Partnership

WWF World Wide Fund for Nature Hungary Foundation

WWF has started its operations in Hungary in 1986, and has established a WWF office in 1991. The conservation goals focus on forests, rivers and wetlands, extensive land use, the protection of certain endangered species and the environmental challenges in a member country of the European Union.

The main goal of WWF Hungary is to improve the ecological status of species and habitats in Hungary and making a contribution for these on the European level. The method applied by WWF is the combination of active policy work and underpinning field activities to provide a working model for restoration and site management. Target groups and partners in the projects are decision makers, relevant authorities, research experts and local stakeholders. The organization has several years of experience in projects regarding conservation and restauration of habitats (grasslands, wetlands), nature-based, sustainable management (forests) and protection of species (beaver, lynx, pond turtle, butterfly species - Plebejus sephirus). Besides fieldwork the organisation puts emphasis on communication which is a strong tool of achieving goals: drawing attention to certain problems, influencing decision makers, and disseminate project results.

Bukk National Park Directorate

The Bükk National Park was established in 1977. It is Hungary’s third national park – and the first one to include mountain areas. It covers almost all of the Bükk Mountains and includes its areas that are the most beautiful and the richest in natural treasures. Its area is 42 269 hectares, 95% of which is forest. It is managed mostly by two enterprises: Egererdő Zrt. and Északerdő Zrt. The Bükk National Park Directorate (BNPI) manages only 2.5% of the protected area.

The operational area of BNPI covers, in addition to the Bükk Mountains, three of the country’s north-eastern counties. Besides the Bükk National Park, it includes 9 landscape protection areas and 13 nature conservation areas. The basic duties of the Directorate include nature conservation management, maintenance, operation, assessing and exploring of the health of the environment, monitoring its changes, organising the rangers’ service, shaping attitudes, and introduction. It contributes to the approval of the regional forest management and hunting plan, deliver opinions on the zoning plans, and permits of protected and not protected areas. It performs tasks regarding the designation of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, and establishes and operates sensitive natural areas.

Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate

The Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate was established in 1997, its operational area is located in the centre of Hungary, which includes the Duna-Ipoly National Park, 8 landscape protection areas and 30 nature conservation areas. The size of the nationally important Natura 2000 area is approximately 250 000 hectares, in addition to it a biosphere reserve, a European Diploma area, Ramsar sites and very significant forest reserves can be found in its operational area. The basic duties of the Directorate include nature conservation management, maintenance, operation, assessing and exploring of the health of the environment, monitoring its changes, organising the Rangers’ Service, shaping attitudes, and introduction. It contributes to the approval of the regional forest management and hunting plan, delivers opinions on the zoning plans and permits of protected and not protected areas. It performs tasks regarding the designation of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, and establishes and operates sensitive natural areas. As a nature conservation expert, it contributes to the development of at least one regional forest management plan per year. It manages more than 4000 hectares of Natura 2000 forests. It conducts research related to forests (Swiss Contribution) and participates in international experience exchange projects (Bioregio Carpathians SEE). It operates a nature conservation educational centre. It has compiled six thematic volumes of essays and studies (Rosalia), the knowledge collected in them can be used during the elaboration of the management principles of Natura 2000 sites.

Europa Media Non-Profit Ltd.

Europa Media Non-Profit Limited is a Hungarian non-profit organisation primarily working to bring the opportunities of EU funding to the public. Since its establishment in 2003, Europa Media became a leading training provider, having organised more than 100 f2f training courses and e-courses. Europa Media has several years of experience in developing and reviewing web-based information systems and e-training services.

Europa Media has experience in developing a variety of information sources and tools including web platforms, publications and events, and also has a deep understanding of the target group oriented communication strategies and actions. Europa Media people have several years of experience in managing, evaluating, and monitoring various
projects. Our experts have a comprehensive understanding and experience in the development and the management of LIFE projects.

Hungarian Forestry Association

The Hungarian Forestry Association was founded in 1851. It is governed by its core body, the assembly of delegates. An eleven-member presidency is responsible for making decision and strategy. There is one president who also occupies the highest post in the presiding council. In the office of the association work four employees: general secretary, program assistant, financial assistant, chief editor of the monthly journal.

The Association works for the public interest in many different fields such as nature conservation, scientific activity, research, tending historical property and the national heritage, education, environmental protection, competence improvement, social concerns. This organization takes active part in or organizing events. Among its more than 200 events, the most prominent are the annual convention, the „Forester of the Year” competition, the „Károly Kaan national natural and environmental sciences competition”, the „Week of Forests” chain of events, the „Foresters’ Sports Day”, the annual meeting of female foresters, and many other conferences and study tours.

Kiskunsag National Park Directorate

The Directorate is a regional body of the national nature conservation agency. It is a state administrative agency operating under the supervision of the minister, an independent legal entity, and a central budgetary institution managed independently. The Kiskunság National Park, Hungary’s second national park was established in 1975. The establishment of this mosaic-like national park was motivated by the uniquely valuable chain of natural beauties (sodic lakes and plains, turjáns, sand dunes, marshes, backwater areas, oxbow lakes, grasslands) located in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve region, and the idiosyncratic Hungarian homesteads between them. The features of the area determine the operation of
the Directorate to this very day. The duties of the national park directorate – as prescribed by the law – include property management, the preservation of the natural treasures of the scattered areas, and it also delivers expert opinions in its operational area. These are complemented by the Directorate’s environmental education duties, which are directly connected to the LIFEinFORESTS project.

National Association of Private Forest Owners and Forest Managers

„MEGOSZ” is the national Association of Private Forest Owners and Forest Managers in Hungary representing individuals, local and regional organisations of private forest owners, forest co-operatives and forest management enterprises. MEGOSZ was established in 1994 to represent its Member’s rights and interests, it assists the enlargement and protection of private forest property by helping in managing their owns’. The Association represents it’s members in general on every different type of forums relating to forest management (property rights, environmental regulation restrictions…etc) in Hungary and internationally.

The MEGOSZ formulates and articulates commonly agreed opinions of the private forest management sector, initiates legistlative work indepentendly or in cooperation with other private organisations and the public administration. Since 1999 our Association has been member of CEPF (Confederation of European Forest Owners) and e.g. represented itself in the Working Groups of the EU Forestry and Cork Advisory Committiee. We do transmit news on private forestry at national and international level to our members, who can also get to know more about the management practices in private forests of other European countries. The Association organises extension workshops for professionals, meetings, study tours together with educational organisations and international NGO’s in Hungary or abroad.

Pilisi Parkerdő Zrt.

Due to the special role the forests around Budapest play in public welfare, the company is the only park forestry in the country. It was principally established to serve social and public welfare interests right from the beginning, when its predecessor was founded in 1969. The state company was changed to Pilis Park Forestry Company Limited by Shares in 1994 as successor of which was founded in 1969. Since 17th June, 2010 the ownership rights have been practiced by Magyar Fejlesztési Bank Zrt. (Hungarian Development Bank Private Limited Company) on behalf of the Hungarian State.

Apart from the traditional forest management and game management, the company deals with forest management services for private and community forest, commercial and real estate rental activities. In accordance with its role in public welfare it provides diverse cultural programmes along with accommodation and camping opportunities for the public. The forests managed by the company have a unique flora and fauna and several geographical formations of unmatched beauty. 62 % of the woodland is nature conservation area, 4 % of it is touristic areas. 41.000 hectares are NATURA 2000 areas.