Every Austrian can now see whether they are affected
St.Pölten (OTS) – “Strategic Framework for the Restoration of Ecosystems” is the resounding name of the report that the Green Federal Minister Gewessler had her Federal Environment Agency prepare. Three years ago, possible affected areas and regions were described in detail on 147 pages and in 78 maps and illustrations. The report could now serve as a basis for implementing the new renaturation regulation. The “Rural Observatory”, a database of the European Commission, also gives all cities and municipalities an insight into who could be affected by the new net loss of green space and tree canopy.
As the Lower Austrian Farmers’ Association, we are making it clear: The renaturation regulation will directly and immediately affect every Austrian. States, municipalities, cities, tourism and agriculture and forestry. “I am surprised to see in the media discussion that the renaturation ordinance is often presented in a shortened way as the sole issue of agriculture and forestry. The opposite is the case, because it will turn out to be a real bureaucratic monster for every Austrian. From the house builder to the leisure seeker,” says Lower Austrian Farmers’ Association director Paul Nemecek, drawing attention to the actual extent of the adopted EU regulation.
Scarcity effect: “More space for nature means less space for people”
Nemecek refers to a logical effect of the regulation, the scarcity effect: “I say this in a value-neutral way, but more space for nature means less space for people.” Nemecek calculates that the new requirements of the regulation regarding the ban on net losses The national total area of urban green spaces and urban tree canopy is threatened with an increase in the price of housing, rents and land. But according to Nemecek, new restrictions are also coming for tourism and recreational sports: “Tourism and recreational sports often take place in particularly sensitive habitats, be it lakes and bodies of water, in the mountains or in our forests. There could also be usage restrictions here. Ultimately, I do not rule out the possibility of entry bans being imposed.”
Costs in the billions
According to calculations in the 2021 report from the Federal Environment Agency, the costs for a 15% target, i.e. the renaturation of around 15% of the country’s area, amount to around 11 billion euros, and that only for Austria. “This regulation will cost us around 1 million euros per day for at least the next 25 years,” says Nemecek, calculating the long-term effects.
Farmers’ Association supports nullity appeal
Lower Austrian Farmers’ Association director Paul Nemecek emphasizes again: “Forced renaturation by regulation is nothing other than expropriation. As can be seen in the report, Gewessler apparently wants to turn our beautiful Waldviertel into a jungle district,” Nemecek is outraged by this unprecedented solo effort by the former NGO activist and concludes by emphasizing that “this regulation still applies to Austria and all EU member states “will grow into a real bureaucratic monster.” For this reason, the Farmers’ Association will support an annulment complaint brought by the ÖVP.
To the report from the Federal Environment Agency from 2021
Questions & Contact:
Maria Haiderer, MSc
Office manager
Lower Austrian Farmers’ Association
Ferstlergasse 4
3100 St. Pölten
Tel.: 02742/9020-2140
Mobil: 0664/839 74 12
Email: Haiderer@noebauernbund.at