How planning becomes practice is something 31 students from the 4th year of the Environmental and Resource Management program at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein got to experience firsthand: as part of a field day, they visited the IRIS pilot project on the Enns River in Styria.

Planning and Site Visit

In their Project Management class, the students prepared the field day together with the Liezen District Building Authority, the ecological construction supervision team, and the Province of Styria, Department 14 – Flood Protection Management. During a visit to the project site, they gained fascinating insights into the goals and measures of the IRIS project. They also explored the history of the Enns River and its many roles as a habitat, natural space, and economic resource.

Field Day: Planting in Action

On April 21, 2026, the students finally put what they had learned into practice, right at the construction site. The major earthworks for the pilot project had already been completed by this point, so the focus now turned to greening and structuring the project area. With great commitment, the students planted around 1,000 trees, shrubs, and cuttings, and greened an additional 7,000 m² using three different seed mixtures.

It Grows

The field day gave the students the opportunity to apply their expertise in practice and actively contribute to the ecological enhancement of the project area. A good two months after the planting, the results are already visible: the trees, shrubs, and cuttings have taken root well, and the students’ efforts have clearly paid off.

Photo Credits: Land STMK, A14