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Nature protection and biodiversity - State and impacts (Hungary)

SOER 2010 Common environmental theme (Deprecated)
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SOER Common environmental theme from Hungary
Published: 26 Nov 2010 Modified: 11 May 2020

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

 
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)

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

 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

 

WATERLOGGED AREAS OF THE CARPATHIAN BASIN BEFORE THE GREAT WATER-WORKS
 

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

 

(flood control, river regulation and drainage works)

Source: http://www.kincseslada.hu/aktualis/content.php?article.362

The map shows that the conditions in the Carpathian Basin at the begining of the 19th century were significantly different from the present status.

 

Box 1.

Natural vegetation coverage in most of our landscape units reaches between 10-30 %, with a high level of fragmentation. Yet at forest areas in the low mountain ranges and parts of the Great Plain over 50 % may occur. http://www.novenyzetiterkep.hu/?q=magyar/node/47

Map B: Naturalness of the vegetation

MAP B: NATURALNESS OF THE VEGETATION

Source: HAS IEBI

 

Habitat map of National Biodiversity Monitoring System has also shown a growing tendency of fragmentation of different habitat types. http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=menu_1731

 MÉTA Programme (See Box 3) proved evidendence of the spread of invasive species. As regards species, natural vegetation is affected by 13.1 %, while the coverage data is around 5.5 %. Most contaminated are the floodplains of Danube and Tisza rivers, and the Small Hungarian Plain.

http://www.novenyzetiterkep.hu/?q=en/english/results/node/630, http://www.novenyzetiterkep.hu/?q=magyar/katalogus/node/85

http://akkrt.metapress.com/content/f680w00860317151/?p=175a346244ec45cd9622b65e744a3824&pi=10

http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=menu_1731

 

 

Box 2.

Based on our present knowledge, around 800 different mosses, 2 800 vascular plant species, 5 000 fungi species and 43 000 animal species can be found in Hungary (of which 40 000 are arthropods, 81 fishes, 16 amphibians, 15 reptiles 366 birds and 85 mammals). The number of plant associations reaches up to 361. Owing to long geographical isolation of the Carpathian basin, there is also an abundance of endemic species. The proportion of endemic species is extremely high (10-30 %) among invertebrates, and as regards plants, 2 % of the Hungarian flora can be found exclusively in the Carpathian basin.

 

Box 3.

The main goals of the MÉTA Programme are the whole country survey and recognition of the actual state of natural and semi-natural vegetation of Hungary, and sound evaluation of our natural vegetation heritage. Themes such as the distribution of habitat types, the naturalness of the vegatation, and the landscapes, threatening factors of biodiversity and the regeneration ability of these habitats are dealt with in detail.

 

Box 4.                    

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

 

Number of protected assets

Of which strictly protected

Fungi

35

Lichens

8

Plants

 

 

Mosses

79

Pteridophytes

45

2

Gymnosperms

1

1

Angiosperms

595

68

Total

720

71

Animals

 

 

Invertebrates

513

32

Vertebrates

482

105

Cyclostomes

2

2

Fish

31

5

Amphibians

18

Reptiles

15

3

Birds

361

81

Mammals

55

14

Total

995

137

Ant-hills

6

-

 

Box 5

According to Hungarian law – with respect to the peculiarity and complex natural value of these formations – all caves, springs, mires, sinkholes, alkaline lakes, kurgans (burial mounds) and earth fortifications have been protected since 1996, when the act on nature protection came into force. At present, 2 845 springs, 876 mires, 768 sinkholes, 379 alkaline lakes, 1 956 kurgans and 373 earth fortifications are listed.

Around 4 100 caves are known, 37 of which longer than 1 km, and 31 deeeper than 100m.

Caves are registered in a database (http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=sub_588)

Caves of an outstanding importance are strictly protected.

(http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/index.php?pg=caves)

 

Box 6

Protected areas have been growing during recent years. At present, 10 national parks, 38 landscape protection regions, 160 nature conservation areas, and a natural landmark making up 847 thousands hectares of natural areas are protected by national law.

http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/orszagos-jelentosegu-egyedi-jogszaballyal-vedett-termeszeti-teruletek

http://www.termeszetvedelem.hu/helyi-jelentosegu-vedett-termeszeti-teruletek

Natura 2000 areas cover 22 % (1.96 million hectares) of the country’s territory, of which an area of 900 thousand hectares is agricultaral land, mainly grasslands. The network consists of 55 special areas of bird protection (ensuring the protection of 78 bird species of European significance living in the country as well as 13 species which migrate through Hungary in great masses. The number of special areas of nature conservation is 467 (1.39 million hectares).

 

 

 

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

 

2000

2009

Categories

hectare

number

hectare

number

National parks

440 838.8

9

482 626.1

10

Landscape protection regions

349 241.7

36

334 491.7

38

Nature conservation areas

25 927.0

138

29 419.2

160

Natural landmark

0.0

1

0.0

1

TOTAL

816 007.5

183

846 537.0

209

 

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

 

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