Nature protection :
Don’t blow it – good planets are hard to find.
We have done a lot and left some things undone to minimise our impact on nature. Help us protect nature!
What you should do:
Behave respectfully towards the flora and fauna in the forest. Only walk off the paths if we have to abseil you down. The rope pulleys make a noise. On the platforms, however, there are also quiet moments. Enjoy the surroundings in peace. Take everything you brought with you back home again. Packaging and used tissues can normally be stored in your bags. We have a toilet at the start.
What we have done:
The Palatinate Forest Nature Park is divided into different zones, some of which are under special protection (core zones). Our zipline park is located in a development zone, which has the lowest requirements from a nature conservation perspective. Planning was made more difficult by the fact that part of the originally planned area was located in a so-called quiet zone, for which there are no nature conservation requirements, but which is reserved for ‘recreation in silence’.
Before the construction of our zipline park was approved, a species protection report was commissioned. This required long-term observations of flora and fauna.
No trees were felled for our park. Nevertheless, in consultation with the nature conservation authorities and state forestry departments, compensatory measures were put in place to ensure that sufficient alternative habitats are available for birds and bats that could be disturbed by our facility. Large parts of the Palatinate Forest are also used for forestry. Any visible interventions are due to forestry or traffic safety measures.
Our platforms and ropes are attached to threaded rods, for which we drilled holes in the trees. This method does not affect the vitality of the tree, unlike the commonly used method of wrapping, in which the outer sap- and water-bearing annual rings of the tree are gradually cut off by the growth of the trunk.
The Palatinate Forest is part of a cross-border biosphere reserve. UNESCO biosphere reserves are model regions in which sustainable development in ecological, economic and social terms is to be realised in an exemplary manner. Sustainability becomes sustainable in the broader sense of the word when people understand the issue and reflect on it in their own lives. An experience of nature can be formative. Ideally, those who have experienced it will draw conclusions for their own actions.
The Palatinate Forest and Northern Vosges Biosphere Reserve is a long stretch of land along the German-French border. Almost three quarters of the area is covered by forests of sweet chestnut, beech, spruce and pine trees. You can find more information about our biosphere reserve here ...
The MAB National Committee responsible for biosphere reserves in the Palatinate Forest attaches great importance to creating high-quality opportunities for experiencing nature. We hope that the combination of nature and adventure will give our guests a new and different perspective on the importance of our natural spaces.
Noteworthy aspects of the Elmstein Zipline Park that touch on the theme of natural space/sustainability:
Beacon function for an important, opinion-forming target group, acceptance of other offerings, such as the House of Sustainability.
Educational aspects: ‘Change of perspective’. I see my environment through the eyes of a bird or tree dweller. I experience a tree at all heights (cf. treetop path). Link to content and media formats (‘sustainability rally’).
No land consumption, no foundations or structures, no impact on the forest floor, use of local woods, no damage to the substance, completely dismantlable and recyclable.
‘Gentle’ tourism, as a zipline course can only be used by a limited number of guests by appointment.