Data Zone
Country/territory: Austria
IBA criteria met: B2, C6 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 41,260 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
This area of the Alps is characterized by a karst landscape with steep limestone cliffs and deep river gorges. Mixed forests (montane zone) and conifer forests (subalpine zone) dominate. Steep slopes have prevented widespread intensive forestry but in many places original forest has been replaced by monocultures of Picea. Above the treeline are small areas of alpine meadows. The valleys contain a few important raised bogs. The area is used for forestry and tourism.
Key biodiversity
The site is important for species found in montane and subalpine forest, rocky areas and cliffs
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ötscher-Dürrenstein (Austria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ötscher-dürrenstein-iba-austria on 23/11/2024.