Public opinion on nature

Within the framework of the EU Excellence Network ALTER-Net, a survey of citizens on their attitudes to nature conservation was conducted in eight European countries. In Austria, the investigation took place in the area of the Eisenwurzen research platform coordinated by the Federal Environment Agency. The aim of the survey was to raise the level of knowledge and attitudes of the population on biodiversity and its changes. In addition, the views of the respondents on relevant actors and measures as well as their general values on environmental protection were examined. The most important result of the survey is a markedly positive attitude of the Austrian population to nature and nature conservation. Experts from the fields of hunting, agriculture and forestry as well as nature conservation are given the most trust in the preservation and handling of nature.