In keeping with the iris bloom, the Ministry of Agriculture invites you to Styria under the title “The Enns is blooming” to celebrate the habitat on the Enns together with the state of Styria, technical experts and Ennstal residents. The occasion is the 30th anniversary of the LIFE program, a funding program of the European Union, with the help of which Austria has already been able to provide important impetus for environmental and species protection - including on the Enns.
Rivers are the lifelines of our landscape. In order to preserve their diverse functions for future generations, we must preserve these habitats. For 30 years, visionary projects have been planned and implemented as part of the EU's LIFE program - bringing citizens, authorities, companies and organizations closer together in climate and environmental work.
Celebrating successes: More than 70 LIFE projects in Austria
The 30th anniversary will be celebrated with a two-day specialist conference at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and a celebration event on the Enns. Numerous experts show the LIFE projects they have implemented on Austrian waters and exchange valuable experiences with each other. “ I am very pleased that we have been able to build up such comprehensive know-how over the last few years. Around 75 successfully implemented projects in Austria would not be possible without our dedicated experts. We also want to make this success visible with a brochure that we are publishing on the occasion of the anniversary ," explains Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig and adds: " With an investment sum of around 330 million euros, the LIFE program in Austria is having an impact on our waters, forests, Peatlands and other ecosystems as well as endangered animal species. The people in the respective regions also benefit from this.”
Ennstal residents in particular can experience LIFE up close. Various LIFE projects have already been implemented on the Enns and in its surrounding area. The Enns is currently a pilot body of water in the LIFE IRIS project, which builds a bridge between flood protection and greening - for a greener, more biologically diverse region. LIFE measures often have multifunctional effects and trigger investments in the region. A clear win for State Councilor Hans Seitinger : “The diverse benefits of the LIFE projects, from flood protection to exciting educational opportunities and from fascinating recreational areas to nature conservation, create a high level of social acceptance. The LIFE projects are an enrichment for our country.”
Together with young people for a sustainable water future
The celebration at the Ennsbrücke Trautenfels rounds off the 30th birthday. The highlight is the opening of the barefoot path, which was created by the students of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein as part of a project. A diverse supporting program - from microscopy of aquatic life to bird watching - offers young people and those young at heart exciting insights into the Enns habitat.
Photo caption: HBLFA students recreated the course of the Enns using different substrates from the riverbed. The mobile barefoot path could be tested live at the festival.
(from left to right Herbert Gugganig/Mayor Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Emanuel Streit and Magdalena Perner for the EnnsErleben project team of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Johann Gasteiner/ Direktor HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Günter Liebel/General Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Renate Mayer/Research Acquisition Department HBLFA , Johann Seitinger / State Councilor for Agriculture and Forestry, Angelo Salsi/Head of Unit LIFE and CIP Eco-innovation and Roland Raninger/Mayor Stainach-Pürg) Photo credit: Peter Bliem
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Eva Michlits
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