EAF Projects HungaryHortobágy National Park

Aims of the project
The aim was to protect sensitive bog-land areas against the undesirable effects of intensive agriculture and privatisation of the surrounding areas. To this end, swamp, peat-bogs and fen-lands were purchased and urgent restoration measures taken including altering the hydrography and converting adjacent farmland to grassland. An awareness raising programme for the local communities was also included.

Location
The Hortobágy National Park is in north-east Hungary, close to the Ukraine border.

Natural values
The National Park is an area rich in swamps, peat bogs and other important wetland habitats covering an area of 15,000 ha. The mosaic of sphagnum communities interspersed with alder and willow fens and reeds is important for the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) and Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). The fen-lands host over 500 vascular plants including the endangered Angelica palustris, ten species of orchid and the Siberian iris.

Threats
The area is threatened by changing ownership giving no guarantee of long-term protection and by the lack of buffer zones around the core area. Farming, including the use of chemicals, is carried out up to the edge of the National Park. Drainage is causing loss of wetland habitat and increasing the risk of fire.

Conservation status
The areas are within the Hortobágy National Park.

Planning and budget
Apart from the purchase of a substantial area of peat-bogs adjacent to, and within, the National Park, ploughed land was re-seeded to increase the habitat of the Great Bustard. A water supply system is planned for a rich fen area at Piricse. Converting farmland to grassland will create a buffer zone for the peat bogs. Reed-cutting and hay-making will be introduced as a demonstration project at Bógó-lapos swamp. Native trees will replace introduced poplar trees in the floodplain of the river Tisza and weed species will be restricted to protect Cirsium furiens (a thistle species) at Debrecen. This work will all be done in co-operation with local people.

The project began in 1998 and cost € 55,680. It is one of several in Hungary protecting Great Bustard habitat.

Project co-ordination
The organisation conducting the work was the Hortobágy National Park Directorate.