Salzburger Nationalparkfonds

Salzburger Nationalparkfonds (the Salzburg National Park Fund) is a public-law fund of the Austrian State of Salzburg, attached to the Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung (Office of the Salzburg Provincial Government). It is the body responsible for the Salzburg share of the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria's largest national park, which covers parts of the Pinzgau, Pongau and Lungau districts. The fund's office is located at Gerlos Straße 18 in Mittersill, in the Pinzgau region, and its director is Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Urban MBA. The fund is not a commercial company in the ordinary sense but a state instrument for nature conservation, regional development and public recreation. Its activities include the ranger service, research, maintenance of trails, protected-area supervision, visitor services at the two main national park visitor centres — 'Im Facettenreich' and 'Zwischen Himmel und Erde' — and the operation of the Hochfeld show mine (Schaubergwerk Hochfeld). It also employs professional hunters (Berufsjäger) and administers hunting in the Anlauftal area, and it coordinates volunteers, interns, Zivildiener (civilian service workers) and seasonal staff. Because it is a fund of the province, the Salzburger Nationalparkfonds is embedded in the Land Salzburg's governance framework. The Salzburg Corporate Governance Kodex (SCGK) sets rules for companies and holdings majority-owned by the City and/or State of Salzburg, and the fund, as a provincial institution, operates within this public-sector accountability environment. Its funding comes from public sources, and its mission is to preserve the natural and cultural landscape of the Hohe Tauern while making it accessible to visitors and supporting the local economy. The fund's work is closely tied to the identity of the Hohe Tauern National Park, which Austria established in the 1980s and which today spans the provinces of Salzburg, Carinthia and Tyrol. Within Salzburg, the Nationalparkfonds is the operational arm: it manages the protected area, runs environmental education programmes, supports scientific research, and maintains the infrastructure that allows hikers, nature lovers and tourists to experience the alpine environment. Its visitor centres and show mine are among the region's key attractions, and its ranger and research teams contribute to monitoring and conservation projects. As a public body, the Salzburger Nationalparkfonds does not publish commercial accounts in the way a listed company would, and it does not have a stock ticker. Its leadership and staff are part of the provincial administration, and its activities are reported through the Land Salzburg's official channels. The fund's continued operation reflects the long-standing commitment of the State of Salzburg to the national park idea, balancing conservation, tourism and regional development in one of Austria's most important natural landscapes.

The Salzburger Nationalparkfonds is the institutional expression of the State of Salzburg's commitment to the Hohe Tauern National Park. The national park itself was established through agreements among the provinces of Salzburg, Carinthia and Tyrol, with the Salzburg section being a central part of the protected area. The fund was created as a dedicated public-law entity to manage the Salzburg portion, ensuring that conservation, research, visitor services and regional development are coordinated under one provincial body. Over the decades, the fund has built up the operational infrastructure of the national park in Salzburg. It operates two visitor centres — 'Im Facettenreich' and 'Zwischen Himmel und Erde' — which serve as gateways for tourists and as platforms for environmental education. It also runs the Schaubergwerk Hochfeld, a show mine that offers underground tours and interprets the region's mining history. The fund employs rangers who patrol the protected area, provide guided walks and educational programmes, and act as the public face of the national park. Research is another core function. The fund supports scientific studies on alpine ecology, biodiversity, geology and climate, often in cooperation with universities and research institutions. Its research staff and external partners monitor species, habitats and environmental change, contributing to the adaptive management of the park. The fund also maintains trails and infrastructure, ensuring that visitors can access the park safely while minimising ecological impact. Hunting and wildlife management are part of the fund's responsibilities. It employs professional hunters and administers hunting in areas such as the Anlauftal, balancing wildlife populations with conservation objectives and the interests of local communities. The fund also coordinates volunteers, interns, civilian service workers and seasonal staff, reflecting its role as a public employer and a hub for civic engagement in nature conservation. As a provincial fund, the Salzburger Nationalparkfonds operates within the governance framework of the Land Salzburg. The Salzburg Corporate Governance Kodex (SCGK) provides rules for companies and holdings majority-owned by the City and/or State of Salzburg, promoting transparency and responsible management. While the fund is not a commercial enterprise, it is part of this public-sector accountability system. Its director, Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Urban MBA, leads the office at Gerlos Straße 18 in Mittersill, and the fund reports through the Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung. In recent years, the fund has continued to adapt to new challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and changing visitor expectations. It remains a key institution for the protection of the Hohe Tauern and for the sustainable development of the Salzburg mountain region.

Public-law fund of the State of Salzburg dedicated to the conservation, research and visitor management of the Salzburg section of the Hohe Tauern National Park.

• Hohe Tauern National Park (Salzburg section)

• Visitor centre 'Im Facettenreich'

• Visitor centre 'Zwischen Himmel und Erde'

• Schaubergwerk Hochfeld

• Ranger service

• Research programmes

• Hunting administration (Anlauftal)

1. 1Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung - Land Salzburgsalzburg.gv.at
2. 2Salzburg Corporate Governance Kodex - Land Salzburgsalzburg.gv.at
3. 3Salzburger Nationalparkfonds - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Servicestelle Ehrenamt - Land Salzburgsalzburg.gv.at
5. 5Über uns - Land Salzburgsalzburg.gv.at