PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) is one of Europe's most threatened venomous snakes. Historically, it was widespread in lowland steppic grasslands of the Carpathian basin. Its range shrank drastically in the 20th century due to intensification of land-use enabled by large-scale drainage projects. The species disappeared from most of itsformer range and today is restricted to ten small, isolated populations in Kiskunsg, Central Hungary, and in Hansg near the north-western Hungarian border.
The main threats to the species are the loss/degradation/fragmentation of viper habitats; increased predator pressure; inappropriate habitat management and problems arising from small population sizes.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE HUNVIPHAB project is the significant improvement of the conservation status of the critically endangered Hungarian meadow viper by:
restoring the former range of the species, wherever possible; increasing the size and extent of populations with improved captive breeding capacities and release techniques; introducing a sufficient level of predator control in viper habitats; and reducing habitat fragmentation with the establishment of ecological corridors. Besides the clear link tothe implementation of the Habitats Directive the project will:
prepare viper-friendly land management guidelines together with recommendation for the Common Agricultural Policy and its schemes; contribute to the conservation of the European Unions natural capital (7th EAP), and to the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Pollination Initiative as well as the European Climate Change Programme; and comply with the objectives and measures of the Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) for Natura 2000, Hungary.
RESULTS
Expected results:
the conservation status of the Hungarian meadow viper will improve by the end of the project; the size and complexity of Hungarian meadow viper habitats will increase significantly, enlarging the species range with at least 468 ha of suitable habitat; creation of a 23 ha grassland corridor between two fragmented viper habitats; conversion of 35 ha of plough farmland into grassland; increased structural and microhabitat diversity of 200 ha of grassland; introduction of traditional low-intensity grazing on 220 ha of grassland; predators will be fenced off from 53 ha of key habitats and a permanent net will be set up on 3 ha to deter avian predators; release of at least 600 captive-bred vipers from the Hungarian meadow viper Conservation Centre to recent and former natural habitats, which will potentially increase the known Hungarian population size by at least 50%; local stakeholders (25 farmers, 20 game managers) will be engaged in land management planning and predator control; and the European Action Plan for the Conservation of the Meadow viper Vipera ursinii will be updated.
