The “Metschacher Moos” is more than the first glance at the wasteland suggests. For over 30 years, scientific findings on land use, biodiversity and climate change have been collected on the 14.6 hectare property.
Basis for further research
These research results would have become worthless as the lease ended and monitoring ceased. This would have interrupted the 30-year series of research, which is the basis for further research. A data set that only exists in Carinthia in the area of biodiversity. Further research into climate change and its consequences on flora and fauna will build on this.
FH-Kärnten also got involved
Due to the Kärntner Sparkasse private foundation’s strong focus on the topic of biodiversity, it purchased this property and is making it available as a long-term laboratory for research and education. The FH-Kärnten, which has been dedicated to the topic of biodiversity in research and teaching for some time, has joined as the local cooperation partner.
Prosperity in Carinthia
Siegfried Huber, board member of Kärntner Sparkasse AG, agrees. “Orientation for the common good has been anchored in our founding document since 1835: promoting the prosperity of the people in the region. We are convinced that education is a cornerstone of prosperity and the key to a future worth living for the next generations. Our future depends on the measures and steps we take today. We want to create awareness that future prosperity in Carinthia is not possible without thriving biodiversity.”
Interest in biodiversity technologies
The FH-Kärnten will bring a lot to the cooperation. “The FH-Kärnten will contribute its extensive know-how as an educational and research institution to this cooperation. Of particular interest is the coordination in the development and testing of biodiversity technologies,” explains Siegfried Spanz, Managing Director of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.
Hot spot in biodiversity research
The cooperation is a step towards greater understanding of the environment, sustainability and the effects of climate change. “We hope that this collaboration can become a hot spot in biodiversity research in Austria in the medium term. It is also our concern that the Metschacher Moos is available to other research facilities and institutes, in coordination with the University of Applied Sciences. The findings will be made available to the general public and will contribute to the common good,” says Hans Schönegger, deputy chairman of the board of the private foundation Kärntner Sparkasse.
Carinthian Biodiversity Prize
In order to further raise awareness of these important initiatives, the private foundation of Kärntner Sparkasse is launching the first Carinthian Biodiversity Prize – “The Golden Apis”. Starting next year, the competition will highlight sustainable, environmentally conscious projects in Carinthia and will be awarded as part of the 2024 Foundation Gala. You will find out more about this in January 2024.
2023-10-15 02:02:45
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