Principles

It is a priority for the national park administrations to offer visitors an authentic experience of nature combined with environmental education.  Adequate regulations must ensure that mere sports activities are clearly subordinate to these protection goals.

In Austria, national parks have become centres for environmental education. The necessary infrastructure has been created by expanding visitor information and education centres, presenting exhibitions, and establishing theme and education paths, adventure sites, lookouts, research facilities, etc.  At the same time, the national parks have trained a number of staff for visitor attendance in order to be able to offer high quality programmes.  This high level training for national park guides or “rangers” is provided according to a framework curriculum agreed by all Austrian national parks.

03.05.2011,