Shareholder Grants for National Parks

Since 2013, the federal government has supported the establishment and operation of national park organizations in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, and Vienna through shareholder grants for national parks in accordance with the criteria of IUCN Category II. The funding aims to protect and preserve high-value protected areas of national and international significance, conserve near-natural cultural landscapes, and strengthen species protection and natural space management. Research projects, educational measures, and sustainable visitor infrastructure are also supported to effectively implement both educational and recreational offerings. The funds are allocated, among other things, to land acquisition, contractual nature conservation, personnel costs, and public relations activities.

Public institutions organized as national park organizations according to the Austrian National Park Strategy 2020+ and whose annual programs have been approved by general assemblies, curatorships, or board resolutions may submit applications at any time. A prerequisite is the consistency of the projects with the Art. 15a B-VG agreements and a prudent, transparent use of funds by the national park administration. Eligible expenses include species protection, natural space management, research, educational offerings, public relations, as well as visitor infrastructure. The continuous application possibility enables long-term planning and contributes to sustainably securing and further developing the protection of valuable ecosystems in four federal states.