19 October 2011
Austria Designates Bog Complex as 20th Ramsar Site
story highlights

The site, a complex of raised bog and other wetland types, supports numerous internationally, nationally and regionally rare species of plants and animals.

A management plan and nomination as a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve "Biosphärenpark Nockberge" are in preparation.

17 October 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) reported that the Government of Austria has designated its 20th Wetland of International Importance, a complex of raised bog and other wetland types at about 1,460 metres altitude in the southern state of Carinthia.

According to Ramsar, the site consists of various representative, rare, natural and near-natural types of wetland, which support internationally, nationally and regionally rare species of plants and animals.

The site is used for hunting and fishing, extensive farming, forestry and recreation. Forest succession presents a threat to the site. A management plan and nomination as a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve “Biosphärenpark Nockberge” are in preparation.

Austria’s designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]