FotoQuest Austria

Large forests make up almost half of Austria’s landscape, while farmland and grasslands make up about 20% each. Change, however, is happening everywhere. Daily in Austria, 190,000 m2 of land is built over for new commercial, residential and transportation use. With increased urban expansion comes higher risk of flooding. Meanwhile, Austria’s wetlands, which store large amounts of CO2, are shrinking, but we don’t know by how much as they have not been measured in 25 years. As wetlands become drained, they release this CO2 into the environment with important climate change implications.

Scientists lack reliable data on land cover needed for sustainable development, climate change research, and nature conservation. To protect Austria’s beautiful and varied landscapes for future generations, we must take stock of its land cover today, and you can help with the FotoQuest Austria app on your smartphone! Besides enjoying the outdoors and collecting important data for science, you also have a chance to earn points to win prizes!

***** How FotoQuest Austria works? *****

1. Start your quest by choosing a destination and use the app to help you get there

2. Take the necessary pictures indicated on the app

3. Answer a few questions about vegetation and land use

4. Upload your Quest, or save to upload later, and earn points for prizes

To learn more, visit http://www.fotoquest.at