Long-distance hiking in the lynx’s habitat and to protect the lynx.
The Lynx Trail is a symbol: of wilderness, of biodiversity, of connectivity. And it is an invitation: to discover the protected areas that have joined together to form a network in order to preserve all of this. Despite their differences, at their core there is a striking concentration of woodland within the three protected areas. And that leads us to the lynx. For this mysterious wild animal is a forest cat – and where could it feel more at home than in the territories covered by the densely wooded protected areas of the Kalkalpen, Gesäuse and Dürrenstein-Lassingtal, as well as the Eisenwurzen and Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Parks? The lynx finds an ideal habitat within them.
Although it’s unlikely you’ll actually catch a glimpse of the shy forest cat in the flesh, you do feel close to it. Even without a sighting. With every rustle in the forest and every crackle in the undergrowth, a brief flicker of hope springs up: perhaps you do, after all, belong to the fortunate few who might one day catch a glimpse of a lynx in the wild. And even if that isn’t the case: it could well be. The thrill of hope is wonderful; it makes the lynx’s presence felt – regardless of whether it’s actually there. It might be there; at the very least, it’s nearby.
The process conservation areas along the Luchs Trail share a common goal: to restore, preserve and protect wilderness. This means that humans step back and no longer interfere with the natural processes of the wilderness. In nature conservation, this process is referred to as „process conservation“. It is not individual plants or species that are protected, but rather nature’s ability to develop according to its own logic. In effect, nature is allowed to develop as it pleases. Even following disturbances, there is no intervention or „tidying up“. The guiding principle is: nature knows how to look after itself.
Anyone who walks the Luchs Trail will return from the wilderness with their senses sharpened. The trail heightens one’s awareness. Wilderness is where nature can flourish freely, independent of humankind. It sharpens the senses. It invites you to let go. And, last but not least, it offers us a glimpse back into its primordial state. So it’s also a bit like a time machine. Anyone who walks through the wilderness is, at the same time, travelling 10,000 years back in time – to the very origins of the forests.
The trail was developed by ARGE Luchs Trail (a consortium of nature reserves and regional tourism associations). The local authorities and alpine clubs are responsible for maintaining the respective walking trails and are also partners in the trail.
We would like to thank the landowners through whose woods the trail passes between the protected areas. These include the Austrian Federal Forests, the Styrian Provincial Forests, Admont Abbey, the Seehof Forestry Authority (Lunz), local authorities and various farmers who own woodland. Through the forest, they also provide a habitat for lynx and allow the trail to pass through their land. All walkers are asked to show respect and consideration in view of the private properties along the trail.