Restoring ecosystems, advancing science: The Metschacher Moos outdoor lab
Keywords:
moor, field lab, restoration, biodiversity monitoring, technology, sensor networkAbstract
On the occasion of the realignment of research activities at the Metschacher Moos, this article compiles key information about the natural environment, land use history, previous scientific studies, and planned initiatives. The State of Carinthia maintained a long-term lease on the site, located in a side branch of the Glan Valley (Carinthia), to restore wet meadows that were drained in the 20th century. With the acquisition of the land by the Kärntner Sparkasse Foundation, these restoration efforts and scientific activities can now be continued.
This presents an opportunity to develop a research site dedicated to restoration and the application of biodiversity technologies (BiDiTechs). The project "S.O.S. Metschacher Moos," funded by the Austrian Biodiversity Fund, enabled initial measures to resume management activities, including control of invasive species, restoration of monitoring plots, and installation of a sensor network. Further research projects are underway, aiming to contribute to the assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services in restoration initiatives.
References
[1] C. R. Nelson, J. G. Hallett, A. E. Romero Montoya, A. Andrade, C. Besacier, V. Boerger, et al., “Standards of practice to guide ecosystem restoration – a contribution to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030,” Rome, FAO, Washington, DC, SER, Gland, Switzerland, IUCN CEM, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9106en
[2] A. Cliquet, A. Aragão, M. Meertens, H. Schoukens, and K. Decleer, “The negotiation process of the EU Nature Restoration Law Proposal: Bringing nature back in Europe against the backdrop of political turmoil?” Restor. Ecol., vol. 32, no. 5, p. e14158, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14158
[3] M. Jungmeier, “Wellen und Muster der europäischen Naturschutzpolitik in Kärnten – Das Beispiel Renaturierungsverordnung (RnV),” in Kärntner Jahrbuch für Politik 2024, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee: Hermagoras, K. Anderwald, K. Hren, and K. Stainer-Hämmerle, Eds., pp. 231–241, 2024, available: https://www.jahrbuchkaernten.at/fileadmin/jahrbuch/jahrbuecher/Jahrbuch_Politik_Kaernten_2024.pdf
[4] D. T. Dalton, K. Pascher, V. Berger, K. Steinbauer, and M. Jungmeier, “Novel Technologies and Their Application for Protected Area Management: A Supporting Approach in Biodiversity Monitoring,” in Protected Area Management - Recent Advances, IntechOpen, M. N. Suratman, Ed., 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99889
[5] M. Jungmeier, A. Paulitsch-Fuchs, G. Paulus, and M. Schneider, “BioDivTech Lab – conceptualizing a new research infrastructure for biodiversity monitoring,” Carinthia Nature Tech, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 29–32, 2025, available: https://phaidra.fh-kaernten.at/detail/o:54
[6] C. Wieser and M. Jungmeier,“Bracheprojekt “Metschach” – Naturschutzprogramm zur Rückführung von Ackerland in Feuchtwiesen: Ergebnisse der Jahre 1990-1992,” Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung, Naturschutz in Kärnten, vol. 13, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 1994, available: https://e-c-o.at/files/publications/downloads/L02734_1994_Wieser_Jungmeier_Bracheprojekt_Metschach_compressed.pdf
[7] C. Keusch, H. Kirchmeir, and M. Jungmeier, “Vegetationsentwicklung auf Feuchtbrachen - Das Projekt Metschach 1990 bis 2006,” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 199, no. 119, pp. 413–432, 2009, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_199_119_0413-0432.pdf
[8] A. Fuchs, V. Berger, K. Steinbauer, T. Köstl, D. Wuttej, and M. Jungmeier, “The long-term effects of monoculture maize cultivation on plant diversity,” Phytocoenologia, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 397–408, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1127/phyto/2021/0382
[9] Arge NATURSCHUTZ, “Managementplan Metschach – Bericht 2024,” Arge NATURSCHUTZ, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, no. PN-2025/10/675-2, 2025
[10] eb&p Umweltbüro GmbH, “Metschacher Moos Hydrogeologische Grundlagen – Technischer Bericht,” eb&p Umweltbüro GmbH, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, no. HYMA-24, 29 p., 2024
[11] G. Dullnig, H. Kirchmeir, and M. Jungmeier, “Zur Vegetationsentwicklung auf Feuchtbrachen - das Projekt Metschach 1990 bis 1999,” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 191, no. 111, pp. 465–495, 2001, available online at https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_191_111_0465-0495.pdf
[12] M. Jungmeier and C. Wieser, “Bracheprojekt „Metschach“ Naturschutzprogramm zur Rückführung von Ackerland in Feuchtwiesen.” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 183, no. 103, pp. 223–230, 1993, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_183_103_0223-0230.pdf
[13] T. Köstl, D. Wuttej, V. Berger, K. Steinbauer, A. Fuchs, and M. Jungmeier, “Vegetationsuntersuchung Metschach – 1990-2020,” E.C.O. Institute for Ecology, Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 52 p., 2020
[14] K. Steinbauer, V. Berger, T. Köstl, D. Wuttej, H. Kirchmeir, and M. Jungmeier, “Abgrenzung von Vegetationseinheiten anhand multitemporaler Luftbilder am Beispiel von Feuchtbrachen,” In T. Lumetsberger and A. Höltl (Eds.): 19. Österreichische Botanik-Tagung, 23–25 September 2021, Donau-Universität Krems, p. 22, 2021, available: https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/detail/o:1409
[15] Bogner & Golob KEG, “Biodiversität auf Stilllegungsflächen: Zusammenhänge zwischen Artenschutz und Landwirtschaft – Endbericht,” Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung, Büro für Ökologie und Landwirtschaft, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 211 p., 2003
[16] T. Friess, “Die Wanzenfauna (Heteroptera) mehrjähriger Ackerbrachen mit Saumbiotopen im Glanfeld (Kärnten)” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 189, no. 109, pp. 335–352, 1999, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_189_109_0335-0352.pdf
[17] T. Friess, “Beitrag zur Kenntnis der an Grau-, Grün- und Schwarzerlen (Alnus spp.) vorkommenden Heteropteren in Südösterreich (Steiermark, Kärnten),” Beiträge zur Entomofaunistik, vol. 1, pp. 57–71, 2000, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/BEF_1_0057-0071.pdf
[18] T. Friess, “Fallow fields and nature conservation: Evaluation of protective measures on the example of the heteropteran fauna in Carinthia, Austria (Insecta: Heteroptera),” Entomological Society of Austria, vol. 9, pp. 8–10, 2003, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ENTAU_0009_0008-0010.pdf
[19] C. Komposch, “Bemerkenswerte Spinnen aus Südost-Österreich I (Arachnida: Araneae),” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 190, no. 110, pp. 343–380, 2000, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_190_110_0343-0380.pdf
[20] D. Wieser, “Ergebnisse der Batcordererhebung des Kärntner Landesmuseums an heimischen Fledermäusen 2015 (Mammalia: Chiroptera),” Rudolfinum - Jahrbuch des Landesmuseums für Kärnten, 2015, pp. 371–383, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Rudolfinum_2015_0371-0383.pdf
[21] P. Huemer and C. Wieser, „Neufunde von Schmetterlingen aus dem Gebiet des Bracheprojektes "Metschach" (Zweikirchen) (Lepidoptera),” Carinthia II Teil 2, vol. 187, no. 107, pp. 395–399, 1997, available: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_187_107_0395-0399.pdf
[22] K.-F. Schreiber, “Grundzüge der Sukzession in 20-jährigen Grünland-Bracheversuchen in Baden-Württemberg,” Forstw. Cbl. vol. 116, pp. 243–258, 1997, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766901
[23] Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, “ERIC practical guidelines. Legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium,” Revised, European Commission: Luxembourg (KI-01-25-077-EN-N), 2025, available: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/c8ca2717-15c4-11f0-b1a3-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
[24] C. M. van Swaay, R. Schmucki, D. B. Roy, E. Dennis, S. Collins, R. Fox, et al., “EU Grassland Butterfly Indicator 1990-2023 Technical report”, Butterfly Conservation Europe & EMBRACE/eBMS & Vlinderstichting report VS2025.014, Version v3, 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17174718
[25] J. Rüdisser, F. Barkmann, and M. Huss, “Tagfalter-Monitoring Metschacher Moos Jahresbericht 2025,” University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 2025
[26] N. Teufelbauer and B. Seaman,“Farmland Bird Index für Österreich: Indikator 2023 bis 2029,” BMLUK, Vienna, 2024, available online at https://assets.ctfassets.net/2oszne1tuxgg/17MCMmQOSsxbYx1QhJMbOI/c46a08bb5031187124ddafdbeccc43fc/2024_Bericht_Farmland_Bird_Index_2023.pdf
[27] D. T. Dalton, V. Berger, V. Adams, J. Botha, S. Halloy, H. Kirchmeir, et al., “A conceptual framework for biodiversity monitoring programs in conservation areas,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 8, p. 6779, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086779
[28] D. Dalton, V. Berger, H. Kirchmeir, V. Adams, J. Botha, S. Halloy, et al., “A framework for monitoring biodiversity in protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures: concepts, methods and technologies,” International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN WCPA Technical Report Series no. 7, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.2305/HRAP7908
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Carinthia II / Part 3 - Carinthia Nature Tech
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
