Results (III) of the project:

„Sustainable conservation on Hungarian

Natura 2000 sites”

Péter Tóth

BirdLife Hungary (MME)

Swiss Contribution - Project Evaluation Conference

Gödöllő – 15th May 201.

Aims and contributors of the project

• Comprehensive planning of long term, sustainable management

of Natura 2000 sites

• Members of the consortium:

• Hungarian Ornithological Society (MME)

• Szent István University, Gödöllő

• Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Science

• External assistance: volunteers, stakeholders, national park

directorates

• Budget: 560 m HUF

• Project duration: May 2012 – April 2016

Project sites

HUBN10006 Mátra HUBN20044 Recski Hegyes-hegy HUBN20047 Mátra északi letörése HUBN20048 Gyöngyöstarjáni Világos-hegy és Rossz-rétek HUBN20049 Mátrabérc–fallóskúti-rétek HUBN20050 Gyöngyöspatai Havas HUBN20051 Nyugat-Mátra HUBN20046 Gyöngyösi Sár-hegy HUKN10002 Kiskunsági szikes tavak és az őrjegi turjánvidék HUKN20009 Felső-kiskunsági szikes tavak és Miklapuszta HUKN20013 Fülöpszállás–Soltszentimre– csengődi lápok HUKN20021 Ökördi–erdőtelek–keceli lápok

Project tasks

Development of monitoring methodology

Monitoring + data collection

Natura 2000 maintenance plans TIR

Management of project sites Deeper understanding of the status of the Natura 2000 network

Development of fish monitoring methodology, cadastral

survey, monitoring (faunistic survey)

Development of methodology Survey of the watercourses of the Kiskunság and the Mátra Ecological assessment of water bodies

Monitoring of reptiles and amphibians Focal species: European pond turtle

• Investigation of predation

patterns (camera traps; nest

guards)

• Genetic research:

As shown by DNA-samples,

there is no significant difference

among Hungarian populations

• Potential parasites (most

importantly:flatworms)

Bird monitoring Integrated methodology

• MMM – Common Bird Survey: relative density estimates for

frequent bird species

• RTM – Rare and Colonial Bird Survey: density estimates

for rare birds

• MAP – Bird Atlas Programme: distribution areas and

local occurrence

Bird Atlas Programme

• Presently

(11.05.2015), data

from 1092 2,5*2,5

km UTM quadrats

• 302 (out of the

1042) 10*10 km

UTM quadrats

• 1938 uploaded

species lists

• More than 600,000

records

Bird monitoring

Bat monitoring

161 sampling points

Visual, mist-netting and detector-aided

surveys

Ongoing processing of 100,000

audiorecords

Ongoing database building

Radiotracking in near future

Monitoring of mammalian predators

Under development:

A website for collecting data by

online questionnaries;

Otter field survey;

A new protocol for fur collection in

the field;

Novel genetic methods;

Improved methodology for

assessing burrow densities;

Application:

Acoustic surveys

Small predator traps

Cameratraps

• National survey of all species (questionnaires);

• Otter: evidence on so far unknown occurrences from the Mátra

• Fur traps: low efficiency, but potential for finding evidence of the presence of steppe polecats (Kiskunság) and wild cats (Mátra) and the lynx (Mátra)

• Other surveys: fox, badger, jackal, stoat, stone marten, pine marten

• Data collection and data validation on the occurrence of polecats (Kiskunság NP) and brown bears (Duna-Ipoly and Bükk NP)

Monitoring of mammalian

predators

Analysis of habitat trends from the 1780s

onwards

• National level analysis: long-term habitat changes • 5000 randomized sampling points • 7 temporal snap-shots • Graphs on 21 different habitat types • Archive maps, aerial photos and satellite imagery • Historical botanical data (from the 18th century) • Spatial analysis of 120 sampling sites • Interviews about the changes of the last 60-70 ys

0,0

20,0

40,0

60,0

80,0

100,0

120,0

140,0

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

Fre

qu

en

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) (

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83

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Year

91F0 Keményfás ligeterdők: 6,6%

maradt

Interviews with local inhabitants about the land use of certain habitats from the 1950s onwards

• Pasture use, pasture clearing • Meadow improvement • Extensive grassland management • Use of floodplains and riparian forests • Reedbed and marshland management • Smallholder use of forests • Management actions in response to

environmental changes • Sustainable use of habitats

Conservation monitoring of Natura 2000

forests

• Support for the monitoring of the structural and functional state of Natura 2000 forests

• Improvement and general discussion towards a cheaper, more effective methodology

• Using the results of the Forest Reserve Programme as a reference

• Complementing the

national reports

Foundations of monitoring the impact of

big game

• Assembling an objective, cost-effective and representative

sampling methodology

• Assessing the positive and the negative impact of big game

populations

• Development of a methodology complementing the monitoring of

the natural state of forests

• 7 sites

• 2100 sampling points

• 35 variables

• More than 73,000 records

• 154-km-long route surveyed

Results of monitoring the impact of big

game • Conclusions and selected methodology for

the impact assessment of big game species

• A field guide to the signs of big game

presence and monitoring methods

• Big game impact assessment from 7 Special

Protection Areas in the Mátra

• A total of 2,100 sampling points

• Providing data for the maintenance plan of

the Mátra SPA

• Development of a decision-making algorithm

based on big game impact as a bioindicator

Dead wood assessment • Amount of dead wood

forest reserves: 80 m3/ha

economic forests: 24 m3/ha;

• Proportion of standing dead wood is

higher in economic forests

• No. of moss spp. ~ amount

of lying dead wood

• No. of fungus spp. ~

amount of lying dead wood

Young economic forest Mid-aged econ. forest Old economic forest

Forest reserve Forest reserve Forest reserve

Natura 2000 maintenance plans

- 12 sites involved - Detailed background data (flora & fauna, habitats, land use) - Input data from the other work packages -Based on thematic maps – harmonized among management units (protecion of habitats & bird fauna) - Guidelines fitting the subsidy scheme High level of involvement of social groups -Background research on socioeconomic attributes Assessment of stakeholder groups - 48 interviews (52 persons) - List of stakeholders (167 persons) - Stakeholder analysis (47 persons) - Discussion forums (3 locations)

Habitat management pilot project

Temporarily flooded pastures

- Different grazing and mowing patterns

- Different grazing levels

- Diminishing the size of reed stands

Forest habitats

- Assuring continuous forest cover

- Management of clearings

Testing management guidelines

Assessment of the impact of

management practices on

flora&fauna

Publicity, communication

- Active connection with the Swiss partners (SVS/BirdLife Switzerland)

- Study trip, exchange of know-how

-Suggestions for agro-environmental management policies

-Publication of a field guide (joint project with the Ministry of Agriculture)

- Practical information on the website (natura.2000.hu)

- Information brochures and other publications

Summary

-58 finalized monitoring methodologies

-representative sampling on cca. 500,000 ha

-Detailed management guidelines for 54 spp/habitat types

-12 Natura 2000 maintenance plans under discussion

- 1 policy to be put in force - >20 informative articles

- >10 scientific papers

Thank you for you attention! toth.peter@mme.hu

The project is supported by a grant from Switzerland through Swiss Contribution.

Co-authors:

Biró Marianna, Boldogh Sándor, Bölöni János, Estók Péter, Faragóné

Huszár Szilvia, Fehér Ádám, Grónás Viktor, Halpern Bálint, Heltai Miklós,

Horváth Ferenc, Katona Krisztán, Králl Attila, Molnár Zsolt, Müller Tamás,

Nagy Károly, Nagy Zsolt, Ódor Péter, Patkó László, Podmaniczky László,

Staszny Ádám, Szabó László, Szemethy László, Szentes Katalin