Project summary

As part of this project, the City of Vienna supported the purchase of 63.9 hectares of ecologically valuable nature conservation land in Vienna’s 22nd district, Donaustadt. The area comprises a significant biotope complex featuring strictly protected semi-arid and arid grassland habitats (FFH habitat types 6240* and 6210*) as well as woodland areas in an early stage of succession. These provide habitats for numerous endangered and strictly protected species.

The aim of the project is to designate the area as a Natura 2000 site and to draw up an initial management plan. This marks a decisive step towards securing Vienna’s largest area of fallow land for the long-term protection of biodiversity and climate action. In addition to purchasing the land, the City of Vienna is also undertaking the designation and planning itself. Future management measures will be implemented as part of further EU-funded projects.

Expected results and impact

The purchase of the 63.9-hectare project site marked a significant step towards the conservation and enhancement of a particularly species-rich and endangered biotope complex in Vienna. The planned designation as a Natura 2000 site and the development of a management plan will enable targeted measures to protect endangered habitats and species.

The project addresses the loss of ecological quality caused by ongoing changes in species composition (succession) and the spread of invasive non-native plants (neophytes). Planned follow-up activities, such as initial maintenance through mowing, intensive neophyte management and the development of a large-scale grassland landscape, will contribute to the restoration and long-term conservation of the area.

In the long term, the project makes a valuable contribution to achieving European and national biodiversity and climate targets, for example within the framework of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Austrian Biodiversity Strategy 2030+, the Nature Restoration Regulation and the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Directive. Furthermore, it strengthens Vienna’s ecological infrastructure and is also of supra-regional importance as a network of biotopes and a corridor area.