email a friend
printable version
AT039
Hohe Tauern National Park
Location Austria, Kärnten,Salzburg,Tirol
Central coordinates 12o 47.00' East  47o 3.00' North
IBA criteria B2, C6
Area 183,600 ha
Altitude 1,300 - 3,798m
Year of IBA assessment 2009

BirdLife Austria



Ornithological information An important site for alpine grassland and subalpine forest species.

Site description The Hohen Tauern include the highest mountains in Austria. Between 1,300-1,700 m Picea forests, with some Pinus and Abies, dominates. Above 1,700 m, Pinus cembra and Larix occur, but the forests are greatly altered and reduced in size by human use and the creation of pastures. The treeline has been lowered by human activity and extensive areas of treeline dwarf-shrub communities exist. Above the treeline are artificial pastures, alpine grasslands and extensive glaciers.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix resident  1990  frequent [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta resident  1990  uncommon [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca resident  1994  80-90 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Near Threatened 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  1994  6 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica breeding  2000-2005  11-13 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Hohe Tauern National Park 80,537 protected area contained by site 60,996  
Hohe Tauern (Kärnten) National Park 37,263 protected area contained by site 37,263  
Hohe Tauern (Salzburg) National Park 80,514 protected area contained by site 80,514  
Hohe Tauern National Park Birds Directive 80,514 protected area contained by site 80,514  
NP Hohe Tauern (Tiroler Anteil) Birds Directive 61,000 protected area contained by site 61,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone  15%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Mesophile grasslands  35%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  35%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 20%
forestry 15%
not utilised 65%

Management considerations Forestry, grazing, hunting and angling are allowed without restriction outside the core area of the National Park (1,120 km2Tourism is promoted inside the park although it is free of the infrastructure for winter sports. Strict reserves, without human use, encompass 69 km2

Protection status National High International Partial37,263 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Hohe Tauern (Kärnten), 37,263 ha) 80,514 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Hohe Tauern (Salzburg), 80,514 ha). 60,996 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Hohe Tauern (Tirol, 60,996 ha). 80,514 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Hohe Tauern, 80,514 ha). 61,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Hohe Tauern, Tirol, 61,000 ha).

Contribute  Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.

Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hohe Tauern National Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife