Are we willing and are we able to protect endemic species from becoming extinct?
Ute Pöllinger, Umweltanwaltschaft Steiermark, Graz (AT)
Endemic species are the treasure of biodiversity, but are they protected by law in Austria? If not - what are our legal possibilities? Presenting an example of real project (the idea of a pumped storage power plant) in an endemic hot-spot in Styria (the Koralm), I want to discuss theoretical and practical aspects of protecting endemic species by law and the problems, which occur, if there is no specific law.