The global expansion of the human environment and rapid decline of biodiversity are two of the most heavily discussed and debated topics of the past decades. In recent years a movement began to push back heavily against increased development, with both social and political interventions. Protection, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are now the most important global challenges. The UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (FH Kärnten) has been facing this challenge for many years now. The new UNESCO Chair is working on developing new technologies to more efficiently capture and analyse biodiversity for standardised monitoring programs. New innovations and technologies are constantly needed in order to conserve and restore biodiversity. The need for such technologies exists on the side of consumers, institutions, companies, and in civil society.

The aim of BMSK is to more efficiently conserve and promote biodiversity, by promoting a better implementation of more efficient nature conservation techniques. The project allows us to practically evaluate the workflows developed by our own BioMONITec workforce, and together with our partners determine the needs, possible areas of application, and the overall feasibility of testing these technologies at Lakeside Park in Klagenfurt. The project, which started on the 1st of June 2022, is scheduled for 12 months. It should result in a master plan, created together with our ecological, economic, and political partners, to establish the testing area, with a keen eye on the interests of stakeholders, possible business models, infrastructure, technical operations, and financing.

Financed by: Carinthian economic development fund (KWF)