The high number of visitors, especially ski tourers, presents us with new challenges and highlights the need for demand-orientated visitor management. In co-operation with landowners, municipalities, tourism managers, alpine clubs, the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve management and authorities, a visitor guidance concept has been developed, which is now to be implemented throughout the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve.

The aim of visitor management is to designate routes to guide visitors in terms of space and time and to avoid sensitive areas. In addition to the special habitats and the animals living in them, this also benefits all other habitat partners, from landowners and hunters to recreational users. Each of these groups has individual demands on the habitat, and only when you are aware of this, nothing can stand in the way of peaceful coexistence.

A video clip and our booklet entitled “Coexistence in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve” were created as part of the visitor guidance project. The main focus was on school classes, families and guests. The aim is to show in a simple way how to behave considerately in nature in order to minimise disturbance to wild animals and to preserve their sensitive habitats.

True to Laozi’s quote “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step”, we have now taken the first step towards good coexistence between humans and nature. Now it’s time to implement the other measures, in which the co-operation and help of each individual is important.

Winter tours in St. Oswald

After almost 2 years of constructive co-operation with the municipality of Bad Kleinkirchheim, the landowners, the Carinthian Hunters’ Association, the Radenthein section of the Alpine Club, the Radenthein Friends of Nature and the Nockberge Biosphere Park, suitable winter routes were defined for the St. Oswald area. A car park was leased by the municipality of Bad Kleinkirchheim as a starting point, where a large orientation board displays the winter tours and all other important information. This signposting represents a very important step towards good co-operation between man and nature.

Winter is a particular challenge for wild animals, which is why there are signposts along the route to avoid intruding into the animals’ retreat areas.

You can choose between shorter tours or a circular walk with a descent down the slope.