For the first time in 20 years: Vegetation mapping takes UNESCO Chair team to the glacier

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Fotocredit: Vanessa Berger

Exciting developments occured last month for the UNESCO Chair team.

The inspection of the Small Burgstall (2.700 m), a summit of the Großglockner massif, that once rose out of the glacier Pasterze as Nunatak, originally planned for last year, was successfully completed this year. It was the first survey on vegetation ecology of the summit since 2004 and aimed to find and re-map the observation areas of the previous survey in order to record changes in the vegetation. This time, soil and water samples were taken in addition to analyse environmental DNA, and the fauna of the former Nunatak was surveyed as well. Drone recordings round off the programme and will result in a publication, an information folder and a 3D model of the Small Burgstall by the end of the project (January 2025). The project is made possible and financed by the Hohe Tauern National Park, through whose magazine the results will be published.