Citizens Biotopes

The project ‘Citizen Biotopes’ is a new approach to collectively strengthen and preserve endangered plant species in Tyrol. Under the leadership of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsman’s Office, in collaboration with regional implementation partners and with technical support from the Natural History Collection of the Tyrolean State Museums, 38 species-rich biotopes have already been created in six regions between 2023 and 2025. Now the project is entering its next phase, with plans to bring additional meadow habitats typical of the region to bloom by 2028.

The focus is on the conservation and propagation of endangered or declining plant species using regional seeds, as well as the promotion of biodiversity in urban areas. Citizens are actively involved in the planning, creation, and maintenance of the biotopes. In this way, they contribute directly and collectively to the preservation of biodiversity right on their own doorsteps.

The project ‘Citizens’ Biotopes’ is currently funded by the Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions, and Water Management.

Citizen Biotopes 2026–2028

Get involved!

We need your ideas and energy to help create and maintain vibrant, diverse citizen biotopes.

Stanzertal Municipalities:

Information session on April 22, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pettneu am Arlberg Community Hall

Municipality of Sistrans:

Information session on April 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in unterDORF Hall in Sistrans

The pilot project ‘Citizen biotopes – stepping stones for endangered species’ 2023 – 2025 was funded by the Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry for Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management.

Nature-based education, supported by:

Project duration: until 30.11.2025

Project partners:

Tiroler Landesmuseen, MPreis

What are Citizen Biotopes?

A Citizen Biotope is a publicly accessible place in a community—such as a traffic island or the front yard of a school—that participants in the project have selected for site-specific biodiversity promotion.  With the consent of the landowners, they work on this area together over many months. They prepare the soil, plant native wild plants, sow locally and self-collected wild plant seeds, maintain and observe the biotope. In this way, this area becomes a stepping stone and refuge for endangered plants and animals.

The term “Citizen Biotopes” also describes a new and special approach: the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice brings together citizens of different ages and professions with representatives  from local politics and administration as well as the local economy (agriculture, crafts and industry, nurseries)  in concrete joint activities. Scientists and experts from “partizipation.tirol”  accompany the local meetings. By far the greatest commitment to the citizen biotopes is on a voluntary basis.

Project goals

• Exploring the natural treasures on our doorstep.
• Strengthening and shaping valuable habitats.
• Safeguarding the quality of life in the community.
• Strengthening and spreading of rare species.

Results

• Six action groups of citizens, natural and social scientists, representatives of municipalities, business, and agriculture were active for many months in the regions of Stanzertal, Oberes Gericht, Leutasch, Hall in Tirol/Absam/Thaur, the municipality of Kufstein, and Pillerseetal, volunteering to promote local biodiversity.
• 38 citizens created  2.2 hectares  of biotopes  — equivalent to
  about three soccer fields  — during the  2023-25 project period.
• Participants collected 88 native plant species from 26 hectares of “donor areas”, including 27 species that are on Austria’s Red List according to IUCN criteria. Participants also removed numerous neophytes.
• The participants entered 1,259 observations into the digital nature identification platform and app “iNaturalist.”
• The action groups have cultivated 8,000 seedlings and plants,
  some of which they have even grown themselves.

Take part!

Your ideas and energy are needed to make our citizen biotopes lively and diverse.

Contact