Nature Conservation Funding of the State of Salzburg (State Contract Nature Conservation Program)

The Salzburg State Contract Nature Conservation Program relies on cooperative nature conservation and offers agricultural enterprises in Salzburg a modern, multifaceted funding scheme. Biodiversity objectives are implemented across ten measure groups: from permanent habitats and productive grasslands to alpine pastures, arable land, and forests, as well as water bodies, peatland habitats, and traditional cultural landscape elements. The program is complemented by cross-farm and supra-regional measures, as well as special provisions for small farms and differentiation rules. One-time design measures are periodically settled after implementation, while recurring maintenance measures are paid out continuously. Applications are free of charge and can be submitted at any time. Controls are conducted on a random basis by the Office of the Salzburg State Government or, within the framework of ÖPUL funding, by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA).

Eligible for funding are natural persons, partnerships registered in the commercial register, legal entities, and their associations, provided they operate an agricultural enterprise in their own name and on their own account, and the participation of local authorities does not exceed 25%. Both one-time design measures and recurring maintenance measures aimed at preserving, restoring, and developing ecologically valuable habitats are supported. The goal is the sustainable strengthening of biodiversity in Salzburg’s agricultural and cultural landscape. Interested parties can submit applications continuously and thus contribute to future-oriented nature conservation in the region. Further information can be found on the Salzburg State Government’s website.