NSG Urfttal mit Nebentaelern

Summary

The Urft Valley Nature Reserve protects a typical low mountain range stream and its diverse habitats. It safeguards rare plant and animal species in wetlands, riparian forests, and calcareous grasslands, contributing to regional biodiversity.

Description

The Urft Valley Nature Reserve preserves a unique low mountain stream landscape. It protects the meandering, near-natural course of the Urft and its tributaries, along with the adjacent valley plains. These encompass valuable biotopes such as alder and willow riparian forests, wet and moist meadows, nutrient-poor grasslands, and calcareous semi-dry grasslands. The area serves as a vital habitat and refuge for numerous threatened animal and plant species, including bats, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles, many of which are on the Red List. Its structural and species diversity, featuring steep banks, gravel bars, stream-side reed beds, and transitions to extensively managed hillside meadows, creates a rich mosaic. The historically evolved cultural landscape and its significance for the regional biotope network underscore the value of this protected area.