E.C.O. Institute for Ecology

E.C.O. Institut für Ökologie GmbH (E.C.O. Institute for Ecology) is an Austrian research and consultancy company based in Klagenfurt that works on nature conservation, protected area development and sustainable regional development. The company describes itself as a partner in nature conservation and states that it has been developing innovative solutions to conserve biodiversity for over 25 years, contributing to the conservation of natural habitats in more than 40 countries. Its approach is described as science-based, practical and forward-looking, combining ecological planning, landscape assessments, innovative communication strategies and sustainable development cooperation. The company's name reflects its three pillars: Ecology, Communication and Organisation. 'Ecology' stands for the team's natural-science expertise; 'Communication' refers to translating scientific knowledge for different stakeholders; and 'Organisation' covers project management and business infrastructure. E.C.O. works with public institutions, international organisations, NGOs and associations including Alparc, EUROPARC, IUCN, Ramsar, UNESCO and WWF, and has collaborated with bodies such as ASFINAG, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Joanneum Research and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. E.C.O.'s service portfolio includes conservation measures, visitor management, biodiversity monitoring, management plans, development cooperation, legal advice, visitor information, restoration, forest ecology, remote sensing, conservation research and protected area development. Its project experience spans ecological planning, vegetation surveys, habitat mapping, Natura 2000 management planning and GIS work. The company reports having completed 622 projects for 160 long-standing customers across 40 countries, with 230 publications and 5,357 km² of mapping. A notable recent project is the preparation of the first management plan for the Vjosa Wild River National Park in Albania, commissioned by IUCN, following the park's establishment in March 2023. E.C.O. also supported the UNESCO nomination process for Shkodër/Skadar Lake in Albania and Montenegro, and has worked on peatland conservation and visitor management at Egelsee. The company is led by managing director Dr. Hanns Kirchmeir, a vegetation and forest ecologist and IT expert.

E.C.O. Institut für Ökologie GmbH is an Austrian research and consultancy company based in Klagenfurt. According to its official website, it has been developing innovative solutions to conserve biodiversity for over 25 years, which places its origins in the 1990s, though the exact founding year is not stated in the available evidence. The company was established as a GmbH (private limited company) and operates as an independent, privately held entity. From its base in Carinthia, E.C.O. has built a practice centred on what it calls 'nature conservation in the 21st century', with a focus on protected areas and certified regions. Its work combines specialised ecological planning, vegetation surveys, innovative communication concepts and sustainable development cooperation. The company's name encodes its three operating pillars — Ecology, Communication and Organisation — which it presents as the basis of its success in nature conservation. Over time E.C.O. has expanded its geographic reach well beyond Austria. Its website states that it has contributed to the conservation of natural habitats in more than 40 countries and has completed 622 projects for 160 long-standing customers, producing 230 publications and 5,357 km² of mapping. It has worked with a wide range of public institutions and research bodies, including ASFINAG, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Joanneum Research and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and cooperates with international institutions, NGOs and associations such as Alparc, EUROPARC, IUCN, Ramsar, UNESCO and WWF. A significant recent chapter has been the company's involvement in the Balkans. In March 2023 the Vjosa Wild River National Park was established in Albania, protecting the river from the border with Greece to the Adriatic Sea, including four tributaries. E.C.O. was commissioned by IUCN to prepare the first management plan for the park, working with national and international partners and a broad stakeholder process to define activities, objectives and plans for the next ten years. The company has also supported the UNESCO nomination process for Shkodër/Skadar Lake in Albania and Montenegro, and has carried out peatland conservation and visitor management work at Egelsee, including new boardwalks and information facilities. E.C.O. continues to operate as an active private company led by managing director Dr. Hanns Kirchmeir, with a team of project managers and specialists covering landscape planning, vegetation ecology, human geography, communication and GIS.

• Company founded (over 25 years of operation as of the official website statement)

• Vjosa Wild River National Park established in Albania in March 2023; E.C.O. commissioned by IUCN to prepare the first management plan

• Support for UNESCO nomination process for Shkodër/Skadar Lake in Albania and Montenegro

• Peatland conservation and visitor management at Egelsee with new boardwalks and information facilities

Science-based, practical and forward-looking partner for nature conservation, protected areas and certified regions.

• Ecological planning

• Landscape assessments

• Biodiversity monitoring

• Management plans

• Visitor management

• Visitor information

• Restoration

• Forest ecology

• Remote sensing

• Conservation research

• Protected area development

• Development cooperation

• Legal advice

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