Spirken in Tyrol

Almost like in the jungle! More protection for a green rarity

The Spirken on a cone of debris in the Hinterautal valley.(Bild: Naturpark Karwendel)

There are almost 200 natural forest reserves in Austria where flora and fauna can thrive largely undisturbed. Tyrolean spirks are now also part of such a reserve. And there are good reasons for this.

Spirken are a particularly rare and therefore endangered tree species in Europe. They come from the pine family and are closely related to the shrub-like mountain pine. However, spirks form a trunk and can grow up to 25 meters high.

More protection on an area the size of 30 soccer pitches
In Austria's largest nature park, the Karwendel, hikers can admire magnificent specimens of the spirke near Scharnitz. There - in the Hinterautal valley - these trees can thrive undisturbed for at least the next two decades.

A new natural forest reserve is being set up there on almost 24 hectares - the equivalent of around 30 soccer pitches.

Getting a picture of the Spirken on site: Anton Heufelder (Managing Director of Karwendel Nature Park), René Zumtobel (State Councillor for Nature Conservation), Christian Ihrenberger (Mayor of Scharnitz), Frank Fraunhofer (ClimatePartner) from left to right. (Bild: Land Tirol )

"In the new Spirken reserve, other plants and animals can develop just as undisturbed as in the other 55 or so natural forest reserves in Tyrol, covering a total area of almost 3,700 hectares," explained René Zumtobel, State Councillor for Nature Conservation, during a recent visit to the site.

The Hinterautal Spirkenwald will not be used for forestry for at least 20 years - this is part of the agreement that was made to protect the rare trees. Human influences are also to be kept to a minimum - almost like in a primeval forest. The only exception is hunting, which is necessary to prevent a disproportionate increase in game.