New EU project: five tons of salt are supposed to save dying paint in the national park

Rescue attempt for endangered Seewinkel paint started - European Union and the state of Burgenland support an important nature conservation project in Seewinkel 

The salt balance of many Seewinkel paints has been massively disrupted by the lowering of the groundwater, drainage and artificial fresh water supply. Within 100 years, 80 percent of the original area has been destroyed, which has serious consequences for the animals and plants affected in the Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park. In the course of a rescue attempt for the Moschado paints at Apetlon, over five tons of salt were applied by hand on Thursday. “The Pannonian salt habitats are unique in Europe. In order to preserve them in the long term, we have to renovate them well beyond the current attempt. Because only a high groundwater level promotes the regular renewal of the salts, ”say National Park research coordinator Harald Grabenhofer and WWF expert Bernhard Kohler. “The addition of salt is intended to repair severe damage locally. The central challenge is to restore natural processes, ”emphasize the advising experts.

Specifically, the additional salt is primarily intended to restore the impermeability of the lacquer floor, which has suffered from the supply of fresh water. "We want to clarify how the local groundwater abstraction has affected the water and salt balance of six paints in the municipality of Apetlon and what alternatives exist to artificial water supply," says Project manager Thomas Zechmeister from the Illmitz Biological Station, Also Stefan Biczo, hunting director of the Apetlon II hunting company, emphasizes the importance of intact paints: “Water means life! The artificial water supply alone is not a real solution. Rather, we have to do everything we can to ensure that the paints regain their natural water and salt balance in order to ensure that they are not only preserved for future generations, but can also be used sustainably. "

The European Union's LEADER project, launched in 2019, is co-financed by the Province of Burgenland. “Burgenland consciously supports this EU project in order to restore unique natural treasures and preserve them in the long term. This is an important task for society as a whole, from which both our environment and the regional economy benefit, ”says the Member of Parliament Kilian Brandstätter, Also Mayor Ronald Payer refers to the added tourist value: "The more diverse the nature experiences in the region, the longer the length of the stay for national park visitors, which in turn benefits our gastronomy and business in Apetlon."

Scientifically supported project

The LEADER project is accompanied by a scientific team, including the Salt soil specialist Rudolf Krachler from the University of Vienna belongs. “Our goal is the natural composition of the salts in an intact paint. In two passes, we apply 4.000 kilos of soda, 1.000 kilos of Glauber's salt and 325 kilos of table salt. This shows what the paintwork has lost through years of interventions ”. The St. Martins Therme & Lodge made it possible to purchase the salts. "It is important to us to make at least a small contribution to the preservation of the unique soda lacquers in order to be able to offer impressive nature experiences in the future and to keep our guests enthusiastic about the region", says Elke Schmelzer, head of the safari and nature experience program at St. Martins Therme & Lodge.