Even though the name of the grassland site is Round, but it won’t be a forest
(referring to the opening lines of a popular Hungarian fairy tale: in the middle of the rectangular round forest)
Even though the name of the grassland site is Round (Kerek), but it won’t be a forest… shrubs were removed in Kerek Hill in the locality of Bükkzsérc.
Probably many people would be happy, if, after the Serval and Black panther incidents (this year these two wild animals escaped from their owner to the wild, roamed there weeks, when finally were captured alive by rangers of Bükk National Park Directorate), they could come face to face with Dömdöm and Mikkamakka (fictional animal characters in the Hungarian fairy tale “The rectangular round forest”), but unfortunately we can’t afford the forest-dwelling animals to consider this grassland habitat as their home, while it won’t be a forest, and certainly not a rectangular one.
Thus, with the framework of Grassland-HU LIFE integrated project under the coordination of Herman Otto Institute Nonprofit Ltd., on February 9, 2022, shrub clearance was carried out by the staff of the Bükk National Park Directorate in Kerek Hill area of Bükkzsérc. The most biodiverse places in semi-natural dry grasslands and shrublands facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) of the Bükk Mountains, occur in the loess valleys on the edge of Tárkány Basin and in the Kerek Hill area of Bükkzsérc. Many plant species can be found on the Eocene limestones of Kerek Hill adapted to dolomite habitats, therefore the vegetation of the area is very similar to the plant life of the dolomites in the Southwestern Bükk region. In places covered by loess, lowland forest steppe plants can be found.
The conservation of these areas is an important task for us, because semi-arid grasslands are Europe’s most species-rich plant communities, and are key habitats for many protected plant and animal species. The protection of these habitats is important to support the diversity of wild pollinators, such as butterflies, wild bees and hover flies. These areas are secondary grasslands, created after thermophilic (heat-loving) forest cuts and the result of extensive grazing and mowing techniques.
Due to the change in land use of grasslands, these habitat types under pressure, and the abandonment of agricultural land triggers succession of plant species, leading to a shrub encroachment process. In addition, the introduction and spread of invasive species is among the leading treats to native wildlife, leading to the extinction of native plants and animals.
The specialists hope, that the commencement of treatments will help to control the spread of woody vegetation, and restore the herbaceous plant diversity.
Such grasslands can be maintained in the long term only by livestock grazing or mowing. Since in Bükkzsérc, shrub communities were so widespread, that in a smaller part of the area mulcher was used by the volunteers to maintain the woody vegetation. However, in the larger part of the area, the aim was to use manual removal of wood plants, such as manual lawn mower and cutting. During the current control treatment, the spread of Common hazel (Corylus avellana), Common juniper (Juniperus communis), Blackthorn (Prunus spinose) and Dog rose (Rosa canina) bushes was curbed in the area. In the spring, for killing of any remaining roots after cutting down a tree to prevent root suckers, chemical control will be used.
The conservation of shrub lines and isolated patches of shrubs has pivotal importance in grassland conservation, therefore, during the conservation treatments, the staff of Bükk National Park Directorate strives to restore and develop the grassland mosaic structure.
Such mountain grasslands provide habitat for countless precious insect and plant species. The main purposes of the treatments are to maintain the existing herbaceous plants and recover grassland sites by reducing the number and coverage of shrub species.
Control treatments of Black pine (Pinus nigra) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), spreading from the neighboring forest and already invaded large areas, has been underway. After abandonment of grazing, non-native conifer species occurred in large numbers, and recently, they have begun to invade larger areas. The black pine is a non-native species in the North Hungarian Mountains, so its further spread is not wanted.
Conifers have winged seeds, so seed can be carried considerable distances away from the parent plant by the wind, where it can sprout and grow unimpeded by competitors. Conifers spread quickly and displace protected native plants, or out compete rare plant communities.
The best way to prevent the further spread of conifers is to remove them. Once larger trees are removed, it can be ensured in the long term that rare and protected native plants and their habitats are not threatened by the spread of conifers.
Author: Renáta Gál
Photograph: Attila Kozma
