Montafon (Sankt Gallenkirch) AT
In St. Gallenkirch, volunteers experience the central importance of protection forests for the safety of the region and are committed to their sustainable maintenance and renewal. In doing so, they make an important contribution to the protection of settlements, biodiversity and quality of life in the Montafon.
Forest and cultural landscape
The Montafon in Vorarlberg is one of the most impressive Alpine valleys in Austria - known for its mountain scenery and high tourist significance. St. Gallenkirch lies in the heart of the Montafon and is surrounded by steep slopes where protective forests play a central role. They protect the valley from avalanches, mudslides and rockfall and are essential for the safety of residents and infrastructure. At the same time, the traditional use by the Walser people still characterizes the cultural landscape today. Storms in 2023 and 2024 left behind large areas of windthrow and thus severely impaired the stability of the protective forests.
Idea and goals
In the Montafon project (St. Gallenkirch), the focus is on reforestation with tree species suited to the location, the promotion of natural forest regeneration and the maintenance of weakened stands. The aim is to create stable and climate-friendly protection forests that can withstand storms and climatic changes. This preserves a safe habitat for animals, plants and people.
Project partnerships: The Bergwaldprojekt works together with its Austrian forestry partners from the Montafon stand to preserve and maintain the protection forests.
What you can expect
The work is flexibly adapted to current needs as well as weather and terrain conditions and can vary. The focus of the work in the project is on reforesting windthrow areas with tree species appropriate to the location, clearing, building and maintaining access paths. All work is carried out under the guidance of experienced project and group leaders.
The week starts on Sunday with an introduction to the Bergwaldprojekt and the week's schedule. The days start early: breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m. and then the work begins. One highlight is the weekly forestry excursion in the surrounding area. In addition to forestry work, volunteers also take on simple household tasks in the accommodation, such as tidying up or washing up.
Discover more photos from the project!
Organisatorisches
Holiday home, Maria Hilf Monastery St. Gallenkich
- Multi-bed room
- Shower/WC
- Warm running water
- Electricity throughout the house
- Camping not possible
Breakfast & dinner at the accommodation, Lunch in the forest
- Full value
- regional
- saisonal
- organic
- little meat (vegetarian alternative available)
- Feste, high mountain boots (above ankle) with treaded sole (two pairs recommended)
- Work clothes, work gloves
- Rain jacket, Rain pants (gaiters recommended)
- Warm clothes (we are in the mountains)
- Shoes
- Stirn- oder Taschenlampe
- Sonnenschutz (Sonnencrème, Sunglasses, headgear)
- Daypack, pocket knife, Water bottle (thermos bottle recommended)
- Hand/shower towel
- Personal items
- Bettwäsche vorhanden (kein Schlafsack erforderlich)
- Gepäckstück: Arrival with suitcase or bag possible
- Good physical condition and sure-footedness. The work may take place on steep terrain.
- Punctual arrival at the meeting point. Late arrival or early departure is not possible.
- The instructions of the project staff must be followed.
- Insurance is the responsibility of the participants.
- Photographs will be taken during the project week and may be published in our publications. Please contact the project management if you do not agree to this
For ecological reasons, please travel by public transport or in carpools - parking spaces are not available.
Meeting point: (Only with confirmed registration!)
Sunday, 16:50, bus stop "St. Gallenkirch, Zentrum" (connection at Schruns train station with train arrival 16:24)
From the meeting point directly with Bergwaldprojekt vehicles to the accommodation
Departure: Saturday, 11:00 am from the meeting point.
Registration is binding. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration immediately by calling +41 (0)81 650 40 40 or info@bergwaldprojekt.ch.
In case of emergencies, we can be contacted on the day of arrival. The relevant telephone number will be posted in the project information in your profile shortly before the start of the project.