Styrian Nature Conservation Act 2017 (StNSchG 2017).

The Styrian Nature Conservation Act 2017 regulates the protection and care of both living and non-living nature, including culturally shaped landscapes in Styria. It sets out general goals to preserve natural diversity, maintain biological diversity, and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources for future generations. The law applies to a wide range of natural features, defining protected categories such as nature reserves, landscape protection areas, European protected areas, nature parks, natural monuments, and protected landscape components, along with their specific protection and management procedures. The Act establishes detailed provisions on the protection of animals, birds, plants, fungi, minerals, and fossils, including prohibitions and exceptions to safeguard endangered and rare species. It mandates permit and approval processes for activities impacting protected areas, such as construction or terrain alterations, with requirements for environmental and nature compatibility assessments. Furthermore, it introduces rules on compensation for those economically affected by conservation measures, and promotes contractual nature conservation agreements and regional landscape management through dedicated funds.
Administrative responsibilities and enforcement mechanisms are also specified, including appointing nature conservation officers at several administrative levels, cooperating with public security organs, and granting them access rights for official inspections. The Act incorporates relevant European Union directives on habitat, bird, and renewable energy conservation. Violations of the law can lead to fines or orders to restore affected natural conditions, emphasizing the law’s role in balancing environmental protection with sustainable development and human activities in the region. The text consists of 45 Articles divided into 11 Parts.