Rafaela Schinegger appointed to the Austrian Biodiversity Council and the ÖWAV Board

Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. DI Dr.nat.techn. Rafaela Schinegger from the Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning (ILEN) at the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure (LAWI) has been appointed to two key positions:
She is now a member of the Austrian Biodiversity Council and serves on the Board of the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV).

With these new roles, Schinegger strengthens her position as a bridge between science, policy, and practice in the field of nature conservation planning.

Within the Biodiversity Council, she contributes her expertise in ecological connectivity, spatial development, and ecosystem restoration to help develop evidence-based recommendations for implementing Austria’s biodiversity strategy and aligning it with EU biodiversity goals.

As a member of the ÖWAV Board, she represents the perspective of integrative nature conservation planning, especially in water-related decision-making. Her focus is set on linking flood protection, river development, renewable energy production, and biodiversity conservation – aiming to mainstream nature-based solutions, foster cross-sectoral synergies, and secure the long-term resilience of ecosystems and their services.