Welser Kieswerke Treul & CO GmbH

Objective

The aggregates extraction project, located at the Steyregg Danube riverside, created, after aggregates extraction, large ox-bow-shaped waterbeds which are similar to the old Danube riverside still shown on old maps.

Context

The settlement of newly created habitats is initiated by applying soil and mud from still existing biotopes and shows sensational results. Apart from numerous partially most endangered red list species two plants are "again arisen" i.e. species of nepenthaceae and hydrocharitaceae. Also regarding the amphibian fauna the results are noteworthy, e.g. the green toad (bufo viridis).

Solution

The remaining kinds of amphibian are represented with partially large populations. Regarding the bird fauna, several endangered species are present, e.g. the Sand Martin, the Common Sandpiper, coming back after extraction and reshaping. Also the beaver - a European-wide endangered animal - lives in a sturdy population in the surrounding of the aggregates extraction area.

Result

The aggregates extraction project is not only an economically important contribution for the Upper-Austrian raw material extraction, but also an important country-wide project of protection of often endangered species and creates biodiversity.