Support Services from the Carinthian Wildlife Damage Fund

The Carinthian Wildlife Damage Fund offers a continuously available grant opportunity in Carinthia for private individuals and businesses that have suffered economic losses due to protected wildlife species such as bears, wolves, lynxes, beavers, or otters. The aim of this support measure is to mitigate the consequences of wildlife damage in fisheries, agriculture and forestry, livestock farming, as well as beekeeping. Eligible for funding are, in addition to owners and managers of fish ponds and flowing waters, also agricultural and forestry enterprises, herders on alpine pastures, and beekeepers registered under the provisions of the Carinthian Bee Act (K-BiWG). The non-repayable grant reimburses, among other things, documented economic losses, veterinary bills, and stocking invoices.

An online application can be submitted at any time after the wildlife damage has become known, but no later than within 14 days for fish ponds and agricultural and forestry land (for flowing waters, the application is submitted once annually). A prerequisite for approval is the complete submission of all required evidence: these include proof of economic losses (such as rent reductions or reduced fishing license revenues), stocking invoices, as well as veterinary bills for injured livestock. Managers who are not owners must additionally submit the corresponding lease or usage contract. The forms can be easily and digitally signed and sent to the responsible Department 10 – Agriculture and Forestry via the Carinthian e-government portal. With this funding, the state of Carinthia actively contributes to the protection of the rural economy and the balancing of ecological challenges.