault of Mountain Wilderness
Photo: FAO/Richard Slaby
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