Long Term Conservation Tender

Start Date 01012019End Date 31122026Total Budget 17258306 EU Contribution 10354984 PROJECT DESCRIPTIONBACKGROUNDGrasslands in Hungary are almost exclusively semi-natural habitats due to centuries of grazing hay-making and the regulation of water levels. Therefore their conservation status strongly depends on land management practices backed by financial mechanisms. Though grassland habitats still contribute to rural livelihoods the socio-economic need for pastures and hay-making meadows has dramatically declined. Consequently vast areas of semi-natural grasslands have been abandoned and lost along with their valuable habitats flora and fauna. To improve the conservation status of grassland species and habitats of Community interest broad cooperation is needed across sectoral policies involving law enforcement landowners and land users and civil organisations all supported by research organisations.OBJECTIVESThe long-term aim of LIFE-IP GRASSLAND-HU is the implementation of the Hungarian Prioritised Action Framework for Natura 2000 PAF. The project targets 10 habitat types protected under the Habitats Directive with the main focus on semi-natural grassland habitats of significant conservation value that require active habitat management to achieve favourable conservation status. Specific objectives includemanaging grasslands for nature conservationcontrolling shrub encroachment and afforestationaddressing the challenge of habitat fragmentation and the disappearance of ecological corridorscontrolling invasive speciestackling the misuse and over-exploitation of land and resources including tourism sector activitiesraising farmers awareness to support nature conservationaddressing issues relating to water levels andrevising conservation measures for priority and indicator species and habitats.Expected resultsimproved conservation status of targeted semi-natural grassland and related habitats e.g. steppic wood and forests of Community importance in30 Natura 2000 network sites77 ha of land purchased for conservation40 ha of arable land converted into grasslandshrubs of native species cleared from grasslands on 480 ha in 22 Natura 2000 sitesinvasive alien species IAS eradication from 922 ha in 21 Natura 2000 sitesconditions for nature-friendly traditional land management improved or established along with improved management infrastructureimproved hydrological conditions water regimes of targeted habitat types on 2 000 haimproved conservation status of typical and priority species with populations remaining stable or increasing by 0-15 establishment of six European hamster Cricetus cricetus colonies and 4 lesser mole-rat Nannospalax superspecies leucodon colonies andareas of six priority grassland habitats remain stable or increased by up to 10 .In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use