Austrian cemeteries serve as vital biodiversity oases

Cemeteries in Austria, including those in Vienna, are functioning as significant urban and rural refuges for diverse wildlife. Scientific research conducted by the Naturschutzbund Österreich in collaboration with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) has documented a vast array of species within these locations.

In Vienna, studies over a two-year period recorded more than 500 insect species, 80 bird species, 14 mammals, five reptiles, and four amphibians. Key habitats include old tree alleys that provide nesting sites for black woodpeckers and swifts, hedges for shelter, and crevices in walls or gravestones for mosses, lichens, and small invertebrates.

Protected areas such as flowering meadows support pollinators like honeybees and butterflies, while undisturbed soil and deadwood provide homes for moles, worms, and field mice. Even foxes and hedgehogs, the latter of which is a threatened species, utilize these quiet, car-free zones. Experts suggest that biodiversity can be further enhanced through conscious grave maintenance, such as choosing native nectar-rich plants over exotic species.