Rivers in Tyrol

Extensive data is available on the current ecological situation of rivers in Tyrol . A Tyrol-wide assessment can be found in TIRIS under the topic "Nature conservation plan for rivers". This shows the natural significance of Tyrolean rivers in five levels from "very worthy of preservation/very high significance" to "develop - review/low significance".

Basically, it can be said that sections of rivers with very natural morphology and hydrology can still be found in the protected areas and in the high mountains, and that their naturalness decreases with proximity to permanent settlement areas. The larger rivers in the valleys in particular are predominantly bound into a narrow corset and are hydrologically impaired - whether due to water abstraction or sinks/swamps. Near-natural highlights among the larger rivers are the Tyrolean Lech and the Isel, which cover large sections of the valley and have corresponding structures such as near-natural bank areas, gravel banks, willow-tamarisk bushes, branching stretches, riparian forests and other river habitats. This habitat diversity enables the survival of other specialized species, such as gravel bank breeding bird species (Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper) and specialized insects. Although there is also an interest in exploiting these "last near-natural river areas", e.g. through hydropower, they are protected by designation as a protected area or Natura 2000 site.

Near-natural rivers are a finite resource, but are not always perceived as such. rivers are hotspots where current conflicts of objectives become visible. On the one hand, it is necessary to use renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, in view of climate change; on the other hand, water abstraction changes the natural hydrology and thus has an impact on naturally occurring species and habitats. In this area of conflict, I see it as a challenge to discuss the sometimes emotionally charged points of view on a factual level and to make decisions based on factually comprehensible criteria.

Climate change and rivers: Climate change is causing increasingly higher flood peaks due to heavy rainfall events, but also dry periods. There are synergies in flood protection in particular, as wide, near-natural river profiles can absorb more water and near-natural areas also have more retention potential. It is therefore very important that the issue of flooding is not considered in isolation, but as a cross-cutting issue that takes other interests into account. This is already happening through the planning of river development and risk management concepts (GE-RM for short, e.g. on the Isel-Drau), in which nature conservation aspects and thus biodiversity are also taken into account.

Biodiversity and rivers: Very near-natural rivers form hotspots for rare and endangered species, for example: 90% of the Tyrolean population of little ringed plovers breed on the Tyrolean Lech, as well as the common sandpiper, gravel bank wolf spider, gravel bank grasshopper, Turks' thorn grasshopper, etc., all extremely rare specialists. Where there is already a social consensus for the conservation of rivers and their biodiversity, such as in designated protected areas, it is therefore important to consistently respect these conservation goals. Natural areas are generally the result of long-term developments (over centuries), while utilization decisions usually only cover a few decades; these different time horizons are also important.

Rivers and pressure of use: There are uses that can be well controlled, e.g. recreational use of rivers through attraction points, signage, parking lots, and can therefore be well combined with the objectives of biodiversity conservation. Other uses, such as the development of industrial estates or settlements at the expense of riparian forests or the use of hydropower, represent "either/or" decisions in very sensitive areas. Compromises cannot be found for all usage interests. It should be borne in mind that many compromises have already been made in the past for highly endangered species; further "compromises" would significantly increase the probability of extinction for such species.

In the case of other rivers, it is important to weigh up whether the benefits on the one hand actually outweigh the damage to biodiversity in the case of conflicting objectives.

Near-natural rivers are an asset whose value will continue to increase in the future, not only from a tourism perspective, but also in terms of local recreation. Here I see our protected areas, especially the nature parks , as model regions in which positive emotions are generated in connection with near-natural rivers through the experience of nature, which in turn makes visitors and residents more aware of the importance of near-natural rivers.

Taking the Tiroler Lech Nature Park as an example: The river with all its habitats, species and abiotic facets is the central protected asset here. The nature park is organized as an association in which the TVBs Naturparkregion Reutte und Umgebung and Lechtal Tourismus are also represented on the board. The management plan for the protected area was drawn up with the involvement of these two tourism interest groups.

This cooperation leads to measures that enable visitor management, which on the one hand represent added value for tourists but also for the preservation of biodiversity. Such as signage with information, but also information on rare species that can be observed, parking spaces at locations that make sense from both a tourism and nature conservation perspective, a visitor center with an exhibition, etc.

In addition, the Tiroler Lech Nature Park administration is in regular contact with the rafting providers in the region; the rafting providers know at which times which gravel banks should not be entered in order to preserve certain species, and on the other hand they have added value through the information, because they can also offer their guests well-founded information on nature highlights and sometimes also special observations.

There are also hotels and inns that act as partner businesses of the nature park. For an annual fee, these businesses are provided with specific information on nature tours and events in the nature park, as well as exhibitions etc.

Tourism that is aware of the natural capital of a region (in this case rivers) also raises awareness among locals and can therefore support the conservation of natural river areas.