Energy and Environment Agency refers to concrete measures and projects
St. Pölten (OTS/NLK) – Nature conservation is very important in Lower Austria. A whole network of protected areas is spread across the entire state, a third of the state’s area is a protected area, two national parks as well as the Dürrenstein wilderness area and the Vienna Woods Biosphere Park are the results of consistent work in Lower Austria.
“Protecting our environment is very important in Lower Austria. Through concrete measures and projects, we give nature space to recover and advise communities on how to protect the environment,” says Jasmine Bachmann, head of the nature department at the Lower Austria Energy and Environment Agency (eNu).
In concrete terms, this means, among other things: A total of around 500 renaturation projects were implemented, which were supported by the state, federal government and EU funding. Healthy ecosystems help regulate the climate as natural carbon stores. They also provide protection against natural disasters such as floods and droughts, for example because wetlands absorb excess water and forests reduce soil erosion. Lower Austria has already invested around 350 million euros in renaturation projects. When it comes to large EU projects, Lower Austria is always at the forefront of receiving funding from Brussels. Lower Austria has implemented over 30 projects in EU LIFE projects, more than any other federal state.
A year and a half ago, the state of Lower Austria introduced an important measure against unnecessary soil sealing with the blue-yellow soil bonus. Unsealing and sponge city projects are funded, primarily by municipalities. Demand is high, 16 projects have already been submitted for the blue-yellow land bonus and some have already been implemented.
Further information: Energy and Environmental Agency of the State of Lower Austria, press spokesman Mag. Stefan Kaiser, mobile +43 676 83 688 569, stefan.kaiser@enu.at; www.enu.at.
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Mag. Christian Salzmann
02742/9005-12172
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse