“TURJÁNVIDÉK” – THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF THE HUNGARIAN LOWLANDS
What are the factors that threaten the wildlife of the Turjánvidék?
Drying out: due to the decreasing amount of precipitation, the warming climate and artificial drainage wetland habitats are gradually shrinking.
Aggressive occupancy by invasive plant species: these species (most importantly black locust, boxelder maple, common milkweed, tree of heaven, Russian olive) wipe out a great part of the indigenous flora and transform the affected habitats into biologically poor areas.
Inappropriate grassland management: intensive mowing takes away the naturally variable structure of meadows decreasing there the richness of species.
What do we do to save the „Turjánvidék”?
- Through water retention and steering measures we aim to stop further drying out of wetland habitats.
- Through taking away non-indigenous tree species and planting – where necessary – indigenous species we aim to improve the value of natural habitats.
- Through the acquisition of areas, the introduction of Hungarian grey cattle and the transformation of cropland and tree plantations into grasslands we aim to create suitable habitats for the Hungarian meadow viper.
- Through consultations we aim to give advice to the military on how to cause the least damage possible in the affected habitats during the use of the shooting range.
- During the entire project great importance is given to the information of the public, the dissemination and monitoring of project results.
Project title: “CONSERVATION OF PRIORITY NATURAL VALUES IN TURJÁNVIDÉK NATURA 2000 AREA SOUTHERN UNIT” LIFE + Nature project
Project duration: 1 September 2011 – 30 September 2018 (extended)
Project partners:
Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate
www.dunaipoly.hu
Ministry of Defence Armament and Quartermaster Office
www.hmflu.gov.hu
Budapest Forestry Company
www.bp-erdo.hu
WWF Hungary
www.wwf.hu
Registration number: LIFE10NAT/HU/000020
Full budget: 2 730 102 EUR
EU support: 2 047 577 EUR ( = 75 % of the whole budget)
Co-financed by the Ministry of Rural Development: 213 910 EUR
