Restoration and preservation of Pannonic salt lakes and salt steppes of European significance (1530*)

Introduction

The project addresses special habitats, unique, rare, and extreme in Austria’s Natura 2000 site “Neusiedler See - Nordöstliches Leithagebirge” (AT1110137), which has one of Central Europe’s largest contiguous inland salt areas.

Habitat Overview

There, the priority habitat “Pannonic salt steppes and salt marshes (1530*)” is present in all natural variants, covering 3,676 ha, with more than 80% located in the Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park. The proposed project will directly influence 1,258 ha (34%).

Decline of Soda Lakes

The number of soda lakes has decreased from 139 to 48 (-66%), and the water surface has shrunk from 3,614 to 656 ha (-82%) within the last 160 years. The current conservation status of 1530* is “unfavourable – bad,” both in terms of the overall status and the future perspective (Art.17 report).

Causes of Degradation

Degradation and malfunctions in the complex life cycle of the salt habitats are mainly caused by:

1. Decreased groundwater levels hindering salination processes.
2. Large-scale drainage for agriculture and settlements.
3. Groundwater abstraction for agricultural irrigation, leading to lower groundwater levels.

Project Objectives

Tackling the problem at the source, the project aims to enhance the conservation status of the salt habitats by:

1. Installing 8 weirs in the drainage ditches for water retention and thus higher groundwater levels.
2. Constructing a groundwater barrier to protect cellars of a nearby settlement as a prerequisite.
3. Securing isolated salt lakes and habitats in agricultural land.
4. Restoring salt habitats (removal of IAS, reed, trees, and ecological setup measures).

Long-term Framework

To secure results and initiate further work in the long term, a framework for future water management and water-saving agriculture will be elaborated and demonstrated.

Community Involvement

The sustainable success is achieved by involving residents and relevant stakeholders. Awareness-raising, workshops, guidance, and building cooperation at local, regional, and international levels guarantee the success AFTER LIFE.