Success in Nature and Environmental Protection: Working Together to Protect the Langkofel Group in the Dolomites

We congratulate the Dachverband für Natur- und Umweltschutz and the PAN members Nosc Cunfin and Heimatpflegeverband Südtirol on their remarkable success in stopping the Monte Pana – Saltria lift project! Their tireless efforts played a major role in protecting the beauty and integrity of the Dolomites.

The recent municipal election results in Wolkenstein, St. Ulrich, and St. Christina send a clear message: there is strong public support for nature conservation. This success shows how powerful collective action can be in defending the natural world.

But the work isn’t done yet.

The next goal is to secure official protection for the Langkofel Group and the Cunfin Plateau. These areas are unique and unspoiled—and they need lasting environmental protection.

Expanding the Nature Monument “Steinerne Stadt”: A Key Step for Conservation

On April 4, 2025, several environmental and alpine organizations presented a detailed plan in Bozen to expand the nature monument Steinerne Stadt, a special area at the base of the Langkofel.

This striking landscape was formed by a prehistoric rockfall. It is one of the Dolomites' most impressive geological sites and provides habitat for many rare and protected species. Archaeological findings also show that this place holds cultural value going back to the Middle Ages.

Today, only 115 hectares—less than one third—of the Steinerne Stadt are officially protected. Expansion is long overdue. Yet the area is under growing pressure. Ski tourism, in particular, is causing harm. In 2022, a ski trail was illegally widened through the area, damaging this fragile ecosystem.

Expanding the nature monument is not only important to protect this natural gem—it’s also part of the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to protect at least 30% of land areas by 2030. The Steinerne Stadt meets all the criteria for this.

A Call to the Provincial Government

The organizations involved are calling on the South Tyrolean government to act quickly and approve the expansion. Only this can prevent further damage to this unique site.

Now is the time to take responsibility—so the Steinerne Stadt and the Dolomites can be preserved for future generations.

Together, we can make a real difference for nature and the environment in South Tyrol and beyond.

Caring for nature means thinking beyond today — it's a commitment to future generations.