Organic Institute Moarhof - Grassland Location in Trautenfels

The Organic Institute Moarhof is part of the Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein that is located in the municipality of Stainach-Pürgg, west of Trautenfels Castle at the foot of the Grimming mountain range. The scientific focus is on organic farming and livestock biodiversity. The areas located south of the railway are part of the European protected area (Natura 2000) "Ennsaltarme bei Niederstuttern" (Site Code: AT2240000) which are designated under the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive (FFH). There are adjacent areas in the south owned by the Styrian Nature Conservation Association that are also designated under the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive (FFH), Natura-2000 and the Birds Directive. There is a cooperation between the Styrian Nature Conservation Association, AREC and local farmers that cultivate specific areas extensively without fertilization since 2008. AREC manages vegetation mapping on various plots located at the area of the Styrian Nature Conservation Association. In addition there are monitoring and management actions of invasive Neophytes as well as monitoring of small mammals. In addition yield and feed quality on permanent pastures have been studied for over 20 years.