The Green Belt as a European Ecological Network strengths and gaps

Hans-Jörg Raderbauer, Judith Drapela-Dhiflaoui, Brigitte Grießer, Martin Wieser, Horst Leitner, Johannes Leitner
STUDY ON HABITAT NETWORKING IN STYRIA (AUSTRIA) /
DEVELOPED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF NATREG
grassland, settlement areas, etc.), the small-scale structure of plots and the prevailing
ownership structures. In these sub-regions, it is especially difficult to safeguard areas that
have been influenced by human activities only to a low degree. Favorable settlement areas are
situated in valleys as well as on the top of the hills. Due to anthropogenic utilization, Easternand
Western Styria is divided into small sections and show a high degree of fragmentation.
The road network is close-meshed and settlement densities are higher than in Upper Styria.
Figure: Altitudinal and relief map of Styria
Figure: Spatial structures of Styria
The comparison of the two major geographic regions of Styria (Upper Styria; Eastern
and Western Styria) shows the degree of regional differences and the necessity to define
connecting areas.
For different regions indicators and criteria, which are necessary to distinguish sectoral
green zones, are assessed in a miscellaneous way. Furthermore, the method to demarcate
habitat corridors has to be adjusted according to the conditions of the respective region.
Concerning these aspects, a classification of the number of regions is conducted.
Independent from administrative restrictions, these regions represent connected landscape
units. The definition of homogenous landscape areas is necessary to answer the dominant,
spatial related question of connecting habitats. This allows the adjustment of the validation of
selected assessment indicators according to the particular (sub) region.
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