The situation of endangered species could become even more precarious in Austria as industry representatives want lawmakers to act in favour of the challenged construction industry.
Economy Chamber (WKO) President Harald Mahrer claimed the country’s coalition government consisting of the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Greens was “willing” to establish a set of measures to support Austrian construction enterprises.
Referring to reports about rising costs and a decline in finished projects, the ÖVP member warned: “It has to happen quickly and must be effective.”
Josef Muchitsch, the influential Social Democratic head of the Construction and Wood Industries Labour Union, meanwhile urged the government to pass tax breaks.
Mahrer and Muchitsch said around 310,000 people working in the industry could be affected if the downward spiral continued.
Their appeals come on the back of news that more than nine in 10 new building projects all over the Central European country were carried out on fertile soil.
Greenpeace activist Melanie Ebner deplored that the affected areas could have been cultivated to produce food. She warned that Austria would become more dependent on foreign nutrition manufacturers.
Around 4,300 hectares of fertile land will be lost to the construction of homes, shops and factories by the end of 2024, according to Greenpeace. This is the equivalent of 6,140 football pitches.
The rapidly progressing disappearance of green space is considered to worsen the situation of threatened species such as the hundreds of solitary bees that still exist in Austria. These types of bees are vital to balanced ecosystems as they are busy pollinators.
Vienna Natural History Museum (NHM) entomologist Dominique Zimmermann told The Bee News: “In Austria, there are more than 700 species. The region of Lower Austria alone is home to more wild bees than Germany.”
Biologist Dominik Linhard from the Austrian environment NGO Global 2000 added: “Austria is taking a leading position when it comes to the sealing of soils. The politicians in charge are currently incapable of reaching the targets they have set themselves.”
Speaking to The Bee News, Dominik suggested a drastic turnaround. He said town council decision-makers should concentrate on refurbishing city-centre estates “instead of setting up another supermarket at suburban roundabouts.”
