The number of grazing livestock has increased during the past couple of years
after a massive fall in the 1990s. Next to the area of research, the second largest
artificial fishpond system of Hungary (about 1,600 ha water surface) is operating.
Most of the forested areas are state owned and managed by a state forestry service.
Only 12 % of the forested areas are covered by indigenous species, of which 33 %
remains oak. Touristic activities are dominated by the bird-watching (mainly on the
fishponds). To promote environmental conservation, a 7 km long educational trail
was developed along the edge of the Kisva ´tyon swamp area.
Considering historical development of the landscape, the Kis-Sa ´rre ´t territory,
once called Sa ´rre ´t of the Ko ¨ro ¨s river, has undergone severe landscape changes
during the past 200 years. Extended marshes and fens used to dominate the area
before the landscape was converted resulting in very diverse landscape attributes
and therefore different management types that were adapted to the ecological
conditions. The original state of the land had started to change in the
mid-nineteenth century due to severe water regulation activities between 1856
and 1879. As many areas under constant or temporal water cover disappeared, the
traditional management changed and a significant portion of local inhabitants were
forced to give up traditional way of living. Dried-out areas were converted to arable
lands, while wet parts have started to serve as pastures or hayfields, preserving the
high importance of raising livestock in the region.
There were significant landscape changes in the twentieth century. The creation
of the fishponds near Biharugra village started in 1910, which currently provide
sanctuary for rare bird species. There was extended forestation in 1930s, resulting
in several new wood patches. Despite landscape conversions, some wetlands
remained in a favourable conservation state, remaining today as the last remnants
of the once extended marshes and marshy patches. As a consequence of inland
water regulatory works, the area of marshes has decreased, but their state can be still
considered as almost natural.
The research conducted as a part of this study was based on vegetation mapping,
climate data collection, analysis of former and present management, botanical and
zoological review, and the analysis of soil and water characteristics. In order to
obtain feedback from stakeholders, semi-structured interviews based on open ended
questions according to Leech (2002) were prepared, focusing on management and
the problems that had been experienced that either directly or indirectly connected
to the effects of climate change. The interviews were usually done on the spot with
individual responses given in person.
13.3 Determining Priority of Conservation Aims
Problems reported by stakeholders, as well as drivers and pressures delivered from
sensitivity maps prepared during the HABIT-CHANGE project, focus on those
phenomena that are directly or indirectly connected to climate change and draw
attention to future changes on habitat status and their consequences for land
200
A ´ . Malatinszky et al.
after a massive fall in the 1990s. Next to the area of research, the second largest
artificial fishpond system of Hungary (about 1,600 ha water surface) is operating.
Most of the forested areas are state owned and managed by a state forestry service.
Only 12 % of the forested areas are covered by indigenous species, of which 33 %
remains oak. Touristic activities are dominated by the bird-watching (mainly on the
fishponds). To promote environmental conservation, a 7 km long educational trail
was developed along the edge of the Kisva ´tyon swamp area.
Considering historical development of the landscape, the Kis-Sa ´rre ´t territory,
once called Sa ´rre ´t of the Ko ¨ro ¨s river, has undergone severe landscape changes
during the past 200 years. Extended marshes and fens used to dominate the area
before the landscape was converted resulting in very diverse landscape attributes
and therefore different management types that were adapted to the ecological
conditions. The original state of the land had started to change in the
mid-nineteenth century due to severe water regulation activities between 1856
and 1879. As many areas under constant or temporal water cover disappeared, the
traditional management changed and a significant portion of local inhabitants were
forced to give up traditional way of living. Dried-out areas were converted to arable
lands, while wet parts have started to serve as pastures or hayfields, preserving the
high importance of raising livestock in the region.
There were significant landscape changes in the twentieth century. The creation
of the fishponds near Biharugra village started in 1910, which currently provide
sanctuary for rare bird species. There was extended forestation in 1930s, resulting
in several new wood patches. Despite landscape conversions, some wetlands
remained in a favourable conservation state, remaining today as the last remnants
of the once extended marshes and marshy patches. As a consequence of inland
water regulatory works, the area of marshes has decreased, but their state can be still
considered as almost natural.
The research conducted as a part of this study was based on vegetation mapping,
climate data collection, analysis of former and present management, botanical and
zoological review, and the analysis of soil and water characteristics. In order to
obtain feedback from stakeholders, semi-structured interviews based on open ended
questions according to Leech (2002) were prepared, focusing on management and
the problems that had been experienced that either directly or indirectly connected
to the effects of climate change. The interviews were usually done on the spot with
individual responses given in person.
13.3 Determining Priority of Conservation Aims
Problems reported by stakeholders, as well as drivers and pressures delivered from
sensitivity maps prepared during the HABIT-CHANGE project, focus on those
phenomena that are directly or indirectly connected to climate change and draw
attention to future changes on habitat status and their consequences for land
200
A ´ . Malatinszky et al.