Mountain Meadows

Farming and Nature Conservation

Mountain meadows date back to a time when most people here lived from farming. Once a year, mountain farmers cut the high slopes, removed stones and shrubs, and used the hay to feed their livestock through the winter.

This form of farming is known as low-intensity management, in contrast to intensive management, where meadows are fertilised and cut several times a year. Low-intensity management allows many rare species to grow on nutrient-poor soils: grasses, herbs and flowers, including orchids. The colourful plants attract a wide variety of insects. Bumblebees, wild bees, beetles and hoverflies find food here and pollinate the flowers.

People in Naturpark Kaunergrat still mow the meadows on the slopes today. Their work preserves the rich flora and fauna of the mountain meadows.