The unique geographical features of Hungary – the Carpathian Basin surrounded by mountains – its climate, its hydrological characteristics and topographic and lithologic diversity allowed the evolution of diverse landscapes and an extremely rich flora and fauna.

The country – located in the middle of the Carpathian Basin - constitutes a specific ecological unit, making up a substantial part of the Pannonian biogeographical region, one out of the nine biogeographical regions of the European Union. The region is connected, inter alia, to the flora of the Carpathians, the Eastern Alps and the West Balkans (See map 1). This poses a challenge and puts major responsibility on Hungary* to maintain these natural assets and facilitate the continued connection with the surrounding biogeographical regions.

Natural habitats, as well as genetic resources of the wild flora and fauna in the country, show a high level of diversity. Around 2 800 different vascular plant species (2 300 native), and 43 000 animal species in Hungary have been observed. Owing to the long-lasting geographical isolation of the Carpathian Basin, there is also a high abundance of endemic species. Their proportion is extremely high (10-30 %) within some invertebrate groups, and as regards plants, 2 % of the Hungarian flora can be found exclusively in the Carpathian Basin.

Biodiversity – including agrobiodiversity and cultural landscapes – is an exceptional opportunity for sustainable social and economic development. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the expectedly significant regional impacts of climate change, leading to a higher vulnerability of the natural flora and fauna and the ecosystem services.

Map 1. Biogeographical Regions in Europe

Source: UNEP/GRID

*in cooperation with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, having a smaller proportion of the Pannon biogeographical region

Environmental conditions and the state of the ecological values are on the one hand closely related to the clearing of woodlands over thousands of years and to the major water drainage works of earlier centuries (See MAP A). On the other hand, recent social and economic processes have also had impacts on the Hungarian landscape.

In Hungary - like in other countries - changes in land use, exploitation of natural resources, and the increasing environmental pressures have led to fragmentation, partial destruction and degradation of natural habitats.

Regarding the conservation status of our 46 habitat types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and that of the 211 species of EU importance, 11 % and 25 % respectively are in a favourable conservation status (according to an evaluation made in 2007, in line with the EU criteria). The most vulnerable habitats are floodplains, other wetlands, forests and open grasslands. Appearance and spread of invasive species are of major concern. (See Box 1)

As a result of nature conservation measures, natural and semi-natural habitats of high ecological value (according to the National Ecological Network survey) still make up more than 30 % of the territory of the country. Maintaining this favourable ratio is a priority for nature conservation.

In total, there are 86 habitat types and thousands of plant and animal species, the majority of which are endemic, relict species or associations. A number of special 'Pannonian' habitats occur only in this area (See Box 2). Recognition and mapping of the habitat types and sound evaluation of the natural vegetation heritage was conducted in the framework of the MÉTA programme (Landscape Ecological Vegetation Database and Map of Hungary) (See Box 3).

Highland and lowland forests predominantly consisting of deciduous species form an important part of the natural heritage. Due to the national afforestation programme, the forest area has grown gradually during the last decades. The aspects of sustainability and ecology have gained importance in forest management. (Afforestration entailed the appearance of some alien trees, yet on the whole, the proportion of forest area covered by native tree species has grown). By 2009 forest land amounted to 20.6 %.

Figure 1. Changes in forest area, Afforestration

Source: Central Agricultural Office, Directorate of Forestry

Rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes facilitate the improvement of the ecological status of wetlands and the restoration of former wetlands. Taking into account the expected impacts of climate change, these programmes are to be continued. Likewise, protection and maintenance of grasslands (e.g. lowland sand and loess grasslands) require special attention.

At present 720 plant, 35 fungi, 8 lichen, 995 animal species together with 6 anthills are protected by national law (See Box 4)

The conservation of the genetic diversity of crops and livestock is also a high priority (in order to protect the countryside and help adapting to climate change) and is promoted by governmental programmes.

The country is also rich in abiotic natural formations. Rock formations of different geological eras, rare minerals, fossils and caves are of special value. Caves, springs, mires, sinkholes, alkaline lakes, kurgans (burial mounds) and earth fortifications are ex lege protected natural areas in Hungary. (See Box 5)

National protected areas have expanded by around 30 000 hectares since 2000 (now this territory makes up 9.1 % of the country). The Natura 2000 sites, designated according to the EU nature conservation guidelines, cover approximately 22 % of the territory of Hungary, where nature conservation aspects are of high priority. (See Box 6)

Map 2. nature protection areas in hungary (national protection and natura 2000)

Source: MoRD, NEIS/NCIS

Further details and maps regarding protected areas: http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/protected-areas

http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/_user/downloads/publikaciok/FACTS%20%26%20FIGURES%20OF%20PROTECTED%20SITES%20IN%20HUNGARY.pdf  and Box 6

In addition to national protection and the Natura 2000 network, a number of protected areas serve the conservation of the world's natural heritage as they are protected also as part of international conservation conventions and programmes, such as

·        28 Ramsar sites (an area of 233 000 hectares), wetlands of international importance http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/ramsari-egyezmeny

·        Three European Diploma holding areas (with 2371 hectares) http://ipolytarnoc.kvvm.hu/index.php?p=en_home http://www.szenas.hu/english/index.htm http://www.bfnp.hu/english/pages/european_diploma

·        Five UNESCO MAB biosphere reserves (plus one waiting for favorable UNESCO decision: the Hungarian-Croatian Mura-Drava-Danube Trans-Boundary Biosphere Reserve ), http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=menu_2051

·        and eight UNESCO World Heritage sites (and further four areas of nature protection importance expected to be part of the World Heritage http://www.vilagorokseg.hu/menu3.html

MAP 3: International protected areas

 

Source: MoRD, NEIS, NCIS

Further information, maps, background materials: http://www.kvvm.hu/index.php?lang=2, http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?lang=en , http://geo.kvvm.hu/tir_en/viewer.htm

http://www.obki.hu/en/index.shtml , http://www.obki.hu/en/research/areas.shtml

http://www.obki.hu/en/research/project.shtml

Map A: Waterlogged areas of the carpathian basin before the great water-works

Box 4.                    

TABLE A: Protected  natural assets in Hungary ( As of  31/12/2009)

TABLE B: Changes in the main data of Natural areas protected by National  law

Endangering factors of natural habitats and wild species in Hungary show a big variety according to regions. One of the important factors is the changing land use: the outstanding ratio and quality of crop land (in a European context), significant water management and drainage works (with the purpose of reducing production risks) have modified natural conditions of the living environment at regional scale, especially in lowland areas. Inappropriate land management in some areas has led to the intensification of erosion and deflation processes. (See Box 7)

As a consequence of socio-economic development due to urbanisation, an expansive agglomeration belt has evolved around some major cities. At the same time, active population of small towns and farms is decreasing, though they have an important role in the protection of landscape (See Box 8)

Several land-use types may cause pollution – either at a point source (e.g. heavy industry, chemical industry, backwardness of urban infrastructure), or on a surface (e.g. pollution from agricultural chemicals). Complex environmental effects of open pit and underground mining could be detected (in the previous decade the level of the Trans-Danube karst water decreased, but after the abandonment of mining it has risen again).

As a result of economic restructuring and setting up of environmental regulations and institutions after the political transformation in 1989 and due to the municipal environmental infrastructure development programmes (in the fields of wastewater and waste management), the above mentioned environmental loads have decreased significantly and preventive conservation activities gained importance. The 'inherited' problems from the previous era, as well as problems related to large-scale new investments involving high material and energy consumption and unfavorable land use patterns prevail.

Recent changes in land use have often led to conflicts: the optimal use of natural resources and horizontal aspects of sustainable regional development were often overwritten by market forces (especially in the capital and in some major cities along motorways). As regards agriculture, it is characterised by changing, unpredictable market conditions, prices and subsidies. These conditions are also reflected in the hectic evolution of organic farming. http://portal.ksh.hu/pls/ksh/docs/eng/xstadat/xstadat_annual/i_ua001.html

Construction of (mainly road) transport infrastructure and the related local logistics investments in recent years have resulted in further land take. Issues related to waterways also affect the environment. Density of inland waterway traffic on the main rivers of Hungary is near the European average (HU: 4.5 %, EU: 5.6 % in 2006). The Danube runs across several countries which show significant differences in the features of their waterways and their relevant natural assets. With respect to these differences, international cooperation is of utmost importance in order to minimise adverse effects across borders. For example, changes and dredging in the riverbed due to navigation development cause decreasing water levels which negatively affect the water bodies and the wildlife of floodplains, and result in the drying of habitats. This negative process is also accelerating the spread of invasive species.

Other cross-border phenomena and international environment and nature conservation policy measures in general affect the state of our natural heritage. We find positive as well as negative examples (e.g. spread of invasive species, significant pollutions resulting from mining and other industrial activities of our neighbouring countries especially in terms of river ecosystems, while joint programmes for ecological network development and preservation are progressive examples).

All the above mentioned processes and activities may contribute to the fragmentation of natural habitats. Smaller patches of habitats are more vulnerable to changes in the environment and less resistant to the appearance of invasive species.

One of the main challenges for the future is how to cope with the increasing need for biomass (energy plantation, bio-ethanol plants) – mostly in order to increase energy production and to scale up biodiesel production. In this field, there is a need for particular consciousness and facilitating only sustainable, environmentally friendly use of biomass potential as well as the harmonisation of different land use needs (food production and food safety, environment protection, energy production, etc.) is essential.

Environmental policy efforts act as a strong driving force, facilitating a shift from pure conservation-focussed intervention – exclusively on protected areas – to a more complex approach aiming, on the one hand, at the integrated management of protection, education, research and development and sustainable use of resources, and, on the other hand at extending nature protection aspects together with rural development goals to the whole territory of the country (through landscape management models).

See also: the first chapter of the Third National Environmental Programme and results of the MÉTA Programme (Box 10).

For further details see:

Assuming that today’s trends do not change, i.e. consumer demands further expand, infrastructural developments continue and the pace of setting aside of agricultural lands remains the same, the present unfavourable effects (such as decrease and fragmentation of natural habitats, increasing endangerment of the vegetation, including several endemic plant association and species) are expected to intensify.

Regarding nature conservation activity and the battle against biodiversity loss, a number of results have already been achieved. Future conservation of the diversity of species, associations and habitats requires an even more comprehensive approach.

Conservation of natural assets can increasingly be realised through preserving the landscape as a whole, through a more partnership-based maintenance that includes resource management and through better integration of nature conservation aspects into sectoral programmes. This integrated approach demands higher cooperation of sectors and enhanced regional integration.

Environmental issues in a general political context were not prioritised until the 1990s. Since then, a shift regarding social values and growing awareness and an increasing need for a healthy environment and for conserving the good status of natural assets can be observed. Provided this shift of social values continues and EU and national sustainable development policies prevail, the above-mentioned negative effects might be avoided or at least slowed down.

More space – as well as incentives - should be given to agro-environmental schemes; integrated water management (formulated with regard to changing needs and conditions, and providing effective solutions for issues such as flood, inland inundation and drought), for a wide spectrum of environmental education and for resource and energy efficient economy. Optimal and sustainable use of the country’s natural and cultural assets, the maintenance and spread of sustainable land utilisation types that contribute to increasing both biological activity and biological and landscape diversity should be promoted in the future.

In this context, climate change may have significant ecological impacts with regard to the agriculture and natural ecosystems in the region. (Among the most probable consequences we may find the shift of zonal vegetation boundaries, loss of native species and growing presence of invasive ones, appearance of new pests and pathogens, rearrangement of trophic chains. These may lead to a decline in ecological stability and adaptive capacity). Climate change is expected to have  varied impacts on habitat types of Hungary, especially on wetlands. (See Box 11)

There is a great tradition of nature conservation activities, legislation at national level as well as cooperation with neighbouring countries. Hungary is a member of all relevant international conventions and agreements (for the list of conventions and for the main results see http://www.ff3.hu/upload/Conventions_en.pdf and Box 12 respectively). European Union accession gave a renewed impetus to nature conservation activities, and regulations are consistent and entirely compliant with EU legislation.

The National Environmental Programme and its Annexes (National Biodiversity Strategy and National Nature Conservation Master Plan) provide a comprehensive framework for environmental nature conservation policy.

http://www.kvvm.hu/cimg/documents/96_2009_OGY_hatarozat_NKP_3.pdf

Strategic documents on specific thematic areas of nature conservation are also available (see Box 13). These documents were elaborated in broad cooperation and reflect the new, integrative approach of nature conservation. Due to the growing awareness of interlinkages, there are certain efforts to integrate aspects of biodiversity and landscape protection gradually into sectoral policies (see Box 14).

As regards the funding of recent years’ concrete measures targeting the mitigation of negative environmental effects and the restoration or improvement of present natural status (such as the protection of endangered species, the restoration of damaged habitats or ecotouristic developments) were mainly implemented by EU co-financed projects.

FIGURE 3. IMPLEMENTED, ON-GOING AND PLANNED PROJECTS OF NATURE CONCERVATION, 2006-2010

Source: MoRD

In the last decade, habitat reconstructions comprised restoration of wetlands (as continuation of former activities), restoration of some grasslands (which have been ploughed) and improving the naturalness of forests. Territorial scope of the reconstructions have been extended from ten or hundred hectare scale to thousand of hectares or more (see Box 15).

In order to protect our abiotic natural values, they are promoted using modern and innovative presentation techniques. A number of visitor and educational centres, new nature trails, and many other exhibition sites have been created (see Box 16).

In general, interventions implemented purely in the field of nature protection are part of the good management of natural values component environment and energy operational programme of the New Hungary Development Plan (NSRF). The primary resources of funding the promotion of environmental agricultural practices is the New Hungary Rural Development Plan. From 2002, there has been a constant increase in area receiving agro-environmental support (1.5 million hectares in 2008) (see Box 17).

Conservation programmes of several species have been launched in the framework of EU cofinanced  LIFE and LIFE+  programmes. See e.g.: http:// www.rakosivipera.hu http://www.imperialeagle.hu/indexa.html, http://www.vvt.gau.hu/life/netang2004/Netang2004.htm http://www.tuzok.hu/index.php?p=news&nyelv=eng&id=51, http://www.tartosszegfu.hu/ www.falcoproject.hu and Box 18.

TABLE 1. results of protection of predator bird species

Source: MoRD

Among the numerous other LIFE, LIFE+ projects (totalling 40 projects, with a support of 34 million euro between 2001 and 2009), the ’Pannon Seed Bank’ is worth mentioning, aiming at the long-term seed preservation of the wild vascular flora of the Pannonian biogeographical region http://www.obki.hu/en/research/project1.shtml?cmd[280]=i-280-fd17f43643b3a37dfa7f30f657f13bb0

The ‘Unobstructed Sky’ project aims to minimise bird deaths resulting from collision with high voltage power cables (see also Box 18).

With respect to sustainable use of natural values, traditional forms of farming, preserving genetic diversity and other local peculiarities are fostered. National park directorates play an important role in this process, especially by keeping and breeding indigenous domestic animals such as grey cattle, racka sheep, Tsigai and cikta sheep, buffalo and domestic horse types, contributing to the in-situ conservation of genetic diversity.

The number of livestock kept as part of the property management carried out by national park directorates has doubled since 2002. The total number of this livestock reached 9617.

Figure 4.: changes in the number of Livestock in the property of national park directorates

Swiss Contribution and INTERREG programmes offer additional sources for nature conservation projects.

Activity of civil organisations specialised in nature conservation are outstanding both in terms of raising awareness and as development projects (either own initiatives or joint projects of NGOs the national authorities of nature conservation). See e.g.

• http://www.ceeweb.org/members/directory/hungary.html
• http://www.mtvsz.hu/index_en.php
• http://www.wwf.hu/
• http://www.mme.hu/
• http://www.holocen.hu/index.php?lang=eng&cid=
• http://www.nimfea.hu/english/index.htm

Environmental consciousness of individuals and communites is also enhanced by the so-called environmental knowledge chain (a comprehensive environmental education integrated into each level of formal education http://www.kvvm.hu/index.php?pid=139), by constant development of knowledge and information systems and by the stimulation of research and innovation (see Box 19).

Conservation activity requires the continuous review of natural assets. It is primarily carried out via the Hungarian Biodiversity Monitoring System (HBMS) which enables monitoring several protected or endangered species (in 20 subgroups, in 11 separate projects) and providing information – among others – on small-scale habitat changes, the naturalness of habitats or the level of contamination with invasive species.

http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/_user/downloads/biomon/biodiverzitas-magyarbeliv-low-res.pdf , http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/hbms

The Nature Conservation Information System (NCIS) as part of the National Environmental Information System (NEIS) fulfils national and EU level data needs and supports the work of authorities as it serves as a basic application of the state nature conservation administration.  All data stored are spatially referenced. Maintenance of NCIS together with HBMS including regional Small-Balaton, Drava) and thematic (e.g. birds) monitoring programmes is a priority (see Box 20).

NCIS and HBMS are interconnected and provide a platform, WildWatcher, for public participation in the monitoring of fourteen endangered but widespread animal and plant species. This complex scheme was launched in September 2009. The number of records exceeded 2700 by the end of March 2010.

• http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=menu_2204
• http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/_user/downloads/publikaciok/TIR_IMS_poszter.pdf

Regarding the most important measures described above, it can be concluded that, besides the extensive territorial protection, the focus gradually shifts to landscape protection, environmental education, research and development, and sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

Based on the forward-looking research programmes running or carried out so far, great attention shall be paid to the effects of climate change on habitats, associations and species (see Box 21.)