Danube-Auen National Park - Vienna, Austria

Biogeographic region: Continental

Surface area: 93km² (city area)

Country: Austria

Region/Province: Vienna and Lower Austria

Donau-Auen National Park (German: Nationalpark Donau-Auen) covers 93 square kilometres in Vienna and Lower Austria and is one of the largest remaining floodplains of the Danube in Middle Europe.

Donau-Auen National Park has a rather unique position among the National Parks of Europe. The Park is situated in the east of Vienna, the capital city of Austria, with a population of 1.7 million. A large percentage of the national park's area lies within the city boundaries of Vienna (22nd district) and within the boundaries of Groß-Enzersdorf, a small municipality in Lower Austria. Settlements and areas of intensive agriculture surround the park.

During the major river engineering phase for the Danube between 1870 and 1885, this former dynamic floodplain has been disconnected from the main channel by the construction of a flood protection levee. Lateral embankments along the main river channel have severely altered the geomorphic and hydrological dynamics and have impeded the natural sequence of erosion and sedimentation (Hein et al. 2006; Hohensinner et al. 2008). Nowadays, the floodplain can be separated into two subareas (Upper and Lower Lobau) that differ considerably in their ecological characteristics.

Despite the hydrological deficits, the Lower Lobau still harbours a diverse and complex mosaic of aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial habitats, resulting in a high biodiversity. Therefore, the Lower Lobau is an integral part of the “Nationalpark Donau-Auen” since 1996 and was designated a Natura 2000 area by the EU. Beyond the ecological value, the Lower Lobau plays a central role in the landscape water balance. It serves as an important drinking water reservoir for the City of Vienna. The protection of the floodplains gained in importance compared to the use as a recreation area, which for decades had been the major focus.

The Danube-Auen National Park in Vienna aims to multiple ecosystem services combine with trees with regulating services, such as water protection, retention, carbon sequestration, and micro, local, and regional climate regulation.

The National Park fosters an environment providing habitats and biodiversity for animal and plant species to enhance supporting ecosystem functions.

The National Park’s blue and green infrastructure further aims to provide cultural functions by offering open spaces for recreational value, allowing urban dwellers to find aesthetic pleasure, a sense of place and inspiration.

National government funds:

The Donau-Auen National Park extends over two federal states and is jointly supported by the federal government. The organization and financing of the national park is regulated in an agreement according to Art. 15a B-VG between the federal government and the states of Vienna and Lower Austria.

Private sector investment:

The Donau-Auen National Park has partners from the business world who have helped support the work of the National Park for years. Some provide financial support, others participate in joint projects, while yet others even send their employees on work assignments in the great outdoors.

All of these efforts are invaluable and essential to the National Park, which is financed solely through public means.

Some of partners: Ströck, Donau Versicherung, Swarowski Optik

International funds:

EU projects (Interreg)

PRINCIPLE UF-NbS (Urban Forests as Nature-Based Solutions) ACTION(S)

• A "green ribbon" connecting the conurbations of Vienna and Bratislava;
• The largest complete, (near) ecologically intact natural riverine environment of its kind in Central Europe;
• Characterised by the nearly free-flowing Danube, which here retains the character of an alpine stream;
• An interplay of ecosystems which exhibit an enormous variety of habitats, plant and animal species;
• Home and refuge to many endangered plant and animal species;
• Impresses with its great natural beauty;
• Natural retention area for floodwaters;
• Guarantee for high-quality drinking water resources;
• So-called "green lung" and climactic regulator for the region;
• Recreational area for the population

OTHER PRINCIPLE NbS ACTION(S) – non-UF

• Encourage engagement of citizen with local green and green initiatives;
• Provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible

The Donau-Auen National Park preserves the last remaining major wetlands environment in Central Europe, which illustrate the importance of its preservation. Management and activities of the park show how important and challenging is to balance between different demands of protection, recreation, and urban expansion.

1. Governing authorities: "Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH", a non-profit organisation formed by the Austrian federation and the provinces of Vienna and Lower Austria

2. Associations: DANUBEPARKS association

3. Citizens: volunteers, residents from neighbourhood, “Vienna Woods School – Lobau”, “National Park Camp Lobau”

4. Municipalities: Municipality of Vienna, Groß-Enzersdorf

5. Public/private institutions: Austrian National Forests (ÖBf) Operations; Lobau National Park Administration, City of Vienna Municipal Department 49 (Forestry Office and Urban Agriculture). The ÖBf Operations in the Donau-Auen National Park at Eckartsau, and the Lobau National Park Administration, City of Vienna Municipal Department 49 (Forestry Office and Urban Agriculture) are units of the national park administration and as such are responsible for carrying out management activities as ÖBf and City of Vienna on the areas of the national park owned by the federation.

6. Park planner and authorities: City of Vienna Municipal Department 49 (Forestry Office and Urban Agriculture)

7. Technicians for park maintenance/monitoring and to educate and support citizens: Lower Austrian National Park Advisory Board; Vienna National Park Advisory Board; Local Advisory Boards (participation of the individual national park municipalities); Scientific Advisory Board (Experts from the fields of zoology, botany, limnology, agriculture, forestry, urban planning, landscape architecture, and water management are appointed and dismissed at the recommendation of the Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH)

DI Edith Klauser

National Park Director

Telefon +43 2212/3450

nationalpark@donauauen.at  

The compilation of this case study description has been funded by the Horizon 2020 CLEARING HOUSE project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821242.