Poster forest "Oiswald“

In immediate vicinity of "Wilderness Dürrenstein“ at the border between the states of Lower Austria and Styria the "Oiswald“, one of Austria’s last natural forests of a size of 650 ha, is situated. In close cooperation with the landowner, the forest administration of Langau and politicians of the state of Lower Austria and the community of Gaming, the administration of "Wilderness Dürrenstein“ has started a project to legally protect the "Oiswald“ as a nature reserve and grant accessibility to the public. Based on a feasibility study, executed during the first half of the year 2006, the region’s potential has been evaluated and possible scenarios of development have been outlined. The project has been financed by the EU, the state of Lower Austria and the community of Gaming.

Update

In Summer 2006 the feasibility study has been completed and presented to politicians and to departments of the Government of Lower Austria. Details are included in the final report.

Aims and Measures

The feasibility study aims at outlining ideas to protect the area as a nature reserve and grant access to tourists, combined with an attractive visitors’ programme. The "Oiswald“ as a poster forest is supposed to release the cumulative pressure of visitors exerted on "Wilderness Dürrenstein“. Furthermore the economic development of the region Gaming-Göstling-Lunz will be stimulated.

The outlined ideas should be instantly realized and implemented in the line of a new project. In detail project planning involves:

• documentation and evaluation of nature conserving - and touristic potentials.
• zoning the area according to necessities and opportunities identified in the planning process (e.g. into zones for hunting, for tourism, for nature conservancy).
• planning the indespensible touristic infrastructure (access roads/- pathways, parking, information – and visitor centres, hiking – and adventure trails, ...).
• a conceptual visitor scheme for the "Oiswald“ area, integrated into the visitor programme of "Wilderness Dürrenstein“ (guided tours, lectures, infrastructure etc.); estimation of the number of employees needed for implementing the visitor scheme.
• scheduling and cost planning for the implementation of this measure.