Living Gardens

Establishing habitats in gardens to protect endangered species in Austria and Hungary

The project aims to establish habitats to protect endangered plant and animal species in the Austrian-Hungarian cross-border region. The project serves as an example of how we can increase biodiversity in the area by implementing simple measures in private gardens and community parks. The project helps to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity and provides opportunity for people to share their knowledge and experience with each other and with garden owners on the other side of the border.

In the framework of the project, show habitats will be established in the partner settlements: at Pfaffstätten, Tattendorf and Trumau in Austria and at Gyenesdiás and Zalakaros in Hungary. The show habitats will be open for the public. Based on the example of show habitats, local residents can establish similar habitats in their own gardens and in their own communities as well. In order to give help for the establishment of such habitats, detailed guideline will be elaborated and information and awareness-raising events will be organised for municipalities, local residents and other stakeholders.

Project partners:

• GLOBAL 2000
• Natur im Garten GmbH
• Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency

Strategic partners:

• Gyenesdiás
• Zalakaros
• Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate
• Pfaffstätten
• Tattendorf
• Trumau
• Landschaftspflegeverein Thermenlinie-Wienerwald-Wiener Becken
• Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie, VII/7 Nationalparks, Natur- und Artenschutz

Project duration: April 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022
The project is co-financed by the Interreg V-A Austria-Hungary Cooperation Programme.

Information materials prepared in the framework of the project:

• Project leporello (available in Hungarian and German)
• Poster on endangered plant and animal species (in progress)
• Guideline for establishing habitats (in progress)