EAF Projects HungaryLétavértes & Nyírábrány-Fülöp wetlands and the Hosszúpályi-Konyár alkaline lakes

Aims of the project
The aim of the project was to protect the natural values of the area by purchasing and managing the site of the Létavértes wet meadow, the Nyírábrány-Fülöp wetlands and the alkaline lakes Hosszúpályi-Konyár with their adjoining wet, alkaline pastures.

Location
The wet meadows are located about 120 km from Budapest in eastern Hungary, close to the Romanian border.

Natural values
These adjacent areas cover 127 ha. in total and represent the last remaining wet meadows in this region. They are very important as refuges for many plant species including Iris sibirica, Gentiana pneumonanthe & Orchis laxiflora. There are also several inter-dependent plant communities of special concern as well as an endangered lizard (Lacerta vivipara) and rare butterfly (Thersamonia dispar hungarica).

The Hosszúpályi & Konyár lakes, in particular, are very interesting because they are alkaline, so-called 'stepbowl', sodium-rich lakes. The superb pastures surrounding them are also alkaline. This means that they have a very unusual flora and many rare plant species are found here. So, too, are breeding populations of waterfowl and shorebirds e.g. Kentish plover, avocet, slender-billed curlew. The lakes are an important stepping stone and are visited by migrating birds on their twice-yearly migration route. This area is already a proposed Ramsar site and has been designated an Important Bird Area. All of these areas are part of the Hungarian Ecological Network and are regarded as core areas.

Threats
The wet meadows and species-rich grasslands are threatened by drainage and subsequent conversion to arable agricultural lands. This problem is exacerbated by the recent privatisation of land in Hungary opening access of previously disregarded or neglected lands. If the lands are drained, the species will be lost forever. The lakes are threatened by encroaching agriculture in the surrounding meadows. Fertilisers and pesticides, which run-off into the lakes, are freely used. There is also much disturbance in the breeding season from both legal and illegal fishing and hunting.

Conservation status
All three areas are now enjoying legal protection and form part of the Hortobágy National Park.

Planning and budget
Management plans for the area have already been drawn up with the intention of conserving the natural areas and reconstructing them where necessary. The arable land will be abandoned and returned to grassland. This will be used for low intensity traditional grazing with mowing just once each year. No chemicals will be used on the land. It is hoped, in the future, to link these areas with adjacent areas in neighbouring Romania and set up a trans-boundary, international protection project.

The project began in 1999 and cost € 32700).

Project co-ordination
The project was carried out by the Dél-Nyírség Bihar Landscape Protection Organisation in co-operation with the Hortobágy National Park and the Hungarian Ornithological Society.