Umwelt und Infrastruktur
Biologische Vielfalt und Naturschutz

Forestry, National Park Directorates, professional conservation organisations, green NGOs, research institutions, politicians, Ministry of Rural Development.

The first country report on the implementation of Natura 2000 in Hungary and the situation of species and habitats of community interest highlight that the conservation status of certain water-related and forest habitats is unfavorable or bad in Hungary. The extensive forests of the northern medium mountains are however not sufficiently researched, the sectors (conservation / forestry / specialists) being isolated from each other. Tasks like management of Natura 2000 areas, climate change or the development of forest conservation subsidies are actual tasks which need to be supported by unified strategic decisions based on up-to-date, objective data on forests.

Hungarian registration number: SH 4/13

The conservation status of the Natura 2000 forest areas in the northern medium mountains is improved. For this purpose, newly elaborated assessment and monitoring methodologies lay a sound basis for an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable management of these Natura 2000 areas. During this process, the cooperation between conservation and forestry sectors is clearly strengthened.

First, newly developed, detailed assessments of forests and zoological surveys on data deficient species (bats, insects, birds) are carried out. On the basis of this data, management plans for Natura 2000 forest areas are elaborated, ensuring the protection of the forests and species in close cooperation e.g. with forestry or farmers. The new methods and insights obtained in the northern medium mountains are available for replication in whole Hungary.

The expected results are:

• Assessed state of forests in the northern medium mountains thanks to a newly developed methodology; 
• Replication of this monitoring method (transformed into a general model for whole Hungary);
• Zoological survey results on forest-dwelling bats, xylophagous insects and cavity-dwelling birds; 
• Increased bat populations thanks to bat boxes/towers, drinking places, protection of forest cavities;
• Elaborated recommendations for Natura 2000 management plans.