Free nature tours deepen knowledge of Patscherkofel protected area

Free nature tours at the Patscherkofel-Zirmberg protected landscape area south of Innsbruck have drawn a positive response after their second summer, ORF Tirol reports. Organisers say the tours aim to raise environmental awareness and share knowledge about the area.

The tours take participants through a high-altitude landscape between the city, mountain pastures and wilderness. The route offers views of the Serles, the Stubai Alps, the Inn Valley and Innsbruck, as well as sections of the Zirbenweg trail.

Patscherkofel is a popular local recreation area at around 2,000 metres above sea level, but many visitors are unaware that they are moving through a protected landscape. The Patscherkofel-Zirmberg area covers about 16 square kilometres and stretches across several surrounding municipalities, from 1,550 to 2,745 metres above sea level.

“It was designated because it is an area of particular character and scenic beauty that should be preserved for future generations,” Kathrin Herzer, one of the protected area’s three caretakers, told ORF Tirol.

The Zirmberg and Patscherkofel areas were placed under nature protection in 1942 and 1947. Under a new regulation, they became a protected landscape area in 2005. The protection status is less strict than that of a national park or a designated quiet area, but changes and interventions are still subject to tighter legal rules than elsewhere.

The area includes cultural landscapes such as alpine pastures and grazing land, while other parts are intended to remain as natural as possible. The caretakers work closely with landowners to support this balance between people and nature.

In winter, ski touring management establishes specific protection zones to safeguard animal habitats from noise and disturbance. These zones are particularly important for grouse species, Herzer said, because the animals reduce their energy use during winter while having fewer resources available. Climate change is adding to the pressure, she said.

The area is home to black grouse, capercaillie, rock ptarmigan, chamois, ibex, spotted nutcrackers, amphibians and reptiles including adders and alpine salamanders.

The caretakers launched the free tours last year in cooperation with the operator of the Patscherkofel cable car. Their aim is to provide accessible information about nature and encourage respectful behaviour towards the protected landscape and its wildlife.

“Because there are so many people up here, we have to guide them while also informing and raising their awareness,” Herzer said. Visitors to the Patscherkofel recreation area are also moving through the “living room of wildlife”, she said.