Secretariat of the Hohe Tauern National Park Council

The Secretariat of the Hohe Tauern National Park Council (German: Sekretariat des Nationalparkrates Hohe Tauern) is the administrative office responsible for coordinating the activities of the Hohe Tauern National Park, a protected area in the Austrian Alps. The park spans 1,856 square kilometers of pristine nature across the federal states of Carinthia, Salzburg, and Tyrol, making it the largest national park in Austria and one of the largest in Central Europe. The Secretariat supports the National Park Council, which brings together representatives from the three states, the federal government, and environmental organizations to oversee conservation, research, and public outreach. The Hohe Tauern National Park is home to approximately 15,000 animal species, representing about one-third of all species found in Austria. Its elevation range—from valley floors to peaks exceeding 3,000 meters—supports a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna, including species with origins in the Arctic, Central Asian steppes, and Southern Europe. The park's mission, as stated on its official website, is to protect this unique ecosystem, conduct scientific research, and pass on knowledge to future generations. The Secretariat plays a key role in the park's operations, including managing guided tours led by National Park Rangers, maintaining the park's blog and information channels, and promoting visitor hotspots. It also coordinates with Nationalparks Austria, the umbrella organization of Austria's six national parks, to advance shared conservation goals. Notable conservation successes include the reintroduction of the bearded vulture (Bartgeier) to the Alps, a project in which the Hohe Tauern National Park has been a key partner since the 1980s. As a brand, the Secretariat represents the institutional identity of the Hohe Tauern National Park, communicating its values of conservation, education, and sustainable tourism. Its online presence at hohetauern.at serves as a central hub for visitors, researchers, and conservationists.

The Hohe Tauern National Park was established in 1981 through an agreement between the Austrian federal government and the states of Carinthia, Salzburg, and Tyrol. It was the first national park in Austria and remains the largest. The Secretariat of the National Park Council was created to administer the park's affairs, coordinating among the three states and various stakeholders. Over the decades, the park has expanded its conservation efforts, including the successful reintroduction of the bearded vulture, which began in the 1980s. The park's official website, hohetauern.at, serves as a central information portal, featuring guided tour offerings, a blog, and visitor hotspots. The Secretariat continues to manage the park's daily operations and strategic initiatives, working in partnership with Nationalparks Austria and international conservation bodies.

• 1986

  First young bearded vultures released in the Krumltal near Rauris as part of the reintroduction project.

• 1981

  Hohe Tauern National Park established by agreement between Austrian federal government and the states of Carinthia, Salzburg, and Tyrol.

• 1978

  First successful captive breeding of the bearded vulture at Alpenzoo Innsbruck, a key step for later reintroduction.

The Secretariat positions the Hohe Tauern National Park as a leading conservation and nature experience destination, emphasizing the protection of a unique alpine ecosystem and the dissemination of knowledge.

• Guided tours with National Park Rangers

  Ranger-led tours through the diverse high mountain landscape.

• National Park blog

  Current information and articles about the national park.

• Visitor hotspots

  Recommended excursion destinations within the national park.

1. 1Startseite – Nationalpark Hohe Tauernhohetauern.at
2. 2Teil 5: Erfolgsgeschichte des alpenweiten Naturschutzes - 40 Jahre Bartgeier Wiederansiedlung – Nationalpark Hohe Tauernhohetauern.at
3. 3Sekretariat des Nationalparkrates Hohe Tauernwikidata.org