Hohe Tauern National Park (3239)
Austria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Nationalpark Hohe Tauern
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.0500, Longitude: 12.7833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1300 to 3798
Area of KBA (km2): 1777.24307
Protected area coverage (%): 98.10
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Hohen Tauern include the highest mountains in Austria. Between 1,300-1,700 m Picea forests, with some Pinus and Abies, dominates. Above 1,700 m, Pinus cembra and Larix occur, but the forests are greatly altered and reduced in size by human use and the creation of pastures. The treeline has been lowered by human activity and extensive areas of treeline dwarf-shrub communities exist. Above the treeline are artificial pastures, alpine grasslands and extensive glaciers.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: An important site for alpine grassland and subalpine forest species.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | forestry (15%) | not utilised (65%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 15 | |
| Grassland | 35 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 35 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Forestry, grazing, hunting and angling are allowed without restriction outside the core area of the National Park (1,120 km2Tourism is promoted inside the park although it is free of the infrastructure for winter sports. Strict reserves, without human use, encompass 69 km2