Natura 2000 protection areas on both sides of the Austria-Hungary border are being improved through better research coordination and monitoring of conservation activities.
- 04 July 2019
An important feature of the project is the involvement of the local public in the framework of annual thematic events – “Bat Night” and “Moth Night” – to raise awareness of the importance of nature conservation and the role of cross-border cooperation for this purpose.
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the EU. It consists of special conservation sites, both on land and in water, designated under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. These areas are under increasing pressure due to climate change in general and the agricultural sector in particular.
The Vogelwarte Madárvárta 2 project coordinates the research and monitoring programmes of the Natura 2000 Austria and Hungary border areas. It targets specific species to ensure their long-term conservation management. Awareness of conservation issues is being promoted through the direct involvement of local communities. Bird watching infrastructure is being planned to minimise the disruptive effect tourists can have on breeding grounds. Smaller-scale habitat restoration measures are also being implemented.
Coordinating conservation
While there has been effective cooperation in the fields of cross-border nature management and the development of ecotourism in recent decades, cooperation in the field of eco-monitoring has been limited to individual cases with no institutional backing. The Vogelwarte Madárvárta 2 project is now coordinating these conservation activities on both sides of the border by jointly identifying the target species and habitats.
The activities involve bird monitoring and botanical and faunal studies of different species and habitats, as well as research focused on the aquatic ecosystems in the Lake Fertő and Hanság areas. A cross-border bird ringing campaign has taken place, as has the mapping of birds living among the region’s reeds.
The project has acquired both space photographs of the cross-border areas and research equipment to help achieve its goals. Various studies have taken place to assess the present state of local habitats, the species they harbour and their evolution during the project’s duration. This will enable the project partners to develop appropriate management strategies to conserve and improve conservation efforts. Recommendations to address conservation challenges will be delivered with the project’s final research reports.
Raising awareness
Awareness-raising activities have been planned so that research results are accessible to both experts and the public. Meanwhile, the local population has been drawn into the project through annual thematic events. These include “Bat Night” – attended by an average of 100 people each year – and “Moth Night”, which attracts an average of 30 people annually. These events not only raise awareness about nature conservation but also the role and benefits of cross-border cooperation.
In the context of the project, cross-border specialist scientific conferences are being organised to promote best practices. National parks are greatly benefitting as they can reach more ambitious conservation goals that would otherwise not be possible. The project has also directly resulted in two full-time jobs.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Vogelwarte Madárvárta 2” is EUR 2 227 905, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 893 719 through the “INTERREG V-A Austria - Hungary” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environment and resource efficiency”.