Ecologically friendly mobility in the Austrian Nature Parks

Nature Park Buchenberg, Waidhofen/Ybbs

Landesrat Dr. Stephan Pernkopf welcomed the participants of the convention and spoke of the importance of the reduction of CO2 and the important role of the Nature Parks for the raising of awareness of the population. Bgm. Mag. Wolfgang Mair, president of the Association of Austrian Nature Parks, also welcomed the participants in his hometown. At the start a film about the Nature Park Buchenberg, which is in immediate neighborhood to the convention center, was shown to the guests. Then Franz Handler (Association of Austrian Nature Parks) introduced the new brochure about the ecologically friendly mobility in the Nature Parks.

DI Robert Thaler presented the klima:aktiv program

DI Robert Thaler (Life Ministry) presented the klima:aktiv mobile initiative and explained, why it is so important to change from car to public transportation. For a large part of the vacation traffic private cars are used. Only a small part of the population takes public transportation, the bicycle or walks. Guests can be stimulated to a change in thinking by different initiatives as for example the creation of a positive image or a mobility guarantee.

Dr. Kathrin Bürglen (Deutsche Bahn) introduced the project „Fahrtziel Natur “. The Deutsche Bahn has special offers for the journey to 18 protected areas in Germany and Switzerland which were selected according to defined criteria. The project is promoted by varied marketing strategies as well as by the cooperation with different tour operators. Also a „Fahrtziel Natur“-Award will be assigned once a year to projects in the protected areas.

The project „Fahrtziel Natur“ was presented by Dr. Kathrin Bürglen.

Mag. (FH) Karmen Mentil invited to the Alpine Pearls.

Mag. (FH) Karmen Mentil (ÖAR Regionalberatung) invited the participants to a trip to the Alpine Pearls. They form a network of ecologically friendly tourism in Alpine space. Currently 20 Pearls in France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Germany and Austria are members. Every Pearl must fulfill a criteria catalogue, as a base for environment-conscious and incomparable holiday experiences. Also a mobility guarantee is among these criteria.

Mag. Christine Klenovec (Nature Park Weißbach) introduced the Almerlebnisbus which connects both protected areas National Park Berchtesgaden in Germany and Nature Park Weißbach in Austria. The project started in 1997 and an initial problem was, among the rest, the state border at the Hirschbichl. Because of the occasional very high snow amount the bus can only be routed during the summer months and the streets with very strong gradients can only be mastered by special coaches. The coach is barrier-free, also bicycles can be transported.

The Almerlebnisbus was presented by Mag. Christine Klenovec.

Mag. Katrin Gudlaugsson introduced the Tälerbus.

Mag. Katrin Gudlaugsson (Lungauer Tälerbus) presented the Tälerbus. This system was brought to life by Dr. Emil Hocevar and shows a concept for traffic systems in isolated areas. The three Nature Parks Riedingtal, Sölktäler and Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen lying in the area of the Tälerbus system and can provide as a result a good offer of public transportation. Once a year a brochure with the timetables is released.

The successful model KONUS was presented by Michael Krause (KONUS Gemeinden Schwarzwald). The municipalities in the Schwarzwald have developed a system for the use of public transportation. With the KONUS Card tourists can use the public transportation for free during her stay. This system is valid for the whole Schwarzwald. Guests as well as hosts benefit from the project, as for example because of a competitive advantage in the marketing or the easy handling.

Michael Krause presented the system of the KONUS Card.

In the afternoon the participants were invited to a „World Cafe“ with the main focus on „Gentle mobility as a condition of a sustainable development?“ and where the following topics were discussed:

Experiences - results and hurdles
Marketing / communication
Financing / supports
New ideas for ecologically friendly mobility / future projects

During the discussions many interesting perceptions were found and experiences in the different areas of the gentle mobility were introduced.

In the morning and in the lunch break the participants could try different electric vehicles which were presented in the court of the Rothschildschloss. Segways, electric bicycles and electric scooters motivated everybody.

Intoduction:

LR Dr. Stephan Pernkopf, Amt der NÖ Landesregierung
Präs. Bgm. Mag. Wolfgang Mair, president of the Association of Austrian Nature Parks
Franz Handler, Association of Austrian Nature Parks

ReferentInnen:	*Referat) zum Thema:**
Dr. Kathrin Bürglen Deutsche Bahn	Fahrtziel Natur - Reisen in die Schutzgebiete Deutschlands
Mag. Katrin Gudlaugsson Lungauer Tälerbus	Mit dem Tälerbus in den Naturpark - ein Urlaubserlebnis der anderen Art
Mag. Katrin Gudlaugsson Lungauer Tälerbus	Mit dem Tälerbus in den Naturpark - Handout
Mag. Christine Klenovec MSc Naturpark Weißbach	Almerlebnisbus - Verbindung der zwei Schutzgebiete Naturpark Weißbach und Nationalpark Berchtesgaden
Mag. Christine Klenovec MSc Naturpark Weißbach	Almerlebnisbus - Handout
Michael Krause KONUS-NP-Südschwarzwald	KONUS - sanft mobiles Angebot im Schwarzwald
Mag. (FH) Karmen Mentil ÖAR Regionalberatung	Alpine Pearls - eine sanft mobile Reise durch die Alpen
DI Robert Thaler Lebensministerium	Mit klima:aktiv mobil auf neuen Wegen – eine Unterstützung für die sanfte Mobilität im Tourismus

*) On the German homepage the presentations of the referees can be downloaded.

The Association of Austrian Nature Parks thanks all participants and is looking forward to another good cooperation!

Overview

News

17. Jan. 2012 VNÖ

Brochure of the Austrian Nature Parks