PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Regional drawdown of rainwater combined with climate change has resulted in less water entering sodic wetlands in Hortobágy National Park, causing a significant water deficit. Dry habitat in riverbeds has increased, with the wetlands’ water balance further upset by the spread of reeds, cattails and water-hungry trees and shrubs. In 15 sodic wetlands covering more than 1,200 ha, around one-third of the wetland habitats have become dry. The conservation status of Pannonic salt steppe, salt marsh and steppe grassland habitats has worsened significantly as a result. Populations of important bird species have also declined and the wetlands’ ecosystem services have been affected. For instance, birds such as the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) have disappeared, while breeding and staging populations of other priority bird species have fallen dramatically in the past few decades. (Staging populations are migratory birds that have stopped to rest, drink and eat.) In addition, with the wetlands becoming dryer, less grass is available for livestock grazing and the area’s attraction for ecotourism is diminished, affecting some residents’ incomes in the town of Balmazújváros.
OBJECTIVES
The SODIC WETLAND SYSTEM project’s goal is to reduce the significant water deficit in 15 sodic wetlands in Hortobágy National Park. It aims to re-establish regional connectivity of patches of sodic wetland habitat, ensuring that rainwater generated in the wider catchment area reaches the wetlands via ancient natural watercourses. To accomplish this, 28 artificial barriers will be removed. The waters of these wetlands should then be connected to form a functioning system. Through this, the project aims to improve the conservation status of:
- Pannonic salt steppe, salt marsh and steppe grassland habitats; and
- Populations of priority bird species: lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus),pochard (Aythyaferina), Kentish plover (C. alexandrinus), red-footed falcon (Falcovespertinus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata), garganey (Spatulaquerquedula), red-necked grebe (P. grisegena), black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) and redshank (Tringa totanus).
RESULTS
Expected results:
- An additional 1-1.5 million m3 of annual rainwater supply diverted through natural and semi-natural watercourses into most of the 15 wetlands, with varying intensities, depending on the current rainfall;
- The proportion of habitat mosaics in the bedsof 15 Pannonic sodic wetlands reaching 95% of the reference status during the project period, and 100% over the following 5 years; and
- Abundance of the priority species of water birds increased by 100-300%.
