News

The glass is half full – the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE integrated project is halfway through in Hortobágy National Park
The LIFE integrated project ist halfway through its 8-year duration. Given that the overall objective of the GRASSLAND-HU integrated project is to restore and conserve the natural landscape of the Pannonian Steppes, the Hortobágy National Park Directorate (HNPD) intends to report on the status of work and give information about the progress that had been reached on the designated project locations within its territory so far.

The 8-year-long GRASSLAND-HU LIFE integrated project has successfully reached its halfway point!!
The aim of the project is to improve the conservation status of grassland habitats and species, in order to ensure their long-term conservation. The first period of the project focusing on preparatory works were done, while the second period aims to put project tasks into action. Reaching the halfway point, we would like to report the results and achievements, which have been made so far.

The Herman Otto Institute Non-profit Ltd. invited 300 primary school children to get involved in the Day of Birds and Trees on Friday 13th May 2022.
Children could learn about the importance of environmental protection through environmental awareness activities including fun bird and tree facts, videos, noise pollution and composting lessons, mini botanical garden and zoo at 10 venues. At the end of the event, children and teachers could exchange go green stamps for gift baskets.

Under the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE integrated project, a one-day online workshop was organized by Herman Otto Institute Non-profit Ltd. on conservation and monitoring of grassland invertebrates of conservation concern and managing their grassland habitats in Natura 2000 sites.

The best 30 images of “The Secrets of Grasslands” photo contest are on display from 31 March, 2022. The aim of the exhibition is to bring people closer to the unique animals that live in grasslands. After showcasing the photos in Budapest, from April, the exhibition will tour around the country.

The LIFE integrated project is halfway through its 8-year duration. During the first cycle of the project, between 2019 and 2020, we focused on preparatory works, while during the second cycle pilot actions were conducted. Where does the integrated project stand now that is coordinated by the Herman Otto Institute with the collaboration of 14 project partners and what are the achievements so far?
Below, Dr. Mátyás Szépligeti park ranger at the Őrség National Park Directorate and local project coordinator, are providing information on the results achieved so far.

As part of the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE Integrated Project, professional and non-professional photographers were invited to participate in “The secrets of Grasslands” Photography Contest. The theme of this year’s contest was invertebrates in their grassland habitats. It attracted 1165 entries, almost twice as much as last year.

Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., in cooperation with MME/Birdlife Hungary organizes an online internation conference and workshop on the conservation of saker falcon on 1-2 December 2021.  

The first Annual Conference of Mammalogists will be held by the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd. with the participation of the WWF Hungary in order to raise awareness and to share the novel research results with the general public.

Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., in cooperation with MME/Birdlife Hungary organizes an online internation conference and workshop on the conservation of saker falcon on 1-2 December 2021. The event focuses on the European population, but presentations and e-posters are welcome also from the Asian range of the species. 

For the first in its history, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden have welcomed birch mice to its terrariums. In early June, researchers collected two pairs of Hungarian birch mice from the grassland of Borsod County. These mice were taken to the Budapest Zoo, so that the behaviour and lifestyle of these unique animals could be observed. But our goal is more ambitious: establishing a captive population to enable conservation of the species. Let’s take a brief look at why keeping this endangered and highly protected species in terrariums is so important.

Under GRASSLAND-HU LIFE Integrated Project, Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., with its project partners, has decided to hold a second photo contest again this year. The aim of this year contest is to draw attention to the importance of conservation of grasslands through the presentation and promotion of grasslands habitats and species, and their high biodiversity values.

The Grassland Conservation Management Advisory Service was established under the GRASSLAND-HU integrated project to promote conservation-friendly grassland management and provide professional support for farmers who are open to adapt agri-environmental measures.

In the framework of the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE, under a joint nature conservation action project of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., a census was carried out using questionnaires and interviews with the employees of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (HCA) and the National Park Directorates (NPDs) to learn about the status of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus). The following is a brief summary of the results of the survey.

The aim of this year contest was to showcase the importance of conservation of grasslands through the presentation and promotion of grasslands habitats and species, and their high biodiversity values. It was the first photo contest focusing on grasslands, and the theme of this year’s contest was plant species in their grassland habitats.

GRASSLAND-HU is the first nature conservation project in Hungary in LIFE Integrated Projects and it is coordinated by Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd. The aim of the project is to restore and enhance Pannonian Steppe grasslands habitats and species – Dr. András Béres, the Executive Director of the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., said. It was pointed out at the project opening event and press conference that the project has received nearly HUF 5.5 billion EU funding for an eight-year period.

As part of the LIFE Programme, more than 60 experts from 14 countries took part in a workshop in the Netherlands to find out how land managers can convert arable land to permanent grassland.

It is reassuring to see those people at the conference, whose presence is essential to the success of the project – said Mr. Bertalan Balczó, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment at the opening conference of the GRASSLAND-HU LIFE integrated project at the Herman Ottó Conference Centre.

The European Commission took the decision to support 12 large-scale environment, nature conservation and climate projects, out of which two projects will be implemented by the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd. It is very rare in EU projects that one organization can coordinate more than one project at the same time.