The enchanting landscapes of Mezőföld boast numerous valuable aquatic habitats, which not only provide wonderful experiences for nature lovers but also play a key role in preserving biodiversity. The aim of the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate’s EU project was to improve the naturalness of these habitats, increase their extent, and provide homes for protected species.
The development focuses on three internationally significant wetlands located in Fejér County: the areas are the Velence Lake Bird Sanctuary, the Dinnyés-hides, and the Sárrét Landscape Protection Area. All three target areas are designated as Natura 2000 sites, and two of the areas are also part of the Ramsar Convention. By improving water supply, ensuring optimal water management and water level regulation, and increasing periodic water coverage, the conditions for rare species living here, such as aquatic birds, have become more favorable. In addition to water retention, experts have also placed great emphasis on reducing the populations of invasive plant species that threaten naturally occurring habitats.
An especially interesting change has occurred in the area of the Sárrét Landscape Protection Area: with the cessation of mining water extractions, the karst springs have reactivated, resulting in the emergence of large quantities of extremely high-quality water. The utilization of this water also played an important role in the application: distributed throughout the landscape protection area, it ensures the sustainable water supply of the nature conservation areas.
The project not only serves conservation purposes but also offers exciting experiences for visitors. Wetlands and the associated waterbird community are extremely popular attractions among visitors, which is why several new informative and educational elements have been implemented along the Birdsong Trail near the Dinnyési Hides, allowing interested individuals to learn even more about the region’s rich biodiversity, including new information boards and a viewing tower awaiting visitors. The birdwatching tower at Velence Lake’s Birdwatching Center has also been renovated, allowing us to observe the fascinating lives of water birds even more comfortably.
During the project, family days and free guided tours for educators were also organized to familiarize as many people as possible with the area’s natural values. Through the nature trails and various programs, visitors can get closer to nature and understand why it is so important to protect these wetlands.
From the short film of the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate, we can follow the renewal of the involved areas through beautiful footage:
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project KEHOP-4.1.0-15-2016-00054 under the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
