Gastautor
The guardians of nature
Experience nature consciously
13.03.2025
It's the winter of 2020/2021. Lockdown. The cable cars in Kleinwalsertal are at a standstill.
Anyone who still didn't want to miss out on winter sports this year had to become their own ascent aid. So the snowshoes were taken off the shelf, the skins were stuck on the skis or the cross-country skis were taken out of the cellar. The main thing was to get out into nature and into the fresh air. Snow was in short supply in most of the lower-lying areas in winter 2020 and it was impossible to cross the border into the rest of Austria. And so many people were drawn to the mountains of Kleinwalsertal. A lot of people.
On some weekends, there was hardly a slope left untracked and hardly a summit unclimbed. “During the pandemic, many people had a great need to find relaxation in nature. You could feel this in Kleinwalsertal from the increasing number of winter sports enthusiasts,” reports experience nature consiciously - ranger Daniel Riedel.
Raising awareness: Gently guiding visitors
Now this was a special situation. Kleinwalsertal is also known for its hospitality and is always happy to welcome visitors. But mindfulness for nature and its inhabitants is just as important. And so this winter also had something good: it showed the need to guide the flow of visitors and protect this sensitive natural area.
As part of the “Experience nature consciously” initiative, information and information boards were set up at the entrances to side valleys and natural areas to guide visitors. These indicate to active holidaymakers in summer and winter which areas are designated as protected and conservation areas and provide useful tips on correct behavior in the mountains. About how to treat nature with respect, but also how to treat each other consciously. How we can enjoy a wide range of experiences. This includes the right tour planning, four-legged friends, but also a visit to the nature toilet.
more information about the code of conduct
Meet a Ranger: experience nature consicously
One of the goals of Experiece Nature Consciously is to raise awareness of the value of nature. To make this even more tangible for visitors and residents, a team of five rangers has been trained and can be found at peak times in the respective areas of the Kleinwalsertal.
They enter into dialog with outdoor enthusiasts. Because only through conscious action can we all help to protect nature. Experience Nature Consicioulsy - ranger Daniel Riedel describes their task as “educating and appealing to personal responsibility.”
Especially in winter, when animals and nature are particularly in need of protection, the ranger team is on hand to advise sportspeople and recreationists. Is the planned tour accessible? Where are the conservation and protected areas located? How can I display them on the online maps? The rangers will answer all these questions with their in-depth knowledge of the natural area.
Promoting nature awareness all year round
The rangers are not only out and about in winter. You can also meet them at various locations in Kleinwalsertal in summer. They provide information about alpine dangers, give tips and advice on how to descend and the correct self-assessment or how to deal with alpine cattle. The five rangers are usually out and about at peak times at the access points and parking lots. On several dates in summer, they also provide information at info points on topics such as “Forest & Game” or “Safety in the Mountains”. Talk to them if you have any questions about your tours or about the right behaviour on your next hike - you will recognize them by their jackets with the “Expereience Nature Consiciously” logo.
Let nature be nature
The tasks of rangers are even more complex. They are out and about in nature and not only talk to visitors, but also mediate between hunters, farmers, hut owners and landowners. They collect feedback and tips and incorporate them into the Natur bewusst erleben network. A network that promotes a sensitive approach to nature and to each other. Gives nature more weight and a greater voice. Recognizes where we need to look in the future.
"I like this approach so much because it's an initiative that creates spaces. Spaces for great experiences in the Kleinwalsertal mountains, but also spaces where we can let nature be nature." - Daniel Riedel
