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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Hungary’s location in the Carpathian Basin implies not only diversity, but also a particular uniformity and uniqueness, resulting in the formation of a special Hungarian biogeographic region, the Pannonian Biogeographic region (or Pannonicum) recognized by the European Union. According to present-day knowledge, Hungary’s diversity contains approximately 600 species of moss, 2,200 species of vascular plants, 2,500 species of fungi and 42,000 species of animals. As a result of the geographical isolation of the Carpathian Basin, there are also a number of endemic species. 695 plant species, 965 animal species and 35 mushroom species are protected by national law. Since its accession to the European Union (EU), Hungary complies with the obligation to protect species of Community importance listed in the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives of the EU.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

In many cases the various types of protected areas are overlapping in Hungary. Today, 9.3% of the country’s territory is protected natural area, 12% of which is under strict protection. Approximately 21% of Hungary is part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network and almost 39% of the Natura 2000 areas are protected at national level.

Percentage of Forest Cover

Currently, forests in Hungary cover 19.9 % of the country. Approximately 21 % of the forests are protected or strictly protected natural areas. Hungary has designated 63 forest reserves, where all human activities are permanently suspended in order to allow natural processes to prevail.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Hungary’s NBSAP was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Water and in order to further mainstream biodiversity concerns, the inter-sectoral review of the NBSAP is planned to be done in the near future.

During the development of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan the aim was to have all relevant sectors, governmental and non-governmental organizations work together for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The NBSAP consists of a framework chapter determining the strategic objectives of biodiversity conservation and nine thematic chapters (mining; forestry and forest management; fisheries management, fishing, angling; agriculture; regional development and tourism; land use; hunting; water management; and molecular biology methods).
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (Hungarian)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (Hungarian)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

In September 2006 the Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water joined the IUCN Countdown Initiative to further contribute to halt the loss of biodiversity through taking the following actions: (1) Enhancing the network of designated sites (Increasing the total area of protected sites and sites of specific ecological networks; Within the protected areas, increasing the proportion of state-owned land managed by conservation bodies; Active protection of protected sites with high natural values; Increasing coherence of Natura 2000 and non-Natura 2000 protected sites; Increasing the size and coherence of natural and semi-natural habitats through elaboration and maintenance of ecological networks in Hungary); (2) Complying with EU legislation and international conventions signed by Hungary in the field of nature conservation and specifically the 2010 Biodiversity Target; (3) Strengthening financial and legislative capacities for nature conservation (Supporting allocation of financial resources for measures taken to halt the loss of biodiversity, in particular through the second National Development Plan; Promoting the integration of biodiversity conservation and the 2010 Biodiversity Target into the legislation and policy of other sectors at the local, regional, national and international level); (4) Raising public awareness of the 2010 Biodiversity Target (Raising public awareness and enhancing environmental consciousness through education of children, especially through on-site education; Development of the ‘eco-school’ network and launching the establishment of ‘green kindergartens’; Improving the communication with local governments in line with the concept of ‘think globally, act locally’); (5) Management of sites and species (Implementation of the Action Plans of target species so as to be able to effectively protect them; Development of, and integration of the 2010 Biodiversity Target within, management plans for target sites to promote the conservation of their special natural values; Establishment of a monitoring system for the analysis of the nature conservation status of target species; Development of a national strategy and management prescriptions towards reducing the impact of invasive alien species on natural biodiversity).

Initiatives in Protected Areas

In many cases the various types of protected areas are overlapping in Hungary. Today, 9.3% of the country’s territory is protected natural area, 12% of which is under strict protection. Approximately 21% of Hungary is part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network and almost 39% of the Natura 2000 areas are protected at national level. A National Ecological Network, covering 30% of the territory, has been designated but has not been announced by legislation. Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) have been defined and designated in each national park on land under extensive cultivation, where the preservation and maintenance of nature-friendly cultivation methods help to protect habitats and species. Hungary has 5 Biosphere Reserves extending over 134,000 hectares and 26 Ramsar sites of our most precious and protected wetlands.