For the third year running, the flower meadow on the grounds of the former Lasser inn delights many residents of Liezen and is now well known far beyond the city limits as well as being an extremely popular photo subject.
This year, the officials of SG ENNSTAL, together with specialists from HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, implemented a new project: A wildflower meadow with regional wildflowers was created in the northern part of the former Dumbapark area (Döllacher Straße/Ausseer Straße). Besides the ecological benefits – the creation of new habitat for pollinating insects (bees, etc.) – the project also aims to send a clear message against the widespread unattractiveness of fallow and neglected properties.
Decline in diversity, loss of biodiversity:
The diversity of colorful, species-rich grasslands and wildflowers once reflected the diversity of our cultural landscape as it developed over centuries. Since the mid-20th century, the proportion of ecologically valuable, flower-rich extensive grassland has been steadily declining. This extreme decline in diversity increasingly poses existential problems for bees, wild bees, and other pollinating insects. However, there are now numerous ways to reintegrate such valuable habitats into our cultural landscape.
"Many native pollinating insects need native species as a food source and cannot find food when exotic flower mixtures are used!"
Giving wildflowers back to the landscape:
Wildflower mixes can be used in a wide variety of areas, for example, for greening temporary fallow land – especially in urban areas, roadside embankments, retention basins, flood control dikes, infiltration areas, expansion areas of commercial enterprises, for parks and lawns, traffic islands, gravel lawns, green roofs, or private gardens. And these are just some of the many possibilities for re-establishing richly flowering, ecologically valuable extensive grassland.
Regional and certified wildflowers?
From an ecological perspective, using seeds composed of species native to the same region is ideal. Such mixtures contain wildflower species from extensive grasslands that originate from the same large-scale natural unit, i.e., the same region (e.g., Alpine foothills, Alps) where the wildflower meadow will later be established. This preserves not only the
species but also its regional genetic makeup, which can vary considerably between different natural areas.
Buyers of such seed mixtures also want a guarantee that the contents meet these criteria. In Austria, there are now two certification systems for this purpose: the Gumpensteiner Certificate of Origin (G-Zert) and REWISA, both of which are independently audited and guarantee compliance with the necessary ecological standards.
Seed Production of Regional Wild Plants
: To make regional, certified seed mixtures available on the market, agricultural propagation of these many species is necessary. In Austria, several dedicated farmers have spent years developing the production techniques for seed propagation of these species in cooperation with the HBLFA-Gumpenstein. Gumpenstein is responsible for the collection, initial propagation, and certification of the now 158 species. These are produced by the propagators on a current area of 104 hectares in cooperation with a dedicated marketing organization (Kärntner Saatbau) and marketed as certified, regional wild plant seeds in special mixtures.
The main objective of revegetation with regional wild plant seeds is to preserve the genetic diversity of wild species of extensive grassland within their natural distribution areas and thus to create a (survival) basis for pollinating insects.
About the ENNSTAL Housing Group:
Affordability, living comfort, and energy efficiency – these three parameters have been the hallmark of the ENNSTAL Housing Group for 70 years. This makes it a reliable and long-term partner for all housing needs in Styria, Carinthia, and Upper Austria. The in-house energy department further underscores the great importance placed on energy-efficient construction. The group
constructs and manages buildings and apartments for all aspects of life – from kindergartens, schools, and student residences to municipal buildings, residential buildings, sports and leisure facilities, and assisted living options for seniors. Private individuals, municipalities, and businesses alike rely on the ENNSTAL Housing Group's long-standing experience and expertise. Needs-based and target-group-oriented architecture, built to modern standards, is a given in all projects.
About the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein:
The Higher Federal Teaching and Research Institute (HBLFA) Raumberg-Gumpenstein is a leading institution in agricultural research and teaching. It teaches sustainable management practices in the agricultural, food, energy, and environmental sectors. The Institute for Plant Production and Cultural Landscape focuses on production-related aspects of farming in mountainous regions, with particular emphasis on the impacts on the environment and cultural landscape.
Press contact:
SG ENNSTAL
Mag. Christoph Kalsberger
Siedlungsstraße 2, 8940 Liezen
+43 664/60273485
www.wohnbaugruppe.at
