Lower Austria: New beaver regulation goes into review

The aim of the regulation is to end the "Biber-Fleckerlteppich" that has existed for years in Lower Austria. The previous distinction between alpine and continental areas will thereby be a thing of the past. This is to make application easier for municipalities, authorities, and landowners.

For situations in which there is acute danger, the draft provides for significantly faster intervention options. "In existenzbedrohenden Situationen können Maßnahmen unmittelbar getroffen werden", the draft states. In cases of imminent danger, it is to be clarified afterward whether the legal framework has been complied with.

Faster interventions in cases of acute danger

Concretely, this means: When areas are undermined, roads are endangered, or other acute damage threatens, those affected should be able to act more quickly in the future. "Wenn Flächen unterminiert werden, Straßen gefährdet sind oder andere akute Schäden drohen, brauchen die Betroffenen rasche und praktikable Lösungen statt langwieriger Verfahren", said Rosenkranz.

The state councillor simultaneously made clear that removal may and can only be the last option. "Entnahme darf und kann nur die letzte Möglichkeit sein, das schreibt uns schon die EU vor." The killing of beavers also remains tied to strict prerequisites: Prevention measures and interventions in the animals' habitat must have been examined beforehand, Rosenkranz explained in a video interview.

Protection status and population

The beaver population in Lower Austria is meanwhile estimated at more than 9,000 animals. The conservation status of the species is "in einem günstigen Erhaltungszustand", according to the state councillor's office. In view of this development, the state is simultaneously advocating at the European level for a downgrading of the beaver's protection status.

Rosenkranz emphasized that the beaver remains a protected species and a fixed component of the local nature. "Der Biber ist eine geschützte Art und ein fixer Bestandteil unserer heimischen Natur", she said. At the same time, one must be able to act quickly where damage occurs or the safety of people and infrastructure is endangered.

Outlook on the review

Within the applicable European legal framework, Rosenkranz sees the state's scope for design exhausted. "Innerhalb des geltenden europäischen Rechtsrahmens haben wir hier das Maximum herausgeholt", said the state councillor. The final version is to be determined after completion of the review.