SUSTAINABILITY
IN THE HEART OF NATURE PARK KARWENDEL
Creating awareness for nature in general and, in particular, for the Nature Park Karwendel nature conservation region, is seen by the organisers as an integral part of the Karwendelmarsch hike and, therefore, it constitutes a constant theme throughout the programme’s concept, which has the overall aim of raising participants’ awareness of the beauty and significance of the Karwendel region.
In addition to a series of projects in the Nature Park Karwendel, the Karwendelmarsch also focusses on sustainable measures and solutions during the event days and has been able to achieve numerous improvements in the area of sustainability in recent years. And thus do a great service to nature – which plays a central role in the Karwendelmarsch.
Measures to promote an environmentally friendly event
Here is an excerpt of the measures that have been implemented at the Karwendelmarsch:
- Use of reusable cups in the finish area in Pertisau
- Use of glasses, crockery and cutlery at the pasta party in Scharnitz
- Recyclable paper cups at refreshment stations
- Local suppliers and producers
- Regional food and organic products wherever possible
- Dispensing with the majority of printed materials
- Recycled paper and sustainable printing ink for existing printed materials
- Reuse of banner material
- Bus transfers between the locations to minimise the volume of traffic
- Rules of behaviour for participants in the Nature Park Karwendel
- Immediate clearing of the route after the final runner
- Wooden medals
- Wooden trophies
- Annual maple tree planting by the first-placed runners
- Extensive support for the Karwendel Nature Park as part of the “Traces of Biodiversity” project
Traces of biodiversity
Since 2023, three euros per participant will be invested in the ambitious “Traces of Biodiversity” project, which aims to preserve and expand the unique nature and biodiversity of the Nature Park Karwendel. This pioneering initiative will be promoted along the entire route of the Karwendelmarsch, allowing sports enthusiasts to not only push themselves to their limits, but also make a valuable contribution to the protection of nature.
MAPLE TREE PLANTING
The Karwendelmarsch not only connects the Seefeld and Achensee regions geographically and thematically, it also provides a perfect bridge between sport, tourism and sustainability. The organisers, the ÖBF (Austrian Forest Association) and the Nature Park Karwendel have come up with something special to get the message across to the public: For several years now, the first-place winners from the previous year traditionally meet in June at the picturesque “Kleiner Ahornboden” in the Naturpark Karwendel to plant their winning tree there and thus create a unique and valuable monument to themselves.
