Nature protection and biodiversity - Drivers and pressures (Austria)

Species and habitat diversity are under threat from habitat loss and landscape dissection caused by human settlements, infrastructure, business parks and industrial estates. In Austria, a further 12 hectares are taken every day for settlement and transport, while the total area of land taken by development (including sports facilities, quarries etc.) is 22 hectares (average for the years 20062009). Source: www.umweltbundesamt.at/flaechenverbrauch.

Since 1995, the area of sealed land nationwide has increased by more than 170% (see Figure 3). Sealed land accounts for more than 6% of the permanent residential space (which covers only around 37% of Austrias total area), and is steadily increasing (Fiala 2009a).

Habitat changes, such as the lack of extensive forms of use, e.g. mowing or grazing, are contributing to the loss of nearnatural habitats. For example, the number of upland pastures and forage areas is falling slightly (Fiala 2009a). Overall, the management of upland pastures is stable, however the situation varies locally (Fiala 2009a). The total amount of subsidised mountain meadows, which are expensive and unprofitable to manage, increased slightly to 103% between 2007 and 2008 (Fiala 2009a). Further subsidies will be needed, however, if these speciesrich mountain meadows are to continue to be managed.

Many biotope types are threatened by overfertilisation or diffuse discharges of nutrients (see the Red List of biotope types, Table 3). The discharges are both of atmospheric origin and from fertilised agricultural land nearby (Essl & Egger, 2010).

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