Organization

Competence & commitment

The Nature Park is run by the nonprofit "Naturparkverein" association that is closely linked to the municipality of Purkersdorf. Since 2000, Dr Rudolf Orthofer has been elected chairman of the Naturparkverein. The Nature Park is supported by the town of Purkersdorf, by the federal province of Lower Austria and by several donors.

Association "Verein Naturpark Purkersdorf - Sandsteinwienerwald" 

The association is closely connected with the Purkersdorf municipality. 

The board of the association consists of 10 persons acting on a voluntary basis, who are newly elected every three years by the general assembly. For the appointment of board members, their competence and their commitment play an essential role. The board sets guidelines for the development of the nature park and approves the work programs. 

Dr Rudolf Orthofer has been the chairman of the association since 1999. The chairman is the official representative of the association for all matters apart from those delegated to the management. In financial matters the chairman acts together with the treasurer. 

Auditors of the association are Mayor Stefan Steinbichler, Deputy Mayor Albrecht Oppitz and the former City Councillor Gerald Pistracher. 

Management

Since 2010 the managing director of the nature park is Gabriela Orosel. She is employed part-time and manages the nature park office including correspondence and accounting; she designs and organizes events and forest education programs, and she manages all operational activities. Since 2021, the nature park office has been supported by a half-time employee as part of a voluntary environmental year.

Nature Park Caretakers

With Wolfgang Lehner and Bernhard Hiessberger, two half-time employees are responsible for nature park supervision: this includes looking after the animals, maintaining facilities, and keeping the park clean. The two caretakers are supported by a full-time employee as part of a voluntary environmental year.

Chief Forester Rainer Rubik is responsible for the implementation of sustainable forest management and for the care of the wild animals. 

Our partners

The nature park has many committed partners who help to implement the nature park idea. 

These include our reliable sponsors, our helpful partner nature parks, our competent training partners, our imaginative partners for events and our regional partner businesses. 

Mayor Stefan Steinbichler, Municipality of Purkersdorf:

"For us as a Wienerwald town, the nature park is part of the cityscape. The nature park makes an important contribution to the quality of life of the population. The municipality will continue to support the requirements of the nature park as far as possible. Many thanks to the entire nature park team!"

Matthias Hesse, State School Quality Management Service (former headmaster of the Nature Park School): 

"For me, in addition to my personal connection as a native of Purkersdorf, the nature park means one thing above all: an important cooperation with the General Special School as a nature park school! The cooperation has existed since 2014/15 and offers the students the opportunity to participate in forest educational offers and excursions in their own, but also in other nature parks. The fact that the ASO Purkersdorf was the first special school in Austria to become a nature park school and that there were no reservations on the part of the nature park makes me particularly happy."

Benno Karner, Nature Park beekeeper "Bieno": 

"The honeybee is an indicator of nature. The project "Naturparkbotschafterin Biene" that resulted from our partnership allows a unique, valuable, tangible and precious insight into nature."