Wetlands

Creation, protection and management of wetlands

Since our Association was established, our endeavour has been to revive and restore, then manage and conserve the wetlands situated in the Hortobágy. Our main objectives are the restoration of the region’s deteriorated marshy meadows and wormwood sodic steppes that were on many sites intersected by channels and converted to paddy fields, as well as the rehabilitation of borrow pits, goose farms and pastures damaged by geese. These destroyed or spoilt habitats are being reconverted into valuable wetlands, where presentation of wildlife and awareness raising is to be provided.

 

 

First the Karácsonyfok Lake was created in 1995. On the site of a purchased paddy field a ten-hectare large sodic lake like habitat was created, especially adjusted to the breeding requirements of Avocets, and on a further 50 hectare area a diverse wetland was established for lapwings, godwits and Common Redshanks.

 

In spring several thousands of shorebirds and ducks visit these lakes, where besides common species many rarities have also been recorded, such as Lesser White-fronted Goose, Green-winged Teal, Great Snipe, Terek Sandpiper and Citrine Wagtail.

 

In 1999-2000 the Karácsonyfok Lake was enlarged, and thereby the extent of sodic lake like habitats had been enhanced with a further seven hectares, and grazing livestock was employed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the area. In 2001 the management of the site was taken over by the Hortobágy Public Foundation.


The marshy meadow called Kis-Jusztus was probably formed from an ancient riverbed of the River Tisza and restored by us (140 hectares). On a ten-hectare large area a sodic lake like habitat was created in 1995.

 

In 1997, by conducting new activities, birds’ breeding conditions were improved, and at present Lapwings, Common Redshanks, godwits, Avocets and Common Terns are breeding in the area. From the observation hides one can witness the migration of shorebirds and wild ducks and, in late summer over a thousand Greylag Geese with their young can be recorded to congregate in the sodic lake.

 

Since 2000, indigenous Mangalica pigs have been kept in the marshland to provide nature protection management. In spring 2003 an observation hide was erected for the public.

 

In 1996 we continued creating wetland habitats by filling a pond in an abandoned goose farm in Kis-Szeg with water. This 20-hectare wetland habitat situated in the dry northern puszta region now serves mainly as feeding grounds for waterbirds breeding on the adjacent fish ponds, and also as a stopover site and summer gathering area.

Since then, according to the management plan, the lake and the surrounding puszta are flooded either in spring or in autumn. In certain years (1997, 1999) significant numbers (over 5000) of roosting Cranes were recorded following the inundation conducted in autumn.

 

Also in 1996, a sodic lake habitat was created in Nagyszik from an abandoned chain of borrow pits by removing the closed vegetation of woody growth (oleaster) and by establishing breeding islands on the site.

 

The next year breeding lapwings, redshanks, godwits and avocets were recorded in exceptional densities in the artificially inundated lake. Unfortunately, however, grazing was abandoned in the area without which the abundant birdlife could not survive. At present we are working to revive the old grazing structure that helped form the original features of the lake.

 

In 1998 a large-scale (100 hectares) wetland restoration project was commenced in the course of which the Dinnyés marshland situated in the northern Hortobágy was awaken from its long, deep sleep. Inundation carried out in autumn has created favourable feeding and roosting sites for migrating Cranes and the globally threatened Lesser White-fronted Geese several times since 1998. For the Lesser White-fronted Geese migrating through Hungary, the restored pasture lake-like marshland came to serve as almost the only stopover site in the puszta.  Cranes use the marshland both as a daytime and a night-time roosting site in various numbers.

 

From 1997 on the plans of further wetland habitats have been prepared. In co-operation with the Wild Water Foundation (Vadvíz Alapítvány), an implementation plan was made for the Vókonya wetland habitat (200 hectares), which was not realised then due to lack of funds. Floods and inundated areas serve as breeding sites for several thousands of birds which, in years of drought are able to find suitable conditions only on restored or created wetland habitats. In 2002 we applied for and were granted LIFE funds for the creation of the lake, the entire elimination of the adjacent paddy field system and for the re-establishment of an ecologically high level of grazing with local farmers as stakeholders. The project was commenced in July 2002 and was closed in July 2006 with a total budget of 829,534 Euros.

 

The extent of existing and planned wetland habitats will amount to 550 hectares, the conservation and management of which will demand and has demanded much time and energy from the members of the Hortobágy Environmental Association, who take part in the monitoring of breeding and migrant bird species, in maintenance of observation hides and water control structures, assist to set back vegetation on the artificial breeding islands and to create new ones. Members are free to visit the areas managed by us and to observe and survey the wildlife there.