National Environmental Programme 2003-2008

National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008© Ministry of Environment and Water 1011 Budapest, Fő utca 44-50. Telephone: +36-1-457-3300ISBN 963 85511 3 5 Translated by Judit Galló Erika Szomor, Phd Erzsébet Wurdits Read & Revised by Judit GallóPhoto: Zsolt KalotásThe document was printed on recycled paper Published by Line and More upon the assignment of the Ministry of Environment and Water2 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Printed and bound by Komáromi Nyomda 2004. Budapest3 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Parliament Resolution No. 132/2003 (XII.11.) OGY on the National Environmental Programme for 2003-2008*Parliament of the Republic of Hungary1. has approved the National Environmental Programme for 2003-2008 according to the Annex of this resolution, and 2. requests the Government to implement the National Environmental Programme for 2003-2008.4 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Parliament approved its resolution at its meeting on 8 December, 2003.5 National Environmental Programme 2003-20086 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Annex to Parliament Resolution No. 132/2003 (XII.11.) OGYNational Environmental Programme for 2003-2008(NEP-II)7 National Environmental Programme 2003-20088 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...... 11 1. PRINCIPLES, FRAMEWORK AND ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAMME...... 13 1.1 Principles of the Programme...... 13 1.2 Framework of the Implementation of NEP-II...... 13 1.3 Social, Economic and International Aspects of the Implementation of the Programme..14 1.3.1 Links with Other Comprehensive and Sectoral Development Activities...... 15 1.3.2 International Co-operation...... 17 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE SECOND NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME...... 20 2.1 Status analysis...... 20 2.1.1 Evaluation of the First NEP Relating to the Period between 1997 and 2002...... 20 2.1.2 Status of the Environment - Environmental Processes in Geographic Breakdown...... 21 2.1.3 Status of Environmental Media...... 23 2.1.4 Biological Diversity – Landscape Protection...... 27 2.1.5 Urban and Built Environment...... 30 2.1.6 Waste Management...... 31 2.1.7 Human Health and Environmental Impacts...... 32 2.1.8 Environmental Security...... 34 2.1.9 Climate Change, Atmospheric Ozone Depletion and Acidification...... 35 2.1.10 Sectors’ Environmental Impacts...... 35 2.2 Environmental Problems and Values...... 42 2.2.1 Environmental Problems...... 42 2.2.2 Assets that Need Protection...... 45 2.3 Targets, Objectives...... 48 2.3.1 Prime Objectives...... 48 2.3.2 Objectives of the National Environmental Programme II...... 48 3. INTERVENTIONS IN AREAS REQUIRING SPECIAL TREATMENT...... 54 3.1 Action Programme of Raising Environmental Awareness...... 54 3.2 Action Programme of Climate Change...... 58 3.3 Action Programme of Environmental Health and Food Safety...... 61 3.4 Action Programme of Urban Environmental Quality...... 64 3.5 Action Programme of Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Protection...... 68 3.6 Action Programme of Rural Environmental Quality, Land-area and Land Use...... 71 3.7 Action Programme of Protection and Sustainable Use of Water...... 74 3.8 Action Programme of Waste Management...... 77 3.9 Action Programme of Environmental Security...... 80 4. INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS OF IMPLEMENTATION...... 83 4.1. Those in Charge of and Taking Part in Planning and Implementing the Programme.....83 4.2. Possible Instruments of Implementation...... 84 4.3. The Institutional system of Implementation and Control...... 90 4.4. Financing Strategy...... 94 4.4.1. Background and Framework of Financing...... 95 4.4.2. The Role of the Central Budget...... 96 4.5 Legal Instruments...... 101 5. NATIONAL NATURE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN...... 104 5.1 Introduction...... 111 5.2 The Status of Nature in Hungary...... 1149 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3 Implementation and Roll-Over Tasks of the First National Nature Conservation Master Plan (1997-2002)...... 118 5.3.1 Legislative Obligations from Act LIII of 1996 on Nature Conservation and Updating Nature Conservation Law...... 118 5.3.2 Designation of Protected and Non-protected Natural Areas...... 120 5.3.3 Wildlife Protection...... 125 5.3.4 International Commitments...... 129 5.3.5 Nature Conservation of Forests...... 132 5.3.6 Management of Game Populations on Nature Conservation Areas...... 134 5.3.7 Protection of Speleological, Geological and Geomorphological Assets...... 135 5.3.8 Landscape Protection...... 136 5.3.9 Nature Conservation Planning...... 138 5.3.10 Funding of Nature Conservation...... 139 5.3.11 Property and Property Management...... 140 5.3.12 Personnel Conditions and Technical Facilities of Nature Conservation...... 141 5.3.13 Nature Conservation Research and Monitoring...... 142 5.3.14 Training, Raising Awareness, Education...... 144 5.3.15 Tasks related to Agri-Harmonisation...... 145 5.4 Activities Planned for the Period of the Second National Conservational Master Plan (2003- 2008) 146 5.4.1 Preserving the Diversity of Animals, Plants, Landscape and Inanimate Natural Assets...... 147 5.4.2 International Obligations...... 167 5.4.3 Raising Social Awareness for Nature Conservation...... 179 APPENDIX: LEGISLATIVE OBLIGATIONS FROM ACT NO. LIII OF 1996...... 185 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...... 19310 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008IntroductionThe welfare and quality of life of the society can only be improved on a long-term basis if social and economic development takes place by retaining our national heritage, protecting our natural resources, and using them in a sustainable way, maintaining adequate environmental quality. Environmental policy is responsible for building co-operation with the relevant social and economic partners, and for stating and initiating all measures that are required for the achievement of these purposes on a short, medium and long-term basis, for co-ordinating and encouraging the activities required for implementation, and for assessing their planned and actual impacts on the basis of environmental conditions. The preparation and implementation of the National Environmental Programme is one of the important elements of this process. The detailed rules of the elaboration of the National Environmental Programme are laid down in Act LIII of 1995 on the general rules of environmental protection. Parliament Resolution No. 83/1997 (IX. 26) decided on the first National Environmental Programme (hereinafter NEP-I) for 1997-2002, and accepted the general implementation plan on the basis of this act. The specific implementation tasks were contained in annual action plans approved in government resolutions. Biannual evaluation reports were prepared for Parliament on the achievement of the objectives laid down in NEP-I in accordance with the requirements of the Act. Both the closing of the first National Environmental Programme and a comprehensive analysis of the whole period have started. One of the basic pillars of the elaboration of the second National Environmental Programme for 2003-2008 (hereinafter NEP-II) is the experience gained during the implementation of NEP- I. During the implementation period of NEP-II, Hungary becomes a Member State of the European Union. This brings new challenges for NEP-II, too. In addition to the achievement of Hungarian objectives, we must also comply with the environmental regulations of the EU. These efforts contain the preservation of the existing natural resources, as well as the development and strengthening of a successful and effective, democratic environmental policy. Consequently, the second basic pillar of NEP-II is the 6th Environmental Action Programme of the European Union until 2010, representing guidelines for the Member States. The Action Programme contains long and medium-term, quality and quantity objectives, which need to be broken down for national and regional levels. NEP-II has to create an adequate framework for these objectives. The solution of Hungarian problems disclosed during the environmental foundation of NEP-II mostly coincides with the Hungarian environmental policy objectives relating to EU accession, and the Hungarian obligations arising from other international conventions. However, in view of our insufficiencies in law enforcement and implementation, instruments and institutions as well as financing, Hungary has to pay outstanding attention to the responsible completion of tasks arising from the accession treaty. The Government approved the concept of NEP-II in its resolution No. 1117/2001 (X. 19.) and ordered the development of the Programme. NEP-II has been prepared on the basis of the planning requirements of the concept, and the guidelines of the present government programme concerning environmental development. The programme also defines the environmental policy National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 objectives for 2003-2008. Important elements of implementation include Action Programmes in areas requiring special treatment, identifying the specific and operational objectives, funds and responsible parties in the fields of environmental protection and nature conservation, as well as complex fields of water management. A separate chapter is dedicated to the strengthening of sectoral and regional integration of environmental policy, measurement and control of NEP-II progress, as well as organisation of implementation. National Environmental Programme 2003-20081. Principles, Framework and Aspects of the Programme 2.3. Principles of the Programme NEP-II relies on the most important Hungarian and international environmental policy principles, which can be classified into three main categories: - Traditional environmental protection principles, for example, principles of precaution, prevention, reconstruction, liability, co-operation, information, publicity and the ‘polluter pays’. - Additional principles exemplary for Hungary on the basis of the environmental government activities of developed countries (shared responsibility, transparency in planning, decision- making, financing, implementation and control, predictability in regulation and financing, accountability, clear objectives, measurable performance, partnership, subsidiarity, additionality, measures with multiple benefits). - Taking into account the principles of sustainable development (according to Herman Daly, sustainable development is “progressive social betterment without growing beyond ecological carrying capacity”); NEP-II must promote the establishment of social, economic and environmental conditions required for the transition towards sustainable development. During the implementation of NEP-II, apart from environmental interests, non-quantifiable ethical considerations must also be taken into account. Environmental protection focusing on ethical considerations recognises the need to preserve values, which supersedes any economic interests.2.3. Framework of the Implementation of NEP-II It follows from the complexity of environmental problems that the second National Environmental Programme can only be implemented if the environmental aspects are reflected in the decisions of various sectors, economic organisations, local governments, population and non- governmental organisations. Consequently, NEP-II is not only a sectoral programme, but it also relates to the entire society and economy. The stated objectives cannot be achieved without the support of the society, and the programmes can only be implemented with support from other ministries. The implementation of the programme calls for co-ordinated action and co-operation of the entire Government. In order to promote this, we have prepared a proposal for the institutional system of implementation. - NEP-II focuses on the environmental problems, which o arise as complex issues at the intersection of social, economic and environmental problems, o require intervention affecting several environmental elements, o relate to the society and economy widely, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 o can be eliminated effectively only with the involvement of a large scale of parties involved.- NEP-II outlines specific interventions (Thematic Action Programmes in these areas requiring special treatment). - By describing the problems to be solved, setting targets, and developing thematic programmes, NEP-II assists the integration of the objectives of environmental policy into economic, sectoral and regional strategy building, planning and programming activities, aiming at the widest possible support of all parties concerned. - NEP-II sets a system of targets, which determines the specific environmental and natural targets to be achieved as a result of the medium-term environmental policy. Environmental goods and natural resources must be preserved and used sustainably (the target) through horizontal and vertical integration of the system of targets (instrument). - NEP-II defines a set of instruments for the achievement of the goals and targets that take into account fast and effective possibilities of joint adaptation to the particular conditions and new challenges in the medium-term planning period. - The contents of NEP-II must be reflected in the social and economic plans of the country, economic policy decisions, regional development and physical planning, regional planning, as well as any state planning and implementation activity taking place in any sector of the national economy.2.3. Social, Economic and International Aspects of the Implementation of the Programme One of the key challenges for Hungary in catching up with the developed countries is how to co-ordinate the improvement of the quality of life and environment, preservation of environmental assets, and sustainable use of natural resources with economic development. Hungary has managed to preserve its natural resources sufficiently, in this way we are ahead of developed countries in many aspects. However, the measures in order to protect the environment or their efficiency have not reached the required level yet. With the development of market economy, regional disparities between developed and underdeveloped regions have not decreased, but rather increased. There is considerable environmental damage left behind in underdeveloped regions, most of them belong to the responsibility of the state. Besides the favourable processes of economic and political changes taking place during the recent decades, certain effects threatening environmental and natural resources have strengthened. Certain factors of environmental pollution influencing health have decreased, while others increased, but in total they still represent a considerable pressure on the environment. The number of allergy, asthma and chronic respiratory diseases is increasing and the frequency of lung cancer is also on the increase. NEP-II planning assumes changes in economic and social processes as a result of which the current tendencies take a favourable turn. These include a stronger economy, gradual catch-up of backward regions and groups, improvement in the quality of life, favourable reduction and National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 elimination of regional disparities in environmental quality. At the same time, in this time-frame no favourable changes significantly extending the scope of environmental protection and nature conservation can be expected. Economic and environmental strategies will jointly lead to durable improvement of competitiveness based on quality reproduction of the workforce and economical use of natural resources. This also involves balanced development of the environmental infrastructure, and preservation of the existing natural and environmental assets, which are key conditions for other development objectives, too. Policy-making will also be responsible for deliberate actions against the destruction of awareness, social and environmental assets wherever the exclusively market or profit-oriented approach seems harmful.2.3.2. Links with Other Comprehensive and Sectoral Development Activities One of the important objectives of NEP-II is to encourage economic use of natural resources, contributing to the improvement of the Hungarian economy’s competitiveness. An integrated product policy, cleaner production, prevention oriented, environmentally aware technology and product development, application of environmental management systems are expected to lead to the reduction of environmental load and health damaging impacts. Favourable changes in consumption habits, set of values and lifestyle can also significantly contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in addition to the direct impacts on improving environmental quality. Successful implementation of NEP-II cannot take place without information on the performance of the economy or sectoral policies. The objectives have to be implemented in co- ordination with other sectoral efforts. During planning and implementation, comprehensive social and economic development policies and programmes need to be taken into account. These include particularly: - The Medium-Term Economic Policy Programme of Hungary, the main objectives of which are modernisation and catch-up with the level of development in Europe, - National Regional Development Concept, outlining the vision of regional development, its national targets and principles, the guidelines related to international integration, and the most important sectoral priorities for regional development in Hungary - The National Physical Plan, which sets out the conditions of land use in different regions of the country, provides spatial co-ordination for technical infrastructure networks, in view of the principle of sustainable development, as well as protection of regional, landscape, natural and ecologic as well as cultural characteristics and resources. - The National Development Plan (NDP) containing development activities implemented with co-financing from the Structural Funds after Hungary’s accession to the EU. - The Environmental Protection Cohesion Fund Strategy prepares the use of support available from the Cohesion Fund after accession in the field of environmental protection. - Environmental protection and nature conservation criteria have been introduced to several tender and evaluation systems of the Széchenyi Plan (for example, small and medium-sized enterprise development, energy efficiency, tourism development programme). The planning and implementation of NEP-II rely on the already existing sectoral policies and plans, as well as programmes: National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- The National Environmental Health Action Programme is a component of the Johan Béla National Programme for the Decade of Health. This subject appears in NEP-II in the Environmental Health and Food Safety Action Programme. - The National Concept of Water Management defines the most urgent Hungarian tasks for the period until 2015. It sets the achievement of water management objectives specified in the EU regulations as a basic requirement which will be obligatory for all Member States and also for currently candidate countries by that time. - The Drinking Water Quality Improvement Programme contains investment projects; as a result drinking water can be supplied in the required quality for 2,750,000 residents in 877 settlements. The measures of the programme taking place in two phases (until 2006 and 2009) help the achievement of the objectives of the Environmental Health and Food Safety Action Programme, and also improve the quality of life of the population - The Drinking Water Sources Protection Programme going on for several years, aims to preserve and improve the quality of water supplies, and increases the safety of drinking water supply. It also contains follow-up protection of existing water aquifers (elimination and restriction of certain polluting sources) as well as preventive protection of prospective water aquifers (ban on constructions, or admission of polluting sources in designated areas). - The National Municipal Wastewater Collection and Treatment Implementation Programme will facilitate the collection of municipal wastewater through public utilities in the designated wastewater collection agglomerations, biological treatment of wastewater, and harmless collection of municipal wastewater in three phases (until 2008, 2010 and 2015). - The measures and investments planned in the framework of the Extended Vásárhelyi Plan (EVP) intend to reduce the exposure of approximately 1 million residents living on the flood- plain of the Tisza valley and their assets to floods. - The objective of the National Environmental Remediation Programme is to assess the exposure, pollution and damage of subsurface waters and geological layers, to reduce the risk of pollution in the exposed areas, and to promote the reduction or elimination of pollution in the affected areas. - The National Waste Management Plan (NWMP) is a transparent and complex action plan covering the entire range of waste management in a single structure. All tasks and programmes contained in NWMP were defined in line with the elaboration of NEP-II, thus NWMP also implements the planned Waste Management Action Programme. - The projects financed from the Central Nuclear Fund try to provide a solution for final disposal of radioactive waste, temporary storage and final disposal of used heating elements, and disassembly of nuclear facilities. Consequently, the safe use of nuclear energy, protection of the population and the environment will be guaranteed in this field, too. This activity meets the requirements of the European Union, as well as the provisions of Act CXVI of 1996 on nuclear energy. - The National Agri-Environmental Programme (NAEP) implements typically inter-sectoral, agricultural and rural development, environmental and nature conservation objectives, therefore, it relates to almost all thematic Action Programmes. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- The Transport Policy Concept and its Action Plan relates to the objectives of Thematic Action Programmes of Climate Change and Urban Environmental Quality. - One of the objectives of the Development Strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises is to reflect environmental interests in the operation and control of enterprises. - The EU pre-accession funds (PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD) provide assistance until the accession date or the end of the present financial planning period of the EU, until 2006, for the implementation of environmental objectives contained in NEP-II, too. These pre- accession instruments require EU-conform financing system and, in relation to that, an effective and flexible financial planning system, for example, in the case of programmes and projects developed in the framework of the Hungarian National Environmental Strategy for Accession Preparation Structural Policy. These principles must be enforced following Hungary’s EU accession in case of applications submitted to the Cohesion Fund and Structural Funds, too. - LIFE III provides funds both at present and in the future for environmental and nature conservation R&D activities In the case of plans and programmes already in progress, only measures with multiple benefits should be eligible for support, they must also involve environmental benefits, or should not cause any further environmental damage. In order to achieve environmentally oriented planning at development and decision-making forums, the role of environmental protection and nature conservation should be equal to the economic and social weight of these fields. Environmental and nature conservation organisations may have outstanding role in the enforcement of the interests of the environmental policy, and socialisation of the objectives of NEP-II. The new Civil Strategy, currently developed by the Government, aims at further development of the civil sector, and an increase in the funds available for NGOs. In order to have more effective co-operation, an Environmental Civil Strategy arising from the Government’s Civil Strategy needs to be developed. Environmental policy interests must also be reflected in other sectoral policies and strategies, which are being currently planned or developed (for example, policies for housing, information technology, energy, education, higher education).2.3.2. International Co-operation In the implementation period of NEP-II, a more than ten-year adjustment and catch-up period is completed with Hungary’s accession to the European Union. During this period the Hungarian environmental and nature conservation policy, as well as legislation have been harmonised with the EU Community policy and acquis communautaire. However, EU membership means further tasks and opportunities for Hungary, including the following: - Involvement and participation in the development of the environmental policy of the EU (for example, EU sustainable development strategy, integration of policies in the framework of the Cardiff process, measurement of environmental performance progress through indicators, development of the system of environmental reports and fulfilment of Hungarian obligations, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 active participation in the programmes of the European Environmental Agency (EEA), dissemination of the EU environmental policy in Hungary, development of Natura 2000 network, participation in the environmental co-operation of European regions, as well as activities of ENCORE conferences held biannually). - Development of co-operation with the EU Member States and accession countries reflecting both Hungarian and EU environmental interests. - Implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Programme of the EU in Hungary, in which the most important integrated problems are the following: - climate change; - nature and biodiversity; - environment and health; - sustainable use of resources and waste management. The thematic structure of NEP-II is in line with the structure of the 6th Environmental Action Programme of the European Union. Hungary’s active participation in multilateral environmental co-operation is essential, and joint management of global environmental problems on the basis of the principle of the common but differentiated responsibility. This means that Hungary actively participates in various processes taking place under the auspices of the UN (for example, Rio process and pan-European environmental co-operation). In relation to Hungarian foreign policy priorities, environmental diplomacy efforts will also include closer co-operation with the Euro-Atlantic institutional system (EU, OECD, and NATO) and stronger sub-regional co-operation and co-operation with neighbouring countries. Participation in the Euro-Atlantic organisations is a strategic issue for Hungary. Hungary’s membership in OECD will continue to provide excellent opportunities for studying the environmental policy of the developed countries, sometimes even beyond the experience of the EU Member States. Within the European Union, Hungarian environmental diplomacy must consistently represent national and sub-regional interests in addition to the implementation of the common policy, especially in areas determining the environmental security of the country on a long-term basis. With Eastern enlargement, Hungary gets on the geographical edge of the EU. On the basis of its special geopolitical situation, it can thus undertake a sub-regional co-ordination role for various programmes, agreements and projects. Parallel with the elaboration of a comprehensive international co-operation development concept, the Republic of Hungary must also prepare for the donor role in environmental protection, partly in relation to the OECD membership, and partly in relation to EU accession. To this end, within the framework of realistic opportunities, the direction and proportion of environmental and nature conservation support must also be identified. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008On the basis of the Thematic Action Programmes to be implemented within NEP-II, as well as the objective of more intensive integration of environmental and nature conservation, water management and other sectoral policies, international co-operation has the following tasks: - elaboration of technical programmes, supply of intellectual and financial resources for undertaking the donor role in environmental protection; co-operation with EU Member States and other donor countries in the implementation of support programmes with EU Member States and other donor countries (for example, building and operating a database for the effective use of expert capacities); - following Hungary’s accession to the European Union, the country’s relations with other Member States will be determined by co-operation in the elaboration of EU policies, reflecting Hungarian interests in the process of drafting Community legislation, programmes and other documents; - active role in international environmental co-operation in the framework of the UN, its specialized agencies, and other inter-governmental and international organisations. Participation in the implementation of multilateral international environmental and nature conservation treaties, and development of international environmental law; - proposal, continuation and intensification of sub-regional co-operation (for example, with countries of the Visegrád Group, Tisza river basin), implementation of joint programmes, and development of sub-regional agreements, legal instruments as required; - bilateral co-operation in environmental protection and nature conservation, as well as water management; - conclusion of agreements and effective implementation of existing agreements with all neighbouring countries; - proposal and implementation of joint actions with the government agencies concerned for the implementation of the Action Programmes of NEP-II in the framework of intergovernmental framework agreements and sectoral co-operation (similarly to integrated programmes, for example in the fields of water and health, environment and transport, energy and environment, etc). The international treaties signed and ratified by Hungary, as well as other agreements important for Hungary and to be adopted during the six-year period of NEP-II, must be implemented in the framework of international environmental policy co-operation. National Environmental Programme 2003-20082. Objectives of the Second National Environmental Programme2.3. Status analysis 2.3.2. Evaluation of the First NEP Relating to the Period between 1997 and 2002 The first National Environmental Programme adopted by Parliament in 1997 was the first comprehensive Hungarian Environmental Programme, which set out the general objectives and actions of the Hungarian environmental policy, in line with the EU environmental policy, and determined the targets and related intervention plans in accordance with the environmental elements, systems and impacts. NEP-I set altogether 120 targets. The monitoring and evaluation of the achievement of the targets is difficult, because some of the measures implemented in the framework of the Programme were aimed at long-term objectives, and the results cannot be evaluated on the basis of specific requirements for six years. In other cases the objectives were not quantified, therefore the quantitative and qualitative changes that should have been achieved in specific fields or environmental indicators by the end of the period cannot be identified. In view of the diversity and severity of the environmental problems assessed in 1997, the problems or priority order of objectives were not defined. The time frame and resources available for NEP-I proved to be insufficient for dealing with all shortcomings in the field of environmental protection and managing all causes and consequences. On the basis of the experiences of the EU Member States, this can only be achieved on a long-term basis. However, progress is facilitated by pre- accession instruments, the funds available for environmental protection increased already during the implementation period of NEP-I (e.g. PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD, LIFE), and after EU accession this work will be assisted by further EU resources (e.g. Cohesion and Structural Funds). Despite all this, significant progress took place in these years to achieve NEP-I objectives. The most important pieces of legislation required for law approximation in the field of environmental protection, representing requirements for the accession to the European Union, have been drafted. Hungary started to build an EU conform institutional system. NEP-I tried to solve environmental problems in a sectoral breakdown, and it also had a very important role in increasing incorporation of environmental interests into various sectoral and development programmes (National Regional Development Concept, National Agri-Environmental Programme, National Development Plan). In the second half of the programme period (from 2000) additional results included: launching programmes, which improved competitiveness with the use of environmentally friendly instruments (environmental audit, integrated pollution prevention (IPPC), environmentally friendly economical procedures, etc.). Act LIII of 1995 on the general rules of environmental protection laid down the basis of a new type of comprehensive planning besides the already existing Hungarian planning systems, (e.g. regional and settlement development, and physical planning) by ordering the elaboration of National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 the National Environmental Programme (hereinafter: Programme). Within the framework of this concept the Environmental Protection Act requires the preparation of regional county and local environmental protection programmes in accordance with the NEP and based on the provisions of a separate act. This obligation was fulfilled more or less at county or regional levels by the end of the period, but in the elaboration of local environmental protection programmes there are significant delays. To date, less than one-tenth of the settlements have prepared environmental protection programmes. In order to accelerate this process, from 2001 ETF created an opportunity for local governments to apply for support for the compilation of their local environmental protection programmes. Most of the environmental objectives have been achieved in the field of nature conservation and air quality (according to expert estimates the performance is around 80-90 per cent). The performance of tasks related to the protection of waters, soil, human health, and greater environmental security has been slightly behind. The biggest lag may be observed in the protection of urban and built environment, as well as waste management. Apart from direct environmental protection measures, numerous environmental indicators have improved as a consequence of structural changes in the economy.2.3.2. Status of the Environment - Environmental Processes in Geographic Breakdown During the period of NEP-I mainly the reduction of certain environmental loads was significant among the factors influencing the status of the environment. This reduction was different in the various regions of the country, and there were also clear disparities within regions among settlements or settlement groups. As a result of the termination of numerous fixed industrial sources and gradual reduction of emitted pollutants, the large air polluted areas of North Hungary and Central Transdanubia Regions were segmented like a mosaic, and their area shrank to the direct environment of the still existing major air polluting sources (primarily power plants). The quality of air is increasingly determined by the emission of pollutants from transport. Air and noise pollution from transport affects the residents of towns with significant internal road traffic in all regions, i.e. primarily the capital city, but other towns in other regions are also affected e.g., Sopron, Mosonmagyaróvár, Szeged, and settlements situated alongside busy transport routes are also exposed to this pollution. In some towns (e.g. Kecskemét, Dunaújváros) there is a high concentration of deposited and particulate matter. In total, the water quality of our large rivers has improved, and the quality is now generally acceptable; in accordance with their lower dilution capacity, the quality of smaller rivers is worse. The extremes occurring in the volume or quality of the waters of large rivers (flood pollutants) caused risks for a lot of settlements alongside the rivers almost simultaneously (the flood wave of the River Danube affected five regions and the flood on the River Tisza affected three regions). Although floods or pollution of small rivers occasionally have local impacts, they still cause severe damage to directly affected settlements. Excess surface water recharged into rivers and big downpours in towns and agricultural areas may also cause local water quality problems. Extreme weather conditions occur more and more frequently. Varying water flow is typical in the upper sections of the tributaries of Tisza. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The improving water quality and durable water level decrease of Lake Balaton, as well as changes in the economic activities related to the lake affect three planning-statistical regions (West Transdanubia, Central Transdanubia, South Transdanubia), which lead to unfavourable fragmentation of the necessary development activities too. Protection of groundwater is a strategic task in all regions, since over 90 per cent of drinking water supply and the majority of other water demand relies on this valuable water resource. Development of tourism based on thermal and medicinal waters is considered one of the key areas of economic development in many settlements of the South Plain and North Plain Regions. Pollution caused by former activities represents a further potential risk of a different nature. The review of polluted areas in the country, assessment of the extent of environmental risks, and remediation of sites represent continuous activities. The quality of the upper geological layer, the soil, is good in the whole country, and it is also favourable in international comparison. Impacts of the slowly increasing use of chemicals of different intensity are expected primarily in Central Transdanubia and the two Plain regions, where agricultural activities dominate. Water and wind erosion degrades the soil on 40 per cent of the territory of the country, in North Hungary and on the sensitive areas of the three Transdanubian regions. Acidification occurs primarily in Western Transdanubia and North Hungary, as well as in the south-east part of the South Plain region, while secondary sodification occurs in the North Plain region. The various natural and landscape assets of the country, outstanding in international comparison too, can be safeguarded by declaring protected areas in all planning-statistical regions, as well as through the ecological networks involving the protected areas too. Development of drinking water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, as well as waste management is a requirement in all regions, in relation to which the investment requirements need to be identified taking into account the current utility supply, urban structure and other features of the particular areas. Although all regions have an almost complete water supply network, raw water must be treated with new treatment methods in accordance with the new quality requirements applicable to drinking water. On the basis of the Drinking Water Improvement Programme, by the end of 2006 the quality of drinking water must be improved at all settlements where the arsenic concentration is higher than 30 μg/l, as well as in all settlements where the quality of drinking water contaminated with nitrite, boron, and fluoride does not comply with the new limit values. By the end of 2009, the quality of drinking water containing over 10 μg/l arsenic concentration and ammonium-ion pollution above the limit value must be raised to the required level. Altogether 877 settlements are affected with a total population of 2,750,000, representing 27.4 per cent of the population of the country. The natural element enrichment of the groundwater resource in South Plain, North Plain and South Transdanubian regions also calls for the improvement of drinking water quality. In order to protect the quality of surface and groundwater in Hungary, urban wastewater collection and treatment requires considerable development in all regions, including the extension of sewerages, the National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 establishment of wastewater treatment phase III, and harmless collection of wastewater and waste sludge of settlements where sewerages cannot be built economically. Phase 1 of the National Urban Wastewater Collection and Treatment Implementation Programme, which lasts until the end of 2008, contains the following tasks: - establishment of a collection system in sensitive areas in urban agglomerations over 10,000 resident equivalent; - treatment of collected urban wastewater at least biologically (phase II) but in the case of agglomerations, in sensitive areas with over 10,000 resident equivalent phase III treatment shall be required. In the framework of the ISPA pre-accession programme of the European Union several sewerage and wastewater treatment projects were approved between 2000 and 2002. These projects included the extension of the sewerages and the extension of wastewater treatment capacities in Győr, Szeged, Pécs and Sopron. In 2003 further projects were submitted for approval (wastewater management projects in Budapest, Debrecen, Kecskemét and Szombathely). Almost all municipal waste is collected, but there are only experiments for selective waste collection. On the basis of the provisions of the Waste Management Act, according to which local governments must organise public services for waste management, by now there are only a few settlements which do not have a mechanism in place for the collection and treatment of solid waste. As a result of the variable structure of settlements most of the settlements without such a public service include small villages (e.g. villages in Baranya and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén counties). The volume of waste generated in heavily industrialised and other densely populated areas, primarily in the Central Hungary region, exceeds the national average. The ISPA projects approved to date support waste management activities in North Hungary (2 projects), Plain (7 projects) and Transdanubian (3 projects) regions. Further 5 projects are being prepared at the moment. These complex waste management programmes/projects include the introduction of selective waste collection, establishment of collection islands, waste yards, selection and composting sites, extension of the capacity of landfills, establishment of new landfills, and recultivation of existing ones. In the next few years the quality of life and environmental conditions must be improved in all regions, with a simultaneous development of infrastructure networks. During the preparation and implementation of the necessary measures all characteristic features must be taken into account, which relate to the geographic situation, settlement structure, role and activities in the economy of the given area.2.3.2. Status of Environmental MediaAir At the start of NEP-I 13.2 per cent of the territory of the country was either moderately polluted (9.3 per cent), or polluted (3.9 per cent) in view of air quality, and this pollution affected National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 almost 50 per cent of the population (the total geographic area in 2000 was 11 per cent). The air pollutants emitted in the largest quantities include sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon- monoxide, carbon-dioxide and particulate matter. A significant decline in industrial production, changes in technology, and the termination of leaded petrol had a favourable impact, but growing road traffic had a non-favourable impact on air quality. Since 1980 there has been a continuous and significant reduction in the emission of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter. In the case of nitrogen oxides, following a moderate decline, there has been a slight increase again as a result of the increasing environmental load from transport. The emission of volatile organic compounds gradually declined since 1985, until it reached 144,000 tons/year in 1998. Since then the emitted quantity has slightly increased (reaching 172,000 tons in 2000). The air quality in former heavily polluted, mainly industrial areas has improved, but the air quality in settlements with heavy road traffic and in busy traffic junctions has declined. Air pollution above the limit values occurs temporarily, but it lasts longer and longer and occurs more and more frequently. The biggest problems are caused by the high concentration of nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and tropospheric ozone. There is a clear connection between inadequate air quality and respiratory diseases, as well as certain specific death causes.Soil Soil is an outstanding, conditionally renewable, natural resource in Hungary. However, soil is not only a basic medium for biomass production, and a primary nutrient source of the biosphere, but it also plays an increasingly important role in the achievement of the objective of sustainable development, e.g. in certain areas increasing environmental risks caused by human activities reducing or restricting the productive capacity must be taken into account. In this respect it is also important that the development of new ownership and land structure has not been completed yet, and the changes in the ownership of arable land have lead to extensive fragmentation. The total area subject to agricultural cultivation contains 2.3 million slopes threatened by water erosion and 1.4 million hectares threatened by wind erosion. The area of genetically alkaline soil is nearly 560,000 hectares, and the total area of areas subject to secondary sodification is around 400,000 hectares. This latter has also been the result of human intervention (e.g. water regulation). 13 per cent of Hungarian soil is heavily, and 42 per cent is moderately or slightly acidic. Soil degradation, humus content and pH reduction have a negative impact on the quantity of useful organisms living in the soil, as well as on the biological activity of the soil. In recent years the size of areas with improved soil increased to a significantly lesser extent than it would have been necessary (in 2001 soil improvement activities took place on 8,271 hectares, involving mainly acidic soil), and there were no incentives for measures aiming at the prevention of harmful soil degradation processes. The river basin and regional water management plans in progress aim at the reduction of water management related risks, co-ordination of ecological and economic aspects and definition of the necessary measures. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The sludge disposal areas of settlements, industrial and military objects, infrastructure and coal-fired power plants, the number of potential polluting sources in areas used by mining, as well as the number of detected pollutions are continuously increasing. The gravest problems include transport, industry and construction activities, lack of sewerage, desiccation of wastewater and inadequate waste management at settlements, and they all lead to soil pollution.Surface waters 96 per cent of our surface waters originate abroad. The transit nature of Hungary also determines the volume and quality of surface water supplies. The standard natural surface water resource of the country is 2,386 m3/s. In 2001, actual water abstraction was 15 per cent of the standard utilisable water resource, below the permissible quantity. Regarding the utilisation of water supplies there are significant differences among the data of individual river basin areas. The standard and actual water resource management situation of the most important water courses of the country is active, i.e. the level of utilisation of the water resource is low, and there is no water shortage. On the basis of authorised water use there are some heavily overloaded rivers (e.g. Sebes-Körös), and river sections. In the case of smaller rivers, the occasionally occurring water shortage may be reduced by regulating the internal water management activities of water users and/or spatial and timely restructuring of water supplies. In the last 5 years Hungary has been hit by five extraordinary floods. There were four major floods on the river Tisza (1998-2001) and one big flood on the River Danube (2002). In 2000 the river Tisza was affected by several waves of cyanide pollution, causing significant damage in the biology of the river and affecting the life of settlements along the river. On the basis of 2001 data, the quality of surface waters did not change significantly in terms of oxygen balance, and there was a slight improvement in the nutrient balance. The number of sections with contaminated water based on microbiological indicators increased. The majority of rivers are of good quality in terms of micro-pollutants and toxicity, or they are classified as slightly contaminated (classes II. and III). On the basis of other characteristics the pollution of rivers reduced. In 2001 the water quality in the river Danube was ranked as slightly contaminated (class III) on the total Hungarian section of the river in terms of oxygen balance, micro-pollutants and toxicity, as well as other characteristic indicators. In terms of nutrient balance there is a smaller difference, and based on microbiological characteristics there is a larger difference compared to target class III. There are many heavily contaminated tributaries running into the river Danube, as well as among the small rivers in the river basin area of the river. The water quality of the river Tisza was satisfactory for class III on the total Hungarian section only in terms of nutrient balance, while on the basis of other parameters there were contaminated sections, classified only in class IV. Certain tributaries of the river Tisza originating abroad are durably, others only occasionally very contaminated, and this pollution is increased by pollutants from Hungarian small rivers. The quality of the water in river Dráva has practically not changed on its entire length. Compared to the results of the previous year the quality of its water has deteriorated by one class in terms of organic and inorganic micro-pollutants (higher aluminium content). National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The majority of beaches by the rivers are unsuitable for body contact recreation with regard to quality and bacteriological pollution of surface waters. However, as a result of significant development in the recent period the beaches in Ráckeve-Soroksár-Danube branch have become suitable for swimming since 2000. The water balance conditions of our large lakes changed significantly in periods with resource shortages, which occurred more and more frequently during the last few years. Apart from the last 2-3 years, the water balance of Lake Balaton has always been positive, and the water level has dropped below the lower regulation level only a few times. Approximately 80-90 per cent of the nutrient load of Lake Balaton is caused by pollutants getting into the lake from rivers and from surface water flows on the direct river basin of the lake. The water protection interventions and reduction of fertilisers, which contribute to the development of diffuse load, as well as little precipitation in the last few years (reduction in the volume of rainwater within Hungary), have led to an overall reduction of the load on the lake. Consequently, the majority of the lake water is considered mesotrophic, but occasionally there were eurotrophic conditions or conditions close to those. This is why further measures are required, with more stress on future prevention of non-point pollution. The heavy deterioration and degradation of the reed stock of the lake is also a serious problem. There has been an improvement in the ecological conditions of Lake Velencei, which was also the result of external water supply. However, the lake is still threatened by eutrophication. Lake Balaton and Lake Velencei are suitable for swimming based on water quality and bacteriological criteria. The renewable water stock of smaller lakes and oxbows, suitable for resort purposes is still adequate, but in the case of intensive use there may be significant deterioration in water quality. Their water quality and ecological conditions are threatened by lower adequate fresh water supply, and pollution arriving with local and feed water.Groundwaters 97 per cent of Hungarian drinking water is supplied from groundwaters. The high number of thermal and medicinal pools is also filled from wells, and occasionally from springs. Groundwaters are also used for industrial purposes and irrigation on agricultural areas. At the same time, groundwaters are also very important for the natural flora and agriculture. Groundwater in sufficient depths is required for the ideal water supply of plants. Unreserved or reserved springs in natural conditions represent outstanding natural resources. At present, on average, approximately 2.7 million m3 water is abstracted from below the surface in Hungary each day. 48 per cent of this volume is deep porous aquifer, 32 per cent is bank-filtered water, 15 per cent is karst water, and 5 per cent is shallow groundwater. The production from below the surface in the 1980s was 50 per cent higher than the volume in 2000. Karst water production was nearly double of its natural recharge rate, and in several areas the production from deep porous aquifers more or less corresponded to the amount available for durable abstraction. Excessive use resulted in the exhaustion of springs on karst areas, significant reduction in the karst water level, a drop in the deep porous aquifer levels in basins, and an overall decline in groundwater level. The biggest water level decline occurred in National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 the main karst water basin of Transdanubian hills. The nation-wide groundwater level decline exceeded 3 m in certain areas of the sandy ridge between the rivers Danube and Tisza. Primarily in relation to the closing of mines, water abstraction has significantly decreased since the beginning of the 1990s, and at the moment karst water levels are on the increase even around valuable thermal springs, which are at risk, including Lake Hévízi, Budapest thermal karsts. The favourable impact of the reduction of deep porous aquifer abstraction was also reflected in water levels. Water level decreases have slowed down and there are now increases at certain places. Wet weather in the late 1990s, and the fall in water abstraction also reduced the decline of groundwater tables on the sandy ridge between the rivers Danube and Tisza. Thermal water can be abstracted on approximately 75 per cent of the territory of the country. Approximately 30 per cent of the thermal wells produce water for balneological purposes, and more than 25 per cent is used for drinking water supply. The water pressure level decline in the 1980s affected not only deep porous aquifer used for drinking water supply, but also the layered thermal water holding media. The use of the latter may halt the favourable trends of the last 10 years, and may result in a further decline of pressure level. Generally, the quality of deep porous aquifer used for drinking water supply is the result of the mutual effects of the given water resource layer and water rocks, and it does not always meet the requirements of drinking water supply even if no pollution is caused by human beings. Of the water quality degrading components of layer origin methane, iron, manganese, ammonia and arsenic should be mentioned specifically.2.3.2. Biological Diversity – Landscape Protection The territory of Hungary hardly represents 1 per cent of the total territory of Europe, but the abundance of its natural assets is much higher than the above ratio. As a result of various climatic impacts and geological features, the flora and fauna of the country are rather diverse. According to our present knowledge, in Hungary there are approximately 600 moss species, 2,200 vascular plant species, 2,500 mushroom species and 42,000 animal species. The ‘inanimate’ assets also contribute to our national heritage, including different types of rocks created in different periods under different conditions, minerals forming the rocks, fossils, individual forms and form complexes resulting from the effects of surface forming forces. According to our present knowledge, there are approximately 3,700 caves in Hungary, in which the total length of passages exceeds 200 km. The geographic situation in the Carpathian Basin does not only involve diversity, but also a special uniqueness and unity. The recognition of the Pannonian region as a separate biogeographic region by the European Union also indicates that Hungary contributes a significant natural capital to the natural assets of the European Community. At the same time, various uses of the landscape have a significant impact on the diversity and conditions of inanimate natural assets and the natural flora and fauna. The Hungarian species have been restricted to significantly smaller areas than their former propagation area, to the remaining natural and nature-friendly habitats. Some of them have been forced to take artificial or degraded habitats. Protection and preservation of the Hungarian natural areas usually requires continuous and often special intervention because of their small and mosaic-like structure. National Environmental Programme 2003-20089.2 per cent of the territory of Hungary is protected by separate legal regulation. The survey of ‘ex lege’ protected natural areas (natural areas protected by the power of the Act on nature conservation) has not been completed yet, but according to estimated data the proportion of protected natural areas is approximately 9.9 per cent at present. Tumuli and earthen fortifications are typical examples of the intertwining of geomorphological and other assets (landscape, cultural historical and habitat protection). There are more than 1,600 tumuli, and around 1,000 earthen fortifications, but because of intensive land use, only a fragment of them have remained intact. The natural areas were surveyed in the country and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) have been identified according to extremely important, important and planned ESA categories. On the total territory of the country, 30 extremely important, 20 important and 11 planned ESAs were identified on areas subject to extensive cultivation, where the preservation and maintenance of nature-friendly cultivation methods protect both habitats and species. Sanctuary oxbows have also been identified and registered alongside the rivers Danube and Tisza. In relation to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitats, 8 new areas have been added to the list of wetland habitats of international importance by Hungary during the last six years. With this the number of Ramsar sites has increased to 21 (with a total area of 150,000 hectares). A transboundary Ramsar site, extending to several countries, and planned in the territory of the Upper Tisza will be announced soon. 63 forest reserves have also been identified (13,101 hectares). For technical considerations the network needs to be further extended. Nearly 1.8 million hectares of the territory of our country is covered with forests, involving a forest ratio of 19.2 per cent. (This figure also contains tree plantations). The forest cover of the country has gradually, but not significantly increased for the last few decades. As a result of elimination of agricultural activities on low quality arable land, according to forecasts approximately 700-750,000 hectares can be subject to afforestation in the future. The tree composition in our forests is rather variable. In addition to semi-natural forests containing indigenous tree species there is also a high proportion of artificial forests and plantations consisting of non-native tree species. This ratio is expected to increase as further afforestation takes place. However, in Hungary forests represent the most important scenes for retaining biological diversity. In terms of leaf loss the health conditions of Hungarian forests is generally good and has stabilised at an intermediate level. The negative tendencies observed at the beginning of the period starting in 1987 have disappeared. Hungarian forests belong to forests with average damage in European comparison. Concerning nature conservation, the most important task in forest management and forest maintenance is the retention and assistance of natural forest dynamic processes, which contribute to the maintenance and increase of biological diversity. The national forest reserve network is important in terms of both research and international activities. At the moment this network consists of 49 forest reserves. It has a total area of 13,100 hectares, representing 0.76 per cent of the total forest area. In addition to the preservation of biological diversity, Hungarian forests have a very important role in the protection of environmental media (soil, air quality, water and noise protection, etc.) meeting public welfare requirements of the population (tourism and holidays), and the timber extracted from forests is an important renewable natural resource. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The protection of flora and fauna is one of the important areas of nature conservation. Of the 695 Hungarian protected plant species 63 are subject to increased protection. The conservation of more than 50 moss species is a new element, too (until 2001 only the peat moss species known until then were protected). Recently new species have been discovered in Hungary, which were new to the flora of the country, or even to science. (e.g. Hammarbya paludosa, Nepeta parviflora, and Epipactis tallosii). Numerous new sites have been discovered for already known protected plant species. However, the population or habitat of some plant species of outstanding importance for nature conservation including e.g. Dolomitic Flax, could not be stabilised reassuringly. In the future Hungary has to develop and implement special conservation programmes for these species, their preservation and protection will be Hungary’s primary responsibility. At the moment there are 965 protected animal species in Hungary, of which 137 are strictly protected. The population of certain species has been stabilised and even increased. Thus, the Hungarian population of White-tailed Eagles endangered in the whole of Europe increased from 54 to 83 pairs between 1996 and 2000 and the population of the globally endangered Imperial Eagle increased form 48 to 54 pairs. The populations of the strictly protected Saker Falcon and Roller have also increased. On the other hand, we have not managed to achieve significant progress in the protection of Great Bustards. Unfortunately, the population of Danubian Meadow Viper, one of our most vulnerable vertebrates has continued to decrease and its protection must be a priority in the future. Owing to the protection of habitats the Hungarian populations of some vulnerable bat species including Pond Bat, Greater Horseshoe Bat, and Geoffrey’s Bat have slightly increased. However, no progress has been achieved in the protection of invertebrate animals. The primary task of the recent past and the future is preparation for EU accession. The transposition of the Birds and Habitats Directives of the European Union into Hungarian legislation has been mostly completed. In order to protect some species of European interest, action plans have been developed and progress has been made to assess the habitats of the species where sustainable, relatively strong populations can be maintained under sufficient protection and treatment. The list of Hungarian protected species has been extended with protected animals and plants of Community interest. Programmes have been launched for the protection of certain plant and animal species proposed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive, coordinated by national park directorates. These programmes include the assessment of populations, monitoring in certain cases, development of protection programmes, definition of the conditions of protection and implementation. In addition to nature conservation and floristic research, vegetation research has also been encouraged which, in addition to its scientific importance, also contributed to substantiate the designation of Natura 2000 sites. On the basis of the requirements of the Birds Directive, a proposal has been made for the identification of special protection areas forming part of the Natura 2000 network and the development of a strategy and action plan required for their preservation. Within the framework of the Pan-European Ecological Network Programme (PEEN) initiated by the Council of Europe, Hungary designated its national ecological network in 1999. 8 cultural and 1 natural assets have been added to the world heritage list in Hungary to date. The only part of world heritage in purely natural category is the Aggtelek karst and Slovak karst National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 cave system, which is shared with Slovakia. According to UNESCO terminology, the Hortobágy National Park and the Fertő area (the Hungarian and Austrian areas together) fall into the category of “cultural landscape”. The Tokaj wine region gained this honourable title in 2002 also in the category of cultural landscape as a special example of harmonic coexistence of people and nature.2.3.2. Urban and Built Environment The quality of the urban environment is determined by the structure of settlements, their natural and environmental features, social and economic structure, size and infrastructure supply. 63 per cent of the populations of the country live in towns, 37 per cent in villages. The more rarely populated settlements in the Plain regions include settlements with higher average population, and lower density, while the denser settlement network in the Transdanubian regions and North Hungary region includes lower average population and higher population density. Because of Budapest, Central Hungary Region represents a separate category. Transport, air pollution, noise problems and inadequate technical conditions of the built environment, as well as the lack of green areas cause increasingly important problems in urban areas. Of the 90 settlements regularly tested for air pollution, 24 are classified as polluted, 51 as moderately polluted and 15 settlements are classified as acceptable. In towns which had large industrial plants in the past, heavily polluting industrial technologies have been diminished, but the remediation and utilisation of heavily polluted industrial sites, left behind by the closed down former state companies still cause significant problems. 64 per cent of the Hungarian settlements have historic monuments. A significant proportion of the total 10,500 protected monuments are in deteriorating conditions. The size of green areas in towns is lower than average in international comparison in terms of quantity and quality. This undesirable situation has also been the result of the inadequate practice of the sale of land and licensing of construction. The ratio of green areas and the pace of increase are not satisfactory (3.5 per cent between 1998 and 2001). At certain places green areas are not maintained properly either. The national ratio of neglected green areas is still around 13 per cent. More than 80 per cent of the households in Budapest are supplied with all utilities. The difference between towns and villages mainly occurs in infrastructural services, primarily as the utility gap. While piped water supply is almost fully comprehensive, in 2001 only 70 per cent of the households in towns were connected to sewerages, and only 20 per cent of households were connected in villages. Starting from 2001, households are obliged to use solid and liquid urban waste management public services. Approximately 90 per cent of urban liquid waste, not drained through the sewerages, is desiccated. The inadequately constructed and blocked desiccating equipment contaminate the soil of the settlements, and, consequently the groundwater.Noise The number of noise and vibration sources, noise nuisance and vibration has increased, which is also reflected in the number of household complaints and increasing sensitivity of the population to noise. Statistical processing of noise measurements near the busiest routes of the National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 country in the peak hours, tested between 1995 and 2000, shows that at 98 per cent of the measuring points the noise level exceeded 65 dBA. Of environmental noise sources, transport, including road transport is the most important one. The proportion of the impact disturbing the population amounts to 50-55 per cent on average in the country. In large cities this proportion is 60-65 per cent. Noise pollution affects especially those who live by main road sections crossing large towns. In 2000, in total 314 non-service type industrial plants were controlled with measurements. In 35 per cent of the controlled plants the noise emission was higher than the limit value. During the last 3 years this proportion has practically not changed.2.3.2. Waste Management The total quantity of waste generated is practically stagnant since 1997. The total quantity of waste generated in 2000 was close to 70 million tons. Of this, 4.95 per cent was hazardous waste, while the rest was generated by industrial and agricultural production and services. Municipal Solid Waste The total quantity of municipal solid waste generated in 2001 was 4.6 million tons; about half of it was organic, biologically degradable waste (kitchen and green waste and paper). The quantity of municipal solid waste has hardly shown any change in recent years, but its volume is increasing year after year due to the increase of the proportion of its light components. In 2001, a total of 4.2 million tons was collected in the form of organised public services. At present, 83 per cent of the municipal solid waste generated is landfilled and only about 3 per cent is recycled. Only some 15 per cent of the registered 665 operating landfills can be considered up-to- date, but in addition to this, some 600 smaller illegal landfills/dumping sites are also in use.Municipal Liquid Waste Considering water consumption data and the number of inhabitants living on areas with no sewerage, municipal liquid waste generated on an annual basis can be estimated to be around 115 million tons (about 15 millions tons after desiccation). The liquid waste is disposed in a proper or improper way; a large proportion (about 90per cent) becomes desiccated while posing hazard to nature because of the inappropriate construction of the collection and storage structures. In 2001, the quantity of non-desiccated municipal waste was estimated to be 5.5 million tons, which was further increased by 0.7 million tons of sewage sludge coming from the sludge tanks of industrial and public wastewater treatment plants as well as from sewerage cleaning. 18.5 per cent of wastewater sludge is stabilised and about 40 per cent is used for agricultural purposes.Non-Hazardous Waste Generated by Production and Services The annual quantity of waste generated by industry (also including waste generated by trade and services) is between 20-25 million tons and this quantity is gradually decreasing. In the early 1990s, most of this decrease was caused by economic recession; after economic restructuring and the commencement of economic recovery in 1995, however, this decrease continued further National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 due to the introduction of new, up-to-date, material and energy saving technologies. Almost 90 per cent of industrial waste is power station and metallurgical slag, mining rock, industrial wastewater and water treatment sludge. Less than 30 per cent of the waste is recycled, and some 60 per cent is landfilled or stored. The rate of recycling is significantly influenced by market prices and the capacities available. For example, in case of paper waste, processed quantity is constantly increasing, but some part of the capacities is always underutilised. The more than threefold increase of metal and metal alloys waste sold abroad, however, points to the lack of domestic processing capacities. There is a similar situation with respect to glass waste, while in case of tyre the accumulated and supplied quantity is on the increase because of the narrowing export opportunities. 85 per cent of agricultural and food industry waste, that is 25-30 tons per year, is in fact biomass. Plant remains generated in crop production and forest management, and manures from animal husbandry are actually not waste as they are recycled by agriculture almost to 100 per cent. A priority problem of agriculture and environment protection is the approximately 14-15 million-m3 sludge generated by large-scale animal breeding farms and accumulated in storage ponds.Hazardous Waste Total annual quantity of hazardous waste generated by production has been gradually decreasing since 1998; in 2000 it was 3.4 million tons. Of this, 25 per cent (0.8 million tons) was red mud generated by alumina (aluminium oxide) production. The bulk of hazardous waste (in 2000, 47 per cent of the total quantity excluding red mud) is generated in Komárom-Esztergom County, while red mud is generated mainly on the industrial sites of Győr-Moson-Sopron and Veszprém counties. Of the hazardous waste generated, only 20 per cent is recycled, and almost 75 per cent is disposed in a landfill. 2.3.2. Human Health and Environmental Impacts The health status of the Hungarian population is rather bad compared to both that of the neighbouring countries and the countries of the European Union. The decline in population since 1981 is an unfavourable phenomenon resulting in a 6.3 per cent decrease in the last two decades. Average life expectancy at birth has shown a slow increase in recent years, but it is still far below the EU average: in 2000, men’s average life expectancy was 67 years, while that of women was 76 years. In addition to the aging of the society, the high mortality rate of the active population with earning capacity, primarily of the male population, also contributes to this trend. Mortality due to leading death causes among men is 2.3-3 times higher than the EU average; among women mortality due to cardiovascular diseases is 3.5-4 times higher, mortality due to malignant tumours is 1.5 times higher, and mortality due to pulmonary cancer is outstandingly high: it is 3.5 times higher than the EU average. Among the reasons of leading death causes and illnesses, factors relating to life style and nutrition should be highlighted in the first place, but environmental harms and health damaging impacts of the residential and workplace environment are also rather significant. International National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 surveys have shown that 14-16 per cent of deaths are traced back to diseases that are in relation with environmental impacts. Economic restructuring in the 1990s decreased the air pollution of a number of settlements and its positive health benefit is clearly shown in statistical health analysis. Besides, however, similarly to world tendencies, the number of people suffering from allergic and asthmatic diseases is continuously increasing in Hungary. The number of registered patients suffering from pollenosis has grown tenfold while the number of those having asthma threefold in the past ten years. An outstandingly high environmental challenge in Hungary is the alarming size of land covered by ragweed (Ambrosia elatior) producing extremely allergenic pollen (a survey of weeds conducted in 2001 pointed out that out of the total 4 million ha plough land 700 thousand ha was severely infected). The highest daily ragweed pollen concentration was measured in Debrecen (1419 pollen grains/m3). An increasing ragweed pollen concentration was detected in the vicinity of Miskolc, which was considered until then a ragweed-free part of the country in North Hungary. The deterioration of the status of the environment, the shrinking green areas and areas suitable for walking and doing sports in urban areas and the rapid growth of vehicle transport have all significantly contributed to substantial fall in people’s physical activity. The World Health Organisation has stated that among factors that are most likely to damage health in Europe, life style with little physical activities is in the second place (the first place is taken by smoking). With respect to water and health, efforts to eliminate quality anomalies should be highlighted. Piped drinking water supply is available to almost the entire population, but the quality parameters of the drinking water at some settlements are unfortunately not in compliance with the limit values in force. In addition to the region-specific problems of drinking water quality (e.g.: elevated level of arsenic from natural hydrogeological origin of water and high level of nitrate), the microbiological safety of water resource is not satisfactory either, and improper water disinfection is often accompanied with the generation of chlorination side products. Improper fluoride and iodine content of drinking water should also be noted. The absence of these micro-elements necessary for human organisms is a problem of public health scale. With regard to water use for recreation purposes, bathing in polluted rivers is a primary health risk, as opposed to the water quality of our lakes that is acceptable in general. Eutrophication creates favourable conditions for the reproduction of toxic blue algae in our still waters; the related public health risk is not negligible in spite of the fact that alga bloom so frequent in former years has become less frequent in recent years. The number of drinking water-borne infectious diseases decreased significantly in the late 90s. The number of cases of blue baby syndrome due to nitrate content has been around ten since the late 90s. The correlation between the arsenic content of drinking water and the occurrence of certain diseases of tumours requires further investigation, although the survey conducted recently in the framework of the National Environmental Health Action Programme has not confirmed the literature-based hypothesis of positive correlation with regard to kidney and bladder cancers. During the process of food production, processing, packaging and storage, polluting substances detrimental to health will inevitable get from the environment into foodstuffs. The number of diseases, especially communicable diseases, caused by foodstuffs has been continuously increasing National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 all over the world both in the industrially developed and in the developing countries presenting newer and newer challenges to food producers and distributors. The high number of illnesses caused by improper nutrition is due not only to lack of compliance with technological discipline. Generally, there’s an easier access to foodstuffs of high calorie and additives content unfavourable from the point of view of nutrition physiology (they are the ones advertised and seem to have more favourable prices). In public catering, the proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits is low and it is difficult to find access to healthy foodstuffs coming from organic production or from other sources. In addition to the long known environmental impacts, new factors have emerged whose impact is not sufficiently known. Therefore the development and the extension of the scope of research on environmental health are indispensable. Priority research areas are: correlation between indoor and outdoor air quality and respiratory diseases; impacts of drinking water pollutants and their components; impacts of toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances; criteria to be applied to the qualification of waste. Efficient environmental health training and education is a long-term prevention tool. Attitude forming and establishing proper habits and conduct is a prerequisite to preserve a good status of health. Education – right from nursery up to post-graduate training – is ultimately important on all levels. The training activities of the different institutes in this area should be coordinated and made more efficient.2.3.2. Environmental Security The processes posing a hazard to our safety are on the one hand of natural, on the other, of technical nature. Since 1997, the number of extraordinary environmental events has shown a decreasing tendency year by year. These events affect different environmental media to different degrees. In Hungary, the proportion of damage of natural origin is typically lower than in other parts of the world. The greatest problem is caused by floods. Residential areas of 700 settlements representing a population of 2 million are located below the standard flood level; therefore they are exposed to regular and significant risks. 30 per cent of our lands in agriculture are also located on flood plains. In order to prevent damage that floods might cause and to enforce environmental aspects more efficiently in flood protection, a number of specialised concepts and programmes have been elaborated. Water uses outside our national borders and continuous and emergency like water pollutions fundamentally determine the quality of our rivers and the ecological status of our environment. The pollution of groundwater and the geological media is a hazard of civilisation origin. Generally, in most cases their development takes long years, the hazard thus created persists for a long time, and considerable natural degradation occurs only in case of some pollutants. In addition, nuclear environmental security also has outstanding importance. Environment protection, environmental security and industrial safety are closely interrelated. In case of industrial safety, environmental security can be improved in accordance with the provisions of SEVESO II Directive by ensuring a high level protection of the environment and the population. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008With respect to chemical safety, the establishments falling under the scope of SEVESO II Directive have been registered, the necessary institutional development and training has been completed, and the preparation of the prescribed safety analyses and safety reports is under way, which enable us to complete the implementation of the Directive by the middle of 2003. The globalisation of risks, the environmental risks of processes in other parts of the world, which also affect our country, and the processes of technical nature posing a threat to our safety give way to further risks of natural origin so far unknown to us, giving rise to newer and newer challenges that we have to face. In that respect, protection against threats of natural origin in relation with climate change and against environmental disasters may be further extended to also include preventive protection and the mitigation of detrimental impacts.2.3.2. Climate Change, Atmospheric Ozone Depletion and Acidification The combustion of fossil fuels, certain industrial and agricultural activities, and the application of ozone depleting substances with green house effect cause global air pollution. The emitted polluting substances cause complex environmental problems. Some of the air-polluting substances further increase the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere, while freons and gases with similar impact further damage the ozone layer. Other atmospheric polluting substances cause the acidification of rain water on a regional scale. The strengthening of the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the decrease of atmospheric ozone, and acidification are all interrelated and constitute a complex circle of environmental problems. The risk of climate change could be mitigated by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In August 2002, Hungary joined the Kyoto Protocol of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the early 1990s, the emission of greenhouse gases decreased in line with the recession of our national economy. In the second half of the same decade, economic restructuring and less energy intensive industrial production were responsible for the decreasing tendency. In recent years, due to economic growth, the greenhouse gas emission levels have started to increase again. In accordance with our international obligations, the application of halons was practically terminated as of 1994, and that of chlorinated hydrocarbons as of 1996. From 1992 onwards, the application of halogenated-chlorinated-hydrocarbons used as a substituting material was on the increase until 1998, but then a slow decrease started. Acidification of the environment is caused by sulphur and nitrogen compounds emitted by human activities. The total emission of these gases between 1990 and 2000 decreased to some 60 per cent of the 1990 year value, which can be explained by the combined effect of economic restructuring in Hungary in 1990 and the environment policy measures. 2.3.2. Sectors’ Environmental Impacts Most of the environmental tasks are exhausted by efforts aiming at the reduction of the environmental load generated by different sectors of the economy. In that respect the most efficient tool is the incorporation of environmental considerations into sectoral policies, the encouragement and promotion of an environmentally aware ‘conduct’ of the sectors. Our intention in co-operation with the sectors concerned, and by establishing an appropriate National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 regulatory system of incentives is to promote ecologically efficient company operation, production using less material, having less polluting substance emission, and less waste generation. In this way we intend to ensure that economic growth is not accompanied by unjustified increase of environmental load, and damage can be avoided. Environmental protection and environmental industry could be driving forces in the modernisation of Hungary’s economy. The implementation of this Programme may result in significant extension of our national environmental market, far exceeding the average growth rate. In the period between 2003 and 2008, environmental industry is expected to grow and environmental services are expected to expand 2.5 times faster than the average rate. The development of small and medium enterprises will have outstanding role in this process. A substantial precondition of the horizontal integration of environmental aspects is the incorporation of environmental aspects into the value scale of economic policy. To that end, the potential to incorporate environmental objectives into other policies should also be established in environment policy. When implementing the National Environmental Programme II, the set of instruments intended to promote the activities of the priority sectors should be elaborated with attention to the following substantive aspects: - assessment of the environmental load caused by the sector; - assessment of the related sectoral programmes; suggestion on how to reinforce their environmental aspects; - elaboration of sectoral, environment focused policies, guidelines and planning aids; - elaboration of subsectoral environment development strategies (e.g.: pharmaceutical industry, animal husbandry, public transport) with the involvement of the business associations, trade and social organisations concerned.Energetics From environmental perspective, energetics is an intensive priority sector. Two-third of the air polluting substances damaging our health and climate comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. Beyond this, power generation activities have a significant unfavourable impact on the status of waters and soil (e.g. disposal of radioactive waste) as well as on the landscape and natural resources. In the early 1990s, due to industrial restructuring, some production activities declined. The performance of the economy was at its lowest in 1993, total energy consumption was 1058 PJ (this was equal to 78 per cent of 1356 PJ of the year 1987 preceding economic recession). During the period to follow, energy demand was practically stagnant (it reached its peak in 1996: 1077.5 PJ). During the time that has elapsed since 1997, total power production has somewhat decreased, and the annual values of consumption have not changed much in practice (in 2000, it was 1036.1 PJ, in 2001 it was 1069.4 PJ). The rate of final consumption per GDP unit has decreased; in 2000 it was 75 per cent of the 1990 level. The efficiency of our energy consumption is only half of the EU countries’ average. In the total energy production of Hungary, natural gas and oil take the first two places followed by nuclear energy. The rate of the utilisation of renewable energy sources in 2000 was 3.5 per cent in total. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008When implementing NEP II, the criteria of sustainable energy management have to be elaborated, with special attention to efficient production, transportation, economical utilisation of energy and the encouragement of the use of renewable fuels. On the basis of the related Government Decree, consistent implementation of the programme on energy saving and energy efficiency increase until 2010, the fulfilment of the quantified targets contained therein, and the necessary budgetary sources must be guaranteed. An essential development issue is the necessity to significantly increase the proportion of renewable energy in accordance with the applicable EU requirements and the objectives accepted by UNO. Special attention should be paid to the gradual opening up of the electricity and gas market and – with regard to energy price and tariff determination - to the mitigation of the competitive disadvantages of renewable fuels and cogeneration. The reconstruction of the district heating sector is especially favourable regarding the cost and benefit of emission reduction, therefore environmental sources must also have a role in financing these investments. While the efficiency of energy consumption for production purposes has been continuously improving, the same is not true for households, transport and services. On energy production and supply sides, efforts should be made to apply voluntary tools, while on consumers’ side, to further raise environmental awareness in energy consumption. From the point of view of power generation, one of the most important components to ensure sustainable development is the internalisation of environmental, landscape and nature conservation related costs. External costs may be mitigated by gradual integration of costs and by applying energy saving and other measures. This sector may well contribute in the first place to the attainment of the objectives identified in the action programme on climate change, but at the same time, this sector also has a huge consumption of water and has quite an important role in the generation of industrial waste and hazardous waste in particular. By proper change of technology, the proportion of the above problems can be decreased significantly.Transport Considering air pollutants, transport’s contribution to pollution on national level is the most significant with respect to CO and NOx. Transport’s liability is rather significant, about 50 per cent, also with respect to the emission of volatile organic compounds. The emissions of transport origin including the emissions of public road vehicle transport have recently become one of the most important causes of air quality and noise problems which are well demonstrated by the fact that air pollution tends to concentrate on settlements with heavy internal or transit traffic. The termination of the sale of leaded petrol in early 1999 was a positive change, which put an end to lead emission of traffic origin. With regard to transport, the number of those using individual transport means has further increased compared to the rate of utilisation of public transport. Demand for public transport has lately decreased by some 10 per cent. Both with regard to persons and goods transport, public road transport is still dominant. From environmental aspect, a further problem is the high average age of commercial vehicles, their slow replacement and inappropriate condition. A number of developments have been made in order to shift freights transportation to rail and water, but what has been achieved is not more than slowing down unfavourable tendencies. The performance of domestic and international combined transport has increased more than 2.5 times in West Europe National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 in the past ten years. Concurrently, the container transportation performance of the Hungarian Railways has decreased to one-third since 1988. The transportation of trucks by rail has dynamically increased but their transportation by water has come to an end due to economic reasons. The vehicle stock is of rather high age in almost all subsectors, and what is even worse, they have quite bad technical conditions. Zinc, copper and cadmium in soil, and lead formerly, were mainly of transport origin. Along roads with high traffic, primarily motorways, lead and zinc concentration is tenfold, copper and cadmium concentration is two-fourfold. Transport infrastructure requires larger and larger areas. Residential areas, roads, industrial and other facilities cover about 14per cent of Hungary’s territory. Considering the tendencies of the developed countries, and the expected growth of domestic transport demands, the emissions of transport origin are expected to increase significantly in the decades ahead. Besides, their favourable social and economic impact, transport development measures affect both human health, air pollution, noise, soil and water pollutions, wastes as well as pose threats to biosphere and land use. Intensive attention should be paid to giving preference to environmentally sound modes of transport (public transport, combined goods transport, transport by rail, water, bicycle, etc), the integration of linear structures into the landscape and the establishment of ecological bridges and passages for games to promote the continuity of ecological corridors. Preference should be given to the tools intended to influence transport habits, and vehicle drivers’ conduct. The document titled “Long-Term Strategy of Environmentally Sound Transport Development” under preparation should consider the above facts. A further objective is to maintain and increase the share of urban public transport in the regional centres, and in the capital city in the first place, and to improve its quality. In addition to their environmental significance, all these tasks are primarily transport policy and transport development tasks also including infrastructure.Industry Industry experiencing strong recession followed by moderate growth was characterised by dynamic development from 1997 on, but the rate of this growth slowed down again in 2001. In the sectoral structure of industry, production was equally shared among three sectors in 1996 and in 1997, but it was significantly reorganised in 1998, 1999: mining, electricity, gas, heat and water supplies showed a decreasing tendency while manufacturing slightly grew. Between 1996 and 2001, machine industry had an outstanding growth, and the production of timber, paper, printing industry products, textile, construction industry, and metallurgical products also increased. Industry uses vast quantities of water, 80-90 per cent of which during use is contaminated only with heat. Industrial wastewaters may be more hazardous than municipal wastewaters as they may contain polluting components that may damage also the rivers’ self-treatment capacity due to their direct toxic or infectious impact. On the basis of discharged wastewater, the discharge by food industry, machine industry, chemical industry, mining, timber processing and paper industry is also rather decisive besides that of energetics. While the wastewaters of energetics are basically polluted by heat, the National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 wastewaters discharged by other industries contain different kinds of polluting substances. With regard to organic polluting substance emission, food industry is of decisive importance, but the emissions from chemical, textile and paper industries is rather significant. With respect to the emission of other substances including hazardous substances, pollution is caused for the most part by chemical industry, metallurgical industry, machine industry, textile and leather industries. Industry is posing hazard to groundwaters and soil also by its waste generation. Some 80 per cent of the waste generated per year (73.4 tons in 2000) comes from production. Almost 5 per cent of production waste is hazardous waste, and 74 per cent of the hazardous waste comes from manufacturing, electricity, gas, heat and water supplies. 29 per cent of industrial and other waste from economic activities is recycled. In this sector a solution must be found in the first place for the proper storage and inventory of hazardous substances and for the safe collection and disposal of hazardous waste (certain wastewater sludge in particular). In case of power plants, the main sources of soil pollution are the sludge ponds. Their total surface area is 1000 ha. Under the sometimes more than 10 m thick layer of slag and fly ash, soils lose their original functions. A further burden on the environment is that these sludge ponds also serve as power station waste dumping sites (to dump sludge, chemicals, oily waste, etc.). The salts, heavy metals, etc. dissolved from dumped slag and fly ashes pollute the soil and the groundwater. In Hungary there are some 6000 mining facilities (the exploitation of most of them was terminated decades ago). Related to these mining facilities, the number of registered waste rock piles is close to 3500, and the waste rock accumulated in them amounts to 1 billion tons. The most different types of mines are often used for waste collection, storage or as dumping sites. On the sites of the 800-900 industrial production and waste disposal facilities 106 million tons of industrial waste can be found. The intensive acidification of the soil is due to different acidic industrial side products, waste and non-sufficient liming. The requirements on waste handling, noise abatement, and air pollution in relation with construction are often not observed in the construction industry. In the future, buildings’ life cycle analysis must be encouraged and the conditions of recycling of construction debris need to be improved. That would facilitate waste treatment and would also better ensure the preservation of our mineral assets. 80 per cent of the buildings older than 10 years are below EU quality standards. The rate of return of most of the energy saving investments is 10-15 years, or in some cases, several decades. Tax allowances meant to encourage reconstructions, the network of reliable contractors and regional consultation offices should be further extended. Expertise on natural construction materials and technologies less detrimental to health and the environment is often missing. Examining the environmental impacts of the industrial sectors we find that a few industrial sectors are responsible for the pollution of air: SO2, CO2, CO, NOx and dust are emitted mainly by the power generating sector, but metallurgy using large furnaces and the production of non- metallic mineral products should also be noted. Results of detailed analysis have shown that SO2, dust, CO2 emissions of large combustion plants can be decreased cost efficiently in part by the application of proven end-of-pipe technology, reconstruction of combustion plants and proper selection of fuels. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The new technologies of industrial production provide better efficiency and smaller environmental burden and load in general as it was proved by industrial restructuring in the last decade. In order to elaborate, advance and reinforce sectoral programmes initiated by the sector, and to protect the environment, both the measures intended to prevent and decrease pollution and the ones meant to mitigate risks arising from hazardous substances should be combined. The scope of this work may range from the elaboration of environment focused sectoral policies, guidelines, planning aids to the introduction of the criteria ‘green’ for eligibility for funds from the relevant industry-policy chapter of the budget. Most of these tasks can be organised in environmental special and/or industrial subsectoral programmes, which are in fact already taking place in part (industrial waste recycling programme, modernisation of industrial waste incinerators, development of the disaster prevention system, reduction of chemical risk, application of industrial environmentally aware management systems and the extended producer liability). In case of new investments, preference should be given to the so-called brown field investments as opposed to green field investments.Agriculture Hungary’s natural resources provide favourable conditions for agricultural production, therefore agricultural production will continue to have important role in the future as well. Subsequent to the change of the political system, the privatisation of agricultural lands and production tools has fundamentally changed the situation of this sector. In 2000, there were 960,000 family farms, and 8,500 organisations pursuing agricultural activities. 70 per cent of the family farms had agricultural lands smaller than 1 ha. The average size of economic organisations pursuing agricultural activities decreased to 660 ha. Agricultural production in the period under examination was all in all on the increase, although in a fluctuating manner. Livestock has significantly decreased. Crop production is characterised by the dominance of cereals, subsectors of high labour demand (fruit and grapes) have shrunk. The application of chemicals and fertilizers has decreased in agriculture. The area of interventions with a melioration purpose aiming at improving fertility has also significantly decreased. Land use and production structure are only partly harmonised with the natural endowments. The opportunity to establish a cultivation-line structure with attention to environmental aspects is closely interrelated with the changes in the property structure. The conditions of such agricultural production should be created that is able to produce valuable, residue-free, healthy and marketable foodstuffs as well as raw materials and renewable fuels while it preserves the assets of the countryside and the landscape, and does not burden the biosphere, the environment and man in the environment. In addition to agriculture and forest management, game management and fishing as branches utilising fundamental natural resources also have important roles in this complex process. Only multifunctional agriculture is able to fulfil the production, consumption, social and regional tasks, and this is what enables it to follow EU development tendencies by combining agriculture and rural development. The European Community is gradually phasing out production type of subsidies and for the most part they are used not for production, but e.g. environment and landscape management, and rural development purposes. We will be able to use our existing opportunities in the future if we can create better harmony between goods production and the needs of environmental protection. EU accession is expected to bring about changes in the environmental load of agricultural origin. The decrease of plough land on hundreds of thousands of National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 hectares will lead to an increase of semi-natural cultivation lines (forest, grass, etc.) involving smaller environmental load. On lands of permanent intensive cultivation, increased application of chemicals can be expected. There, a rational, environmentally sound application of chemicals must be achieved. The exploration and minimisation of environmental hazards and risks concomitant with gene technology should also be taken care of.Tourism Tourism is one of the most dynamically growing sectors of our country. Due to its significant seasonal and regional concentration, tourism still has lots of capacities with respect to economic efficiency, but at the same time it already produces at this stage a burden on the environment. An additional benefit of the development of tourism is that it increases demand for a broad circle of local services, and the requirements of effective tourism in the filed of natural and built environment encourage the protection and sustainable utilisation of the natural and cultural values. Tourist development programmes that ensure the preservation of attractive environmental assets, minimize the environmental damage tourism may cause, and also contribute to the development of local communities and settlements have to be elaborated and implemented. Tourism has a number of purposes (city tourism, rural tourism, ecoturism, etc.). When developments are implemented, the needs and the developments have to be harmonised in function of the local endowments and the load-bearing capacity of the area. In order to disseminate ecoturism, which has tremendous importance in raising awareness and information providing, demonstration facilities, training and visitors’ centres have to be established – primarily on the area of national parks - they may serve the above targets as model intellectual bases of nature conservation, scientific research, information provision, training for different age groups, modern agriculture and rural development. From ecological and human ecological aspect, significant and new types of co-operation can be built between environmental, nature conservation and cultural institutes and organisations linking the national and local tourist interests with attention to environmental aspects. Trade A fundamental key component of future environmental protection is to change consumption habits. Shifting consumption habits into an environmentally friendly direction can be partly accelerated by the tools of trade (advertisement, marketing, etc.). Experiences of the developed countries show that the environmentally aware attitude of the trade sector is getting stronger not only because of legal force but also because of its own economic interest which is motivated by the environmental awareness of consumers’ demands. The recognition of this economic interest must be enhanced by incentives that influence consumer habits, producers’ market habits, as well as the selling, advertising and PR activities of trade. It should be examined what solutions, environmentally aware concepts could evolve in production and product development (e.g.: energy and raw material consumption, organic product features), in pricing and decisions on sale (e.g. transportation, recycling system) and in communication behaviour (eco-trademarks, advertisement, PR activity). The principles of the environmental management of the market and the ethical and commercial principles of the environmentally aware trading behaviour must be developed; intensive attention should be paid to trade and the potential of commercial National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 advertisements to form attitude. Extended product liability should also be enforced in trade. Provision should be made to ensure the presentation of the environmental risks of the marketed products, the treatment possibilities of products becoming waste, and the potentials for the reclaim of products and for the application of the deposit-refund system. Care should be taken to provide regulation for the environment of commercial centres and facilities and the connected outskirts and for the aftercare of shopping centres when they eventually are closed down. Local supply must be improved to make the settlement better for living there and in order to promote shopping where the shopping centre is accessible on foot, and beyond the indication of the price, information should also be given on the social costs of the consumption mode (one-way packaging materials, hazardous household cleaning substances, etc.).2.3. Environmental Problems and Values The prime intention of the National Environmental Programme continues to be to create environmental foundation for the implementation of sustainable development, to preserve our environmental and natural resources, to prevent environmental damage, and to eliminate the causes of environmental problems by the most efficient set of tools available. To enable us to efficiently eliminate and prevent environmental problems and risks, the specific target status of the environment that is to be attained in six years must be defined and the measures necessary for the attainment of that target status must be implemented in a scheduled manner.2.3.2. Environmental Problems Environmental impact factors /loading Environmental impact /problem Emission of air polluting substances The soil, flora and fauna are damaged Hazard to human health Damage of corrosion Certain polluting substances cause global or regional scale pollution Occurrence of above the limit value air Number of respiratory illnesses, pollution in the inner areas of larger cardiovascular illnesses and the risk of settlements and along main road with related mortality is increasing heavy traffic Pollutant load in surface waters Water quality is deteriorating Propagation of algae and other water plant (Eutrophication) Biological diversity and waters’ self- purifying capacity is decreasing Surface waters are not suitable for different types of uses (water supply, irrigation, recreation, utilisation for tourist purposes) National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Environmental impact factors /loading Environmental impact /problem Continuous and emergency type of Unfavourable changes in the quality and pollution of transboundary surface waters ecological status of surface waters and arriving in our country their environment Contamination of groundwaters and the Suitability of natural resources for use is geological media (lack of proper decreasing (groundwater, geological treatment of wastewaters of municipal media) and industrial origin, obsolete waste Fertility of soil decreases disposal practice due to certain agricultural activities and atmospheric deposition) Erosion, deflation Fertile soil loss Fertility of the soil is reduced Degradation of habitats Beds of water courses get filled up Dust pollution Sodification, acidification Decrease of the number of organisms living in the soil, change in biocenoses Soils’ puffer capacity has changed from the aspect of taking up potential toxic elements Soil’s fertility is decreased Drought, desertification process, Emergence of temporary ecological Water table decrease in some areas water scarcity Certain natural habitats and biocenoses are forced to live on limited areas Soil’s fertility is decreased Preservation of biological diversity With attention to unfavourable should be more intensively asserted in environmental impacts, biological forest management (timber uses, forest diversity is not increasing, in certain restoration and afforestation). (Property places it is even decreasing in forest focused management should be replaced associations. by result focused forest management with attention to the whole ecosystem.) Failure to recultivate abandoned or Damaged landscape asset, landscape deteriorated areas (mines, industrial, wounds agricultural and other areas), to explore Occurrence and propagation of invasive their potential pollution and to remediate species them Occurrence and propagation of plant species harmful to health (causing allergy) Potential pollution of geological media, surface and groundwater supplies National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Environmental impact factors /loading Environmental impact /problem Environmental impact factors /loading Environmental impact /problem Increase of areas without regular Occurrence and propagation of invasive maintenance (inner and outer areas) species Occurrence and propagation of plant species harmful to health (causing allergy) Structure of land use and its changes Decrease of the proportion and space structural relationship of natural or semi- natural areas Fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats Decreasing chance to preserve the population sizes necessary to maintain diversity Traditional farming is forced to limited Proportion of grassland and its richness areas in species is decreasing due to giving up grazing animal husbandry and pasture management Due to the accumulated unfavourable With the exception of a couple of species impacts, the ecological status and the and areas, the measures and programmes survival of more and more indigenous in place have not succeeded in plant and animal species is threatened terminating or reversing this process Pollution of environmental media (indoor Risk of health impairment is increasing pollution exceeding limit values, ionising (diseases of the sense organs, the nervous and non-ionising radiation, noise load of system and stress may be potential causes hazardous rate) of illnesses with tumours and mortality) Transfer of microbiological and chemical When transferred into foodstuffs, risk of polluting substances into the health impairment is increased environment Spread of consumer habits and life styles Contributes to the severity of ignoring environmental aspects environmental problems and to the increase of the risk of health damage Lack of sufficient harmony between The growth of settlement areas regional and environmental planning, contributes to the degradation of aspects of landscape protection fall into environmental, natural and landscape the background assets Degradation of public health and General condition and life quality of the hygienic status of settlements, decrease residents is degrading of residential green areas, loss of aesthetic value of city- and streetscape National Environmental Programme 2003-20082.3.2. Assets that Need Protection Criteria to preserve assets to be Assets to be protected protected Favourable and unfavourable impacts Hungary has varied and internationally The assessment, protection, utilisation also significant geological and and reconstruction programme for caves morphological resources and caves should be continued Unfavourable impacts of surface mining Pollution affecting river basins, karsts or their direct environment Improper wastewater collection and waste disposal In international context, Hungary has Different rates of sensitivity of aquifers rather favourable hydrological conditions to surface pollutions and significant operating and prospective Since the 80s and 90s, excessive drinking water sources. abstraction of karts water decreased, karst water levels increased Groundwater level decrease stopped in certain areas Presence of polluting sources The quantity of natural resources (sun, When using renewable energy sources, wind, geothermic energy, biomass) that technologies serving the most efficient could be used in an economical and protection of the quantity and quality environmentally friendly manner is stocks of environmental media should be rather significant selected Favourable bio-geographic endowments Maintenance of the ecological diversity The territory of the country constitutes an and natural structural characteristics of almost independent bio-geographic habitats by the protection and region (Pannonian) development of ecological networks Our country is situated along the border embracing biogeographic regions of a number of biogeographic regions International co-operation for the development of the European ecological network National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Criteria to preserve assets to be Assets to be protected protected Favourable and unfavourable impacts The natural and landscape assets of the The preservation of biological diversity Carpathian Basin and its role in the is endangered by a number of factors preservation of biological diversity is of (termination and fragmentation of outstanding importance even habitats, changes in the water resource internationally. Our country is conditions, environment pollution, forms characterised by a unique diversity of of traditional agriculture are forced to landscapes, habitats and species, limited areas, etc.) including wild endemic species Complex measures are needed to ensure the preservation of species, habitats and biocenoses (e.g.: by applying land use, settlement development and regulation, agri-environmental and water management tools that have been harmonised with the objectives of nature conservation) Favourable agricultural endowments Due to damage caused by erosion and (number of sunny hours, fertile soils, deflation, degradation of agricultural etc.) lands Drought and inland water hazard in a number of places is an obstacle to the utilisation of agricultural lands Climate change threatens agricultural land endowments A land use system adjusted to the endowments should be developed The scope of the National Agri- Environmental Programme (NAEP) should be extended to cover the largest possible area Our country is rich in historic and The condition and the maintenance of cultural assets and unique landscape most of our built environmental assets assets and historic monuments are not appropriate The assessment/survey of our individual landscape assets is in process. This will form the basis of their preservation National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Criteria to preserve assets to be Assets to be protected protected Favourable and unfavourable impacts Our natural endowments are favourable Continuous development and nature for ecoturism (we have a number of East conservation supervision of the and South European and Asian flora and infrastructural conditions of ecoturism fauna components that either cannot be observed anywhere else on the continent or under much worse conditions and at a higher price) National Environmental Programme 2003-20082.3. Targets, Objectives 2.3.2. Prime Objectives a) The protection of the ecosystem, the consideration of the principle of sustainable development, the preservation of vital natural resources (water, land, air) for the future generations and the implementation of economical and value-protecting management with attention to quantitative and qualitative characteristics in the management of natural resources; furthermore, safeguarding natural systems and natural resources, ensuring their survival, preservation of the diversity of the biosphere, and preservation of information inherent in natural processes. b) Provision of a harmonic relationship between society and environment: improving the state of health of the population, preservation, improvement and restoration of the status of the environment necessary for proper life quality –providing the conditions of a healthy environment, reduction and elimination of threatening impacts. c) Enforcement of environmental criteria in economic development. Economic growth must lead to increasing welfare accompanied with decreasing environmental burden. Their preconditions are the development and maintenance of a harmonic relationship between society and environment in the course of economic development, sustainable natural resource and land use, use of the environment not exceeding its load-bearing capacity, prevention, and the mitigation to the smallest possible extent, of environmental damage. d) Strengthening of knowledge on, and awareness of environmental processes, impacts, environment and nature conservation and co-operation: monitoring and evaluation of the changes in the status of the environment and the environmental impacts of different measures; making the national and international decision making processes affecting the environment transparent and improvement of the related information supply; measurement of the changes in the status of the environment and the impacts of measures by using appropriate indicators, furthermore, in view of our global environmental dependency, improvement of management, co-ordination, co-operation and information supply on all levels, with the involvement of the representatives of all sectoral and social organisations and pressure groups concerned. 2.3.2. Objectives of the National Environmental Programme II In order to eliminate the environmental problems and to preserve our assets, the National Environmental Programme II has identified its prime objectives. This enables the identification of the tasks in areas requiring special treatment. Raising public environmental awareness is a comprehensive objective in the six-year programme; the achievements in this field will also present their benefits, in an indirect way, in the efficiency of attaining the goals and the targets. The objectives of the Programme valid for 2003-2008 enable us to identify the specific targets to be attained by the end of the programme or by the deadlines undertaken in different international conventions. To attain the targets, first the causes giving rise to the problem have to be National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 eliminated, therefore, social, economic, sectoral causes and other interactions, the directions of further interventions, should be identified as early as the objectives and targets are defined. Their feasibility and potentials to be controlled should also be investigated. A fundamental requirement is measurability and the availability of conditions (financial, human resource, institutional) and technical tools. When considering the initial conditions and requirements in the determination of the targets, attention should also be paid to the major environmental policy considerations and tasks arising out of Hungary’s geological situation, the legislation in force and to be drafted on environmental protection and nature conservation, as well as to our obligations arising from international conventions, the European integration process and our membership in OECD. For the six-year period of the National Environmental Programme II, the following targets can be defined as objectives to be attained.NEP-II ObjectivesObjective Indicator Reference Target Status (2008, or (1999/2000) indicated when different) Atmosphere 1. Decrease of air Proportion of areas with polluted air 11 per cent 5-8 per cent pollution compared to the territory of the country Proportion of population affected by air 40 per cent 20-25 per cent pollution compared to the total population of the countrySulphur-dioxide emission (SO2) 594.66 kt 500 kt (2010)Nitrogen oxide emission (NOX) 210.,45 kt 198 kt (2010) Volatile organic compounds emission 170.37 kt 137 kt (2010) (VOC) Ammonia emission 71 kt 27 per cent decrease compared to values of the reference year (1990) 2. Decrease of Net greenhouse gas potential 82 046.57 kt 6 per cent global air polluting decrease impacts compared to values of the reference period of 1985-1987 (2008-2012) National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Objective Indicator Reference Target Status (2008, or (1999/2000) indicated when different) Water 3. Improving Surface water quality categories (I-IV) Slightly polluted, Water quality surface water tolerable quality cannot further quality deteriorate; improving water quality where it is economically feasible 4. Protection of the Proportion of waterworks wells polluted 3.6 per cent Under 2 per cent quantity and by nitrate in a concentration exceeding 50 quality of mg/l groundwaters Decrease of groundwater pressure level On sands Pressure level compared to many years’ average status between Danube decrease due to and Tisza Rivers: water abstraction should be stopped 3-4 m, on Little on 90 per cent of Plain and the territory of the Szigetköz: 1-2 m, country, pressure level increase Debrecen: 2-3 m should get started on 10 per cent The proportion of thermal water usage for about 5 per cent Recharge should energetic purposes by recharge be applied by 10 per cent of the existing and 100 per cent of the new users for energetic purposes 5. Protection Availability of structures for specific 10-78 l/s/km2; Development and against damage to collection weighted area construction of waters average 27.2 systems under the l/s/km2 average for 27.2 l/s/km2 Structures of the main flood protection 62 per cent 75-80 per cent line on the prescribed level National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Objective Indicator Reference Target Status (2008, or (1999/2000) indicated when different) Soil 6. Soil conservation Area threatened by soil degradation Water erosion: 10 per cent 2.3 million ha decrease Wind erosion: 1.5 million ha Proportion of existing landfills out of 85 per cent Closing down, compliance with the environmental termination and requirements after care of landfills out of compliance with the requirements Proportion of points in the TIM system Limit value should where pesticide residue exceeds the limit 1 per cent not be exceeded values Proportion of points in the TIM system Limit value should where heavy metal concentration exceeds 1 per cent not be exceeded the limit values Landscape and Nature 7. Conservation, Extension and proportion of natural areas and extension of compared to the total territory of the 857,327 ha 1,024,000 ha protected natural country and protected by individual rule 9.2 per cent 11 per cent areas of national of law The number of endangered species among Decrease by 10 per significance 115 items protected plant and animal species cent Size of area covered by nature 305,281 ha 1,100,000 ha conservation management plans Size of area covered by nature conservation management plans provided 0 ha 815,000 ha in a decree 8. Protection of Proportion of coherent natural and semi- other natural and natural sets of habitats compared to the Maintaining the 13.98 per cent semi-natural areas total territory of the country existing level and assets National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Objective Indicator Reference Target Status (2008, or (1999/2000) indicated when different) 9. Nature Proportion of area covered by woods conservation of stock and subject to restoration obligation 19.2 per cent 20 per cent forests (rate of afforestation) Proportion of forests covered by indigenous tree species compared to the 9.5 per cent 10.5 per cent total territory of the country Extension of forests on protected natural areas (in proportion to the total area of 21 per cent 25 per cent forests) Extension of forests on strictly protected natural areas (in proportion to the total 5 per cent 6.5 per cent area of forests) Area of forest reserves (in proportion to 0.55 per cent 1 per cent the total area of forests) 10. Establishment Proportion of agricultural land falling into 2.5 per cent 4 per cent of a system of the 25 per cent 28 per cent Environmentally - protected Sensitive Areas - extensive agricultural zone compared to the total territory of Hungary 11. Designation of Proportion of the Natura 2000 sites Hungary’s Natura (Special Protection Areas and Special 0 per cent 15 per cent 2000 Areas of Conservation) compared to the network and total territory of Hungary safeguarding their appropriate ecological status Geological Assets and Natural Resources Number of registered geological and Keeping up the 12. Preservation of 3600 caves our geological morphological resources existing level assets Proportion of threatened assets 30 per cent Under 20 per cent 13. Sustainable use Proportion of the use of renewable energy 3.6 per cent 5 per cent of natural sources in the mass balance (obligation: 6 per resources cent until 2010) Preserving Good Health, Life Style Reduction of the application, substitution 14. Reducing Reducing current of toxic, bio accumulating and water chemical risk 100 per cent application by polluting chemical substances and 20 per cent pesticides Reducing persistent organic pollutants’ Reducing current emission (POP) 100 per cent application by 20 per cent National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Objective Indicator Reference Target Status (2008, or (1999/2000) indicated when different) 15. Preserving Reducing the incidence of hay good health fever/pollenosis and asthmatic illnesses (number of new patients per year / total 10 per cent 5 per cent number of patients with the above illnesses) Reducing the frequency of occurrence of Changing county goitre related to iodine supply by county max. 5 per cent 4-10 per cent Reducing the number of illnesses with 10 cases should not occur Methemo-globin 16. Increasing food Size of qualified area cultivated by 85,000 ha 300,000 ha safety organic farming 17. Proportion of municipal waste collected Dissemination of separately compared to the total volume 3 per cent 35-40 per cent environmentally of collected waste friendly life style Proportion of waste reuse, recovery and and consumption recycling compared to the total volume of 30 per cent 50 per cent collected waste habits Number of elaborated environmentally friendly products (product groups) 34 50 certification conditions Size of public green areas per city/town 18. Improving 38.,7 m2/person 45 m2/person urban environment inhabitant quality Number of those affected by noise load 20 000 people No one should be exceeding 75 dB(A) during daytime affected Number of those affected by noise load 1.7 million people (0 person) exceeding 65 dB(A) 1.4 million people The proportion of inhabitants supplied with water that is not in compliance with 27.4 per cent 0 per cent (2009) the quality limit values of drinking water Proportion of municipal wastewater treated at the appropriate rate - on sensitive areas (4.1 per cent of the 68 per cent 100 per cent total wastewater generated by settlements having a collection system) 46 per cent 83 per cent (2015) - on ordinary areas (95.6 per cent of the total wastewater generated by settlements having a collection system) Harmless collection of wastewater at 100 per cent settlements or parts of settlements not 12 per cent (2015) having a collection system National Environmental Programme 2003-20083. Interventions in Areas Requiring Special TreatmentIn accordance with the basic principles and planned implementation framework, NEP-II focuses on environmental risks, which emerge in the intersection of social-economic- environmental problems in a complex way and require interventions affecting several environmental media. Consequently, the key areas of implementing NEP-II are thematic action programmes (TAPs). The action programmes earmark independent intervention areas, at the same time are aimed at the solution of interrelated environmental problems. The goals are interrelated; their realizations are adjusted to each other, but the tasks are performed without any overlap. Grouping the tasks to be performed according to action programmes promotes transparency regarding the organization and control of both planning and implementation. Supply of drinking water complying with quality limit values, for example, necessitates the protection of aquifers (TAP of Sustainable Use of our Waters), and is a basic service for the inhabitants of towns and country settlements (TAPs of Urban Environmental Quality and Rural Environmental Quality), and handling risks coming from quality problems of drinking water belongs to the scope of another action programme (TAP of Environmental Health and Food Safety). The above facts, at the same time, mean that the action programmes include the implementation of tasks scheduled for 2003-2008 and specified in relevant national programmes, therefore, to continue the above list, in Drinking Water Sources Protection Programme, Drinking Water Quality Improvement and National Environmental Health Programmes. The nine thematic action programmes are described in unified structure. Following a brief assessment of the situation, they introduce the overall goals of TAP, which contribute to achieve the main goals, objectives and environmental targets set by TAP. They describe the independent goal system of TAPs consisting of specific and operative objectives. Indicators are attached to each thematic action programme and they help to track the progress of TAPs and in this way that of the Programme. All action programmes include horizontal measures, among them research- development tasks, activities relating to raising awareness, information and the development of monitoring systems. Chapter 4 of the Programme provides summarized tables about the participants in the implementation of the action programmes, possible resources of implementation and costs of the planned activities.3.1 Action Programme of Raising Environmental Awareness Current situation Surveys on the environmental knowledge, abilities and willingness of the citizens indicate that health has top priority in their scale of values. Impact of the environment on health and way of life is becoming increasingly well-known, people become gradually conscious of the importance of preserving environmental and natural resources, but environmentally-aware thinking, attempts at sustainability hardly appears in individual actions, decisions. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The main obstacles preventing the spread of environmentally-aware behaviour are lack of knowledge, lack of positive examples, lack of social condemnation for environmentally wrong behaviour and weakness in the co-operation of communities. People’s ideas about environmental protection, its status, recognition of environmental benefits and risks are primarily determined by their own experiences, followed by information obtained from personal contacts (e.g. in family, education, public service, from acquaintances) and mass media. The very same channels, however, often present also values and ideals opposed to sustainability. Hungarian legislation on the main channels of raising awareness is fragmented: its elements are partly in the acts on the media, on public education, on environmental protection and nature conservation, in concepts on public health, family policy and youth policy and are drafted in connection with our accession to international conventions (Aarhus Convention) on the access to information. Legislations regulating education – compared to needs and also in international comparison – insufficiently include the education of sustainable development, environmental education and raising awareness. Comprehensive goal of the Action Programme: - expanding society’s knowledge related to the environment and sustainable development, - improving access to information, - encouraging environmentally-aware decisions and more sustainable way of life, - strengthening responsible public participation in environmental policy decisions. Important fields of raising environmental awareness are education, training, culture, mass media and research. A priority task therefore is the elaboration of the National Environmental Education Programme. Environmental education is to be developed on all levels of public education. Students of vocational training should also be involved in programmes strengthening environmental awareness. Environmental science must be a subject in all (special) fields of higher education as an indispensable component of general knowledge (this is a partly realized objective of NEP-I). Substantive curriculum elements related to environmental education must be incorporated into the qualification requirements of teachers. The scale of values and needs of the society related to the environment must be tracked; the methods and instruments of measuring environmental awareness are to be developed. In order to strengthen responsible public participation, environmental and consumer protection consultancy and information services are to be expanded further. Forms of co-operation-based community participation, democracy techniques, strengthening partnership are priority tasks since environmental advantages and disadvantages most often appear on different social levels and the majority of environmental resources are indivisible. Adequate presentation and enforcement of environmental criteria in the media are to be supported in the framework of a comprehensive programme. Environmentally-aware institutional operation (workplace, school, public education, public office, etc.) is to be encouraged, and practical implementation is to be supported because exemplary management and operation are significant factors of raising awareness. Introduction and propagation of environmentally friendly products and services are to be promoted. Publication of handbooks, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 amendments of legislation should make public procurement more environmentally sound. Research and development contributes to the efficient implementation of the Action Programme with the elaboration of efficient methods of environmental education, training, scientific lectures for the public, raising awareness of different social target groups and with the elaboration of indicators showing the development of environmental awareness.Specific and operative objectives of the Action Programme Raising Environmental Awareness 3.1.1 Environmental protection and nature conservation knowledge, environmental awareness in education, general dissemination of the education of sustainability a) Enhancing the performance of environmental educational tasks on all levels of public education and in all fields of culture b) Raising environmental awareness of students in vocational training c) Imparting knowledge on environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainability, development of environmentally-aware abilities in higher education d) Improvement of environmental knowledge of students in adult education3.1.2 Improving the society’s environmental scale of value a) Supporting the dissemination of sustainable individual and family way of lives, house-holding customs b) Strengthening environmental awareness in leisure time activities, propagating environment- and nature-friendly leisure time activities c) Disseminating knowledge and skills about sustainability among social groups requiring special attention (among others, public and civil programmes supporting backward strata and through social-family workers and village guardian network)3.1.3 Dissemination of environmental management systems and environmentally friendly products and services a) Environmentally-aware development of the operation of workplaces, educational and cultural institutions, information for the visitors b) Development of environmental certification and label certification systems, improving information on the labels and increasing the number of product group criteria and of licensed products National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 c) Dissemination of cleaner production methods and environment management systems promoting prevention3.1.4 Strengthening public participation in decision-making processes related to the environment and nature (partnership for the environment) a) Strengthening and supporting public participation in the fields of recognition and preservation of common environmental assets and solution of environmental problems b) Strengthening co-operation in the implementation of common environmental goals among public actors, economic organizations and NGOs (development and maintenance of the network of environmental education and training centres, intersectoral co-operation, consumer protection) c) Development of environmental mass media, shaping the role of the public media3.1.5 Strengthening R+D and international co-operation relating to environmental awareness a) Expanding R+D and monitoring tasks in the field of education of environmental awareness and sustainability b) Performing national and regional environmental educational tasks c) International co-operation for environmental education3.1.6 Development of environmental data management, information systems and strengthening international co-operation a) Establishment of the organizational and operational forms of environmental data management b) Development of information systems, establishment of the national network of unified environmental information system Indicators of progress Progress of the action programme of raising environmental awareness can be checked, among others, with the following indicators: - presence of sustainability, environmental protection in individual decisions – based on the examination of attitudes; - information about and application of environmentally friendly certification systems; - proportion of organizations certified and verified in the environmental management system; National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- market share and proportion of environmentally friendly products and services and their proportion in public procurement; - educational legislation and documents (environmental education contents of curricula, qualification requirements; - indicators of environmental education contents of educational services; - number of graduates in environmental protection, nature conservation; - operational indexes of environmental protection and nature conservation educational, training centres, institutions; - operational indexes of environmental assistance, consultancy and information services; - presence of environmental awareness in regional development and physical planning; - indexes of the enforcement of intersectoral co-operation (partnership); - number and efficiency of advertisements opposed to sustainability; - number and efficiency of environmental advertisements, media presence of environmental cases.3.2 Action Programme of Climate Change Current situation As a result of human activities – among others, burning fossil fuels, and certain industrial, agricultural, forestry activities – the quantity of greenhouse gases is increasing in the atmosphere. This intensifies the risk of global climate change and the estimated impacts of these changes avoid neither the Central-European region nor Hungary. These impacts entail severe risks both for the environment and the society, economy. A part of the emitted materials (primarily carbon-dioxide, methane and nitrous-oxide) increases the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere and the gases that has long atmospheric residence time have enough time to mix in the whole atmosphere evenly. Freons and other pollutants of similar impacts deplete the ozone layer; other materials (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile hydrocarbons) lead to acid precipitation in regional scale. The strengthening atmospheric greenhouse effect, higher atmospheric ozone depletion and acidification are interrelated and constitute a complex environmental problem. In addition, forests bind carbon dioxide; therefore, impacts of forest management, among others, are to be taken into account. Due to the global character of the problem, significant international co-operation has developed. That is why, Hungarian objectives and measures aimed at emission reduction have to be in accordance with the internationally adopted precautionary principle and our obligations stipulated in relevant international conventions, while efficient participation in international co- operation and exploitation of ensuing advantages are to be promoted. The UN Framework Convention of Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol were adopted to regulate the emission of National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 greenhouse gases. In view of the latter one, Hungarian emission must be six percent below the former level of comparison by the end of the current decade. There are several international conventions in force on the protection of the ozone layer, on regulation of gas emission causing acidification. In this field, stipulations and programmes adopted and planned in the framework of the European Union pose manifold tasks. Reduction of the risk of climate change is one of the comprehensive priorities of the common policies of the EU. Comprehensive goal of the action programme Dangerous consequences can be avoided only with international co-operation and each country has a part in it. The primary objective of this action programme is the regulation and reduction of emissions from domestic economic activities. The action programme is aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emission, its contribution to global air pollution and at the same time at improvement of local and regional air quality. In addition, it contributes to the dissemination of environmentally friendly consumption habits and improvement of the quality of settlement environment. Implementation of the comprehensive goal of the action programme Implementation of the comprehensive goal of the action programme is realized through specific objectives. Main sources of the emission of the affected gases are power generation, transport, certain industrial activities and intensive agriculture. Accordingly, contribution to the reduction of the risk of climate change can be ensured primarily by pollution-decreasing development of the energy- transport infrastructure and of the production-agricultural systems permeating the national economy. Due to the interrelations, the action programme includes interventions in connection with acidification and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer. Hungary joined the above mentioned international conventions; the relevant international co-operation programmes – among them programmes aimed at the harmonization of the affected professional policies, strengthening research-development and information provision in the framework of the EU – also necessitate active participation. In this spirit, the specific objectives and action trends of the current action programme pay attention to promoting compliance with the tasks resulting from these international obligations. A significant part of interventions leading to emission reduction are related to the activities of different sectors, therefore the requirements and criteria of the above endeavours should be incorporated into the strategy development of the given sectors. Research-development must have outstanding role both in the reduction of environmental impacts (sectoral tasks, changes of technology, etc.) and in the survey of the consequences of global environmental changes and detection of reduction possibilities. The institutional background dealing with registering, tracking and summarizing emissions and their sources must be strengthened because of the assessment of the status of the Hungarian environment, the evaluation of the efficiency of the measures and compliance with international informational obligations. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Specific and operative objectives of the Action Programme of Climate Change 3.2.1 Promoting the reduction of atmospheric emissions from energy management activities a) Modernization of energy production, conversion and transportation b) Improvement of the energy conservation and energy efficiency of the consumers 3.2.2 Development and dissemination of technologies related to the utilization of renewable energy sources (to subsidize investments) a) Application of alternative fuels b) Utilization of landfill gas c) Other biomass utilization, replacement of gas fuel used currently for local goals with local biomass, and development of simultaneous heating systems d) Application of solar, wind energies and geothermal energy e) Price preference for electric energy generated from renewable energy sources 3.2.3 Reduction of pollution emission from transport a) Accelerating the modernization rate of the vehicle stock b) Moderation of the environmental impact of freight transportation: supporting the propagation of environmentally friendly transportation ways, shifting freight transportation from trucks to railway c) Support for environmentally sustainable means of transport 3.2.4 Reduction of greenhouse gases from agriculture and waste by strengthening carbon dioxide sink capacities a) Reduction of methane emission form animal breeding and cultivation b) Support for cultivation aimed at power generation and increasing the binding potential 3.2.5 Stratospheric ozone depletion and prevention of atmospheric acidification a) Reduction of gas emissions depleting the stratospheric ozone layer, compliance with relevant international conventions b) Prevention of atmospheric acid deposition c) Launching a halon treatment programme 3.2.6 Research-development, horizontal measures a) Research-development relating to climate change (researches on direct and indirect impacts of air pollution, climate change, on their abatement, causes and reduction) National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 b) Attitude forming, information (tasks in relation to technological switchover, consumption habits) educational and raising awareness tasks aimed at the development of information systems Indicators of progress - emissions of greenhouse gases (in carbon dioxide equivalent), and emission of certain ozone depleting substances and other air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide), all of them broken down by sectors, too; - extent and value of energy conservation; - quantity of replaced fossil energy sources, proportion of renewable energy sources in the whole energy balance and in power generation; - indicators of road traffic; - total volume of affected investments and amount of subsidies; - replaced greenhouse gas emission, and other replaced pollutant emission (carbon monoxide, dust, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides).3.3 Action Programme of Environmental Health and Food Safety Current situation 20 per cent of harmful substances get into human organisms with air, 10 per cent with water and 70 per cent with food. In the past years, as a result of shrinking industrial production, modernization of household heating, industrial and household emissions from heating have decreased significantly; on the other hand the extent of pollution from traffic has increased. Biological allergens play important role in the development of respiratory diseases. The frequency of allergic diseases increases every year, the pollen of ragweed is the cause of the gravest problem. Noise nuisance is harmful to health in addition to adversely affecting people’s general conditions, quality of life. Noise nuisance primarily comes from transport (road, railway, air), but noise caused by industrial and commercial facilities is also considerable. Supply of the population with piped water is almost full-scale, the parameters of drinking water, however, do not comply with valid Hungarian limit values at several settlements. The presence of, among others, nitrate and arsenic enrichment of natural source in raw water, chlorinating by-products in treated drinking water cause water quality problems. Regarding microelements necessary for human organisms, insufficient fluoride and iodine contents of drinking water are to be highlighted. An unfavourable trend in the 1990s, because of high water fees, was that a part of the population switched over to individual water supply from wells, which are sources of several hazards. Certain sections of rivers are not suitable for bathing; the water quality of lakes is adequate. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Health damaging substances get into human organisms from the polluted soil through the food chain, and by sticking to the particulate matter get into the air, which also entails risks. Microbiological pollution of playgrounds’ sand pits is an ever greater risk for children. Fertilizer and pesticide utilization in agriculture decreased until the mid-90s, since then utilization has slightly increased, in this way the risk of deteriorating the fertility of soils is lower. The number of polluted areas has continuously increased on non-agricultural areas in the past decades. Comprehensive goals of the action programme: - abatement of health risks caused by outside and inside air quality; - noise protection, improvement of chemical and radiation security; - handling environmental health problems relating to drinking water quality; - handling the environmental health problems of soil pollution and waste management; - improvement of food safety; - development of the institutional system of environmental health and food safety; - increasing the consumption of foods favourable for nutrition physiology; - information on environmentally-aware, environmentally sound way of life and making it adopted.Specific and operative objectives of Action Programme of Environmental Health and Food Safety 3.3.1 Abatement of risks caused by outdoor and indoor air quality a) Analysis and evaluation of the impacts of air pollutants on humans; investigation of the health impacts of climate change; creation of the conditions of smog alert; environmentally friendly solution for reducing biological allergens b) Analysis, evaluation and reduction of harmful impacts of buildings on humans including investigation of the impact of inside air quality, natural environment and using heating methods with smaller pressure on human health; introduction of the health and environmental certification of construction materials c) Ongoing control of air quality, assessment of the data (development and modernization of outside measurement network) 3.3.2 Handling environmental health problems relating to water quality a) Improving the quality of piped water and drinking water to be bottled; measurement and continuous monitoring of substances harmful for health in piped and bottled drinking water National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 b) Monitoring of water quality in wells including the survey of individual wells, control of water quality and use c) Improvement of the quality of bathing water (natural and artificial), including the establishment of quality control and certification system, to improve the hygiene of bathing sites, increasing the safety of thermal and medicinal water use d) Evaluation of the complex impact of water pollutants on humans, establishment of the surveillance system of infections caused by water e) Abatement of the environmental health risks of water quality in the vicinity of highly polluted watercourses 3.3.3 Abatement of environmental health problems of soil pollution and waste treatment a) Reduction of the health risks of soil pollution and waste treatment (parasitological and hygienic investigations of playgrounds), analysis of soil hygienic applicability of risk-estimating models b) Reduction of health risks relating to sanitary waste, development of methodology 3.3.4 Improvement of food safety a) Reduction of physical, chemical, biological pollutions (development of control, permitting system in the whole range of food production and in food imports; application of quality assurance systems in food industry, catering industry and trade) b) Measurement of the health risks of foods, investigation of health impacts (environmentally sound methods of production, processing, trade and consumption; impacts of the production and consumption of GMOs; more efficient control of toxins of microbial origin) 3.3.5 Noise protection, improvement of chemical and radiation safety a) Mapping and handling problems related to noise (elaboration of noise map, conflict map; elaboration of action plan; support for noise abatement investments) reduction of the health damaging risk of noise b) Handling problems related to chemical security (National Asbestos Programme; programme to reduce volatile organic compounds; collection and elimination of expired medicines and pesticides; survey on the potential hazards) c) Handling problems related to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation from natural and artificial sources (including the investigation of industrial by-products, waste, radioactivity of polluted areas; investigation of the sources, extent, health risks and reduction possibilities of radiation) d) Handling the health problems of workplaces, including, among others, the elaboration of the prevention methods of increasingly important groups of diseases (allergies, bone and muscle system diseases, workplace stress) National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.3.6 Development of environmental health institutional system a) Development of the environmental health informatics system b) Establishment of a system suitable to detect and identify chemical and biological hazardous factors in time and to respond to environmental health consequences quickly c) Making complex environmental health surveys for certain settlements, small regions and social strata 3.3.7 Horizontal tasks a) Environmental health research-development (fields: air pollution, diseases conveyed by water, direct and indirect health impacts of climate change; loads inside buildings; impacts of POPs, impacts of noise, ionizing and non-ionizing radiations, examination of genetic susceptibility in case of environment-borne diseases; chain of food production; impacts impairing the health of children; reduction of health impacts of civilization disasters and those of natural origin) b) Attitude forming (in the fields of air quality protection, soil pollution, waste treatment, water quality protection and food safety; comprehensive environmental health and food safety educational, training and raising awareness tasks; development of information systems) Indicators of progress - spatial distribution and timely changes of diseases, mortality rates traced back to harmful environmental impacts; - changes in air quality, water quality, soil quality, noise pollution (imission) data; - changes in diseases of sensitive social groups (children, elderly) traced back to environmental causes; - changes in and regional distribution of diseases caused by food; - number of foods of objectionable quality in trade; - number of epidemic diseases among farm animals.3.4 Action Programme of Urban Environmental Quality Current situation Urban environment is a system in close interaction with environmental elements, systems, social-economic processes, and culture created in course of civilization. A priority objective is to ensure adequate environmental quality for the settlements. Its implementation is hindered by the fact that several local and regional environmental problems are caused by the settlements themselves. Towns utilize the natural resources of the surrounding and more distant areas, while cause considerable environmental load (e.g. solid and liquid waste generation, air National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 pollution, reduction of biologically active surfaces). Urban environment therefore shapes human life quality with response to itself and the landscape. Some 63 percent of Hungary’s populations live in towns. The population of the capital – partly because of environmental causes – is decreasing, the urbanization process, however, (particularly villages taking urban character or becoming towns) is still predominant. Environmental problems are generally more pronounced at densely populated settlements, which have complex functions. Their development is often closely related to the issue of regional development and physical planning. The environmental problems of the settlements, which developed organically with a historical centre as a result of the past 40-50 year development policy, usually result from settlement structural problems (e.g. building in wind channels, lack of green belt, low level of green areas). On top of all the above problems, there are deficiencies in communal (utility) services and settlement maintenance, operation in addition to other factors, e.g. pollutant emissions of traffic, noise and vibration pollution. Competition has developed between town as a residential place and its other (e.g. production, service) functions, where the town’s habitability has eclipsed. Several settlements face further tasks when they want to ensure adequate technical conditions and maintenance of water regulation in inner-city areas and to solve stability problems in case of cellars and embankments. The main factors determining the environmental quality of towns are air pollution, noise pollution, the existence or lack of urban green areas, the condition of residential buildings and the rehabilitation of abandoned industrial areas. Road transport emits some 50-60 percent of all pollutants in towns. The emission of road transport can be reduced by raising environmental awareness and also the level of public transport services, by decreasing traffic, improving the conditions of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, better organizing and possibly shifting transportation of freight to railway. A settlement policy is to be developed, which reduces the need for vehicle traffic. Noise pollution is becoming a graver factor threatening also health. The size of urban public green areas has increased at some places recently, but no improvement is experienced at places where the need for them is the greatest. In town centres not even the protection of existing green areas is solved let alone their development. Neither are the conditions and standards of the areas adequate. The realized restoration programmes of the built environment are efficient, but the neglect of the past decades in this field is made up for slowly. Protection of town image has not yet been ensured adequately. The expansion of settlements is going on (residential parks, industrial parks, shopping centres) entailing several adverse effects on the internal operation of the settlement and its organic relation with landscape. Comprehensive goals of the action programme - promoting environmentally adequate changes in the settlement structure, development, regulation, and reduction of environmental problems coming from former mistakes; - improving the status of water regulation in inner-city areas; - protection of urban green areas, increasing their proportion and improving their status; National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- abatement of settlement environmental problems of transport origin; - ensuring the adequate condition of built environmental elements, the built and archaeological cultural heritage. The Action Programme in all cases concentrates on the improvement of the settlements’ environmental conditions to better life circumstances and to reach acceptable quality of life for all inhabitants of towns. In addition, measures of the Action Programme want to emphasize the preservation of environmental assets related to the settlements.Specific and operative objectives of the Action Programme of Urban Environment Quality 3.4.1 Enforcement of environmental criteria in settlement development, planning and reducing environmental problems coming from former mistakes a) Regulation of environmentally unfavourable processes on the outskirts of towns (urban development, physical planning, development of methodological, financial, legal regulation of area reclassification; preservation of urban and near-urban green areas; forestation for recreation) b) Revitalization of abandoned urban industrial areas, reduction of the adverse impacts of remaining industrial areas (restoration of closed down industrial areas; resettlement of industrial areas; green area programme of industrial sites) c) Urban plans to reduce unnecessary travelling, support for settlement organization attempts to reduce transport demands 3.4.2 Protecting urban green areas, increasing their proportion and improving their conditions a) Improving the conditions of urban public parks, increasing their size especially in densely populated town centres with few green areas (national survey; developments; instrument procurement; creating and reconstructing public gardens, public parks, playgrounds with special new functions and areas suitable for sports) b) Protection of inner-city green areas, ban on their building in, maintenance of their capacity to reduce harmful impacts (development and reconstruction of inside gardens, roof gardens and institutional gardens) 3.4.3 Reduction of urban environmental problems coming from traffic particularly in densely populated areas of towns a) Comprehensive transport plans, organization and management to reduce traffic in inner-city areas, particularly centres of towns (constructing by-pass roads, planning and establishing P+R systems, constructing a network of bicycle paths) National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 b) Development of urban and agglomeration public transport, considerable improvement of its quality (including the integration of urban public transport, establishment of traffic associations; development of intermodal junctions; modernization, replacement of vehicles; development of capital, local and suburban traffic) c) Protective investments to prevent the propagation of harmful impacts, among them the construction of noise protection structures, noise abatement elements 3.4.4 Maintenance of the good conditions of built environmental elements, protection of the built values a) Improving the conditions of existing buildings, constructions, particularly at residential areas (support for restoration programmes of districts, restoration of public areas) b) Protection and preservation of architectural and monumental values (support for reconstruction of historical parts of settlements, value-preserving restoration of buildings, streetscapes under local protection) c) Protection of townscape from new buildings alien to the townscape, and built carelessly in towns, but particularly in their historical parts (regulation; plan reference aids; building and construction patterns) 3.4.5 To ensure urban environment, which enhances clean, good general condition a) Improvement of public sanitation, development of instruments (e.g. improving the conditions of selective collection) b) Improving streetscape3.4.6 Horizontal tasks a) Research-development tasks (fields: atmospheric processes, material movements and material transformations in the atmosphere, elaboration of pollutant propagating models; development of the planning methods of buildings e.g. with eco-efficiency and life-cycle analysis; development of environmentally friendly transport systems; development of the settlement and regional model of sustainable development) b) Attitude forming (improving public sanitation, developing transportation habits) Indicators of progress: - relation of pressures to limit values; - measures to reduce pressures (e.g. constructed new by-pass roads, noise protection facilities, changes in the extent of green area, size and number of green parks, number and proportion of public transport vehicles with low specific pollutant emission) and their impact to reduce pressure; - size of areas undergoing favourable changes, number of inhabitants; National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- proportion of facilities, areas, instruments deemed to have suitable conditions; - environmental quality characteristics, average age of the vehicle fleet; - share of local and interurban public transport within modes of transport; - changes in passenger-km of local and interurban public transport; - changes in the length of local and interurban public transport network detailing the transport modes (railway, road); - occupancy indicators of local and interurban public transport; - share of bicycle transport within modes of transport; - changes in the length of bicycle paths; - changes in the proportion and service conditions of selective waste collection; - changes in the frequency of diseases traced back to environmental problems, environmental causes.3.5 Action Programme of Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Protection Current situation Hungary’s typical bio-geographical endowments enabled the development of manifold landscapes and rich natural flora and fauna, which constitute a unique biogeographic region in the Carpathian basin (Pannonian region). Additional valuable elements of the natural heritage are geographical-geomorphological assets, different types of rocks developed in different geological ages and under different formation conditions and minerals constituting the rocks, fossils, individual formations, associations of formations and caves shaped by surface forming forces. Thousand-year-old human activities have considerably changed the landscape, the natural flora and fauna and their life conditions. The extension of natural and semi-natural habitats has decreased to a small fraction. Several Hungarian plant communities and some 20-25 percent of the species in Hungary have become endangered. Nonetheless, the natural assets in international comparison still represent outstanding value. With economic recovery, however, the number of green-field investments keeps growing and construction of new roads, motorways has also increased. To preserve biodiversity and Hungarian landscapes, the development of an adequate structure for land use, more prudent use of natural systems not exceeding their carrying capacity, protection and restoration of their operation in accordance with the balanced development of the society and economy are priority issues. One of the most important objectives of the Action Programme, in accordance with the adopted policy of the European Union, is to incorporate landscape and nature conservation criteria into the operations of sectors utilizing natural resources and to regulate the utilization of resources in accordance with the requirement of sustainable development. The former ‘reserve’ National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 attitude of nature conservation should be replaced by nature use of a modern, dynamic nature conservation approach, while protection areas – reserves established around special assets – are to be preserved. Protection of the National Ecological Network, as a full-scale, comprehensive system involving the network of natural areas, buffer zones, natural areas, Natura 2000 sites, ecological (green) corridors must meet this goal. In addition to the above site conservation, the great national programmes, e.g. National Agri-Environmental Programme, National Forest Strategy, the national implementation of the Water Framework Directive can altogether ensure long-term preservation of natural resources and landscapes in Hungary. Both regional protection and sectoral programmes help to halt the considerable reduction of the diversity of species, biocenoses, habitats and landscapes. Use of genetically modified organisms and dissemination of products made from them poses a new challenge to nature conservation and environmental protection in the future. The impact of gene technology activities and ensuing natural, environmental and health risks can be hardly estimated by current knowledge, therefore the strictest possible enforcement of the precautionary principle is needed. The adequate measures necessitate actions not only in the fields of biodiversity but environmental security, food safety, and in general, in agriculture. Comprehensive goal of the Action Programme The comprehensive goal of the Action Programme is to safeguard natural systems and assets, to preserve biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources and to build balanced relations between society and environment.Specific and operative objectives of Action Programme of Biodiversity Conservation 3.5.1 Conservation of biodiversity and inanimate natural assets a) To continue the establishment of a network of protected areas b) Preservation and improvement of the status of natural areas, elaboration of management plans, nature conservation management and development, habitat and landscape restoration, easement, property and property management tasks c) Conservation of biodiversity, operation of comprehensive programmes d) National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Programme, protection and development of national ecological network, compilation of the list of nature conservation areas, tasks relating to genetically modified organisms, relating tasks of NEAP e) Preservation of endangered species populations f) Elaboration and implementation of the conservation plan of endangered species, programmes independent of site conservation g) Preservation of caves and geological-geomorphological resources h) Animal protection National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.5.2 Establishment of Natura 2000 network a) Designation of Special Protection Areas b) Surveying and designation of Special Areas of Conservation c) Maintenance of Natura 2000 sites3.5.3 Compliance with obligations from international nature conservation conventions a) National implementation of the Washington Convention (CITES) and decree 338/97/EC b) National implementation of the Ramsar Convention c) Implementation of the World Heritage Convention d) National implementation of the Bonn Convention e) National implementation of the Bern Convention f) National implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity3.5.4 Horizontal measures a) Institution development b) Raising social recognition of nature conservation c) Maintenance and development of nature conservation information and registration systems d) Raising social awareness e) Establishment and operation of trademark system f) R+D aimed at nature conservation g) Nature conservation monitoring Indicators of progress - changes in the ecological status of wildlife, habitats and biocenoses, on the basis of the evaluated data of the National Biodiversity-Monitoring System and the thematic nature conservation monitoring systems (with special regard to the status of forests, protected and endangered species and habitats); - number of endangered species and habitats affected in the special conservation programme; - implementation of restoration and reconstruction projects aimed at nature conservation (according to type, area and significance, e.g. rehabilitation of sanctuary oxbows, wetland habitats); National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- changes in landscape use; - number of eliminated and settled, illegal material exploitation places and landfills; - number of completed individual landscape feature cadastres and the size of the surveyed area; - reduction extent of areas covered by invasive species; - number and area of renewed collection gardens; - changes in the number and extension of areas registered as protected areas (stable, increasing); - changes in registered number and status of ‘ex lege’ protected areas and assets; - number of permitted gene technology activities, number of controls, proportion of activities performed in compliance with permits.The second National Nature Conservation Master Plan, constituting a part of NEP-II contains detailed status report, concept, goals and tasks relating to the protection of biodiversity and landscape conservation.3.6 Action Programme of Rural Environmental Quality, Land- area and Land Use Current situation Despite large-scale urbanization of the past decades, almost 40 per cent of Hungarian inhabitants live at settlements with population below 10,000. These settlements represent almost 95 per cent of all the settlements. Agriculture and forestry are traditionally important, sometimes decisive in the livelihood of these people. Intensive industrial-like, large-scale agricultural cultivation systems launched several harmful and irreversible environmental processes in the decades before the 90s. Open mining and industries on the outskirts because of industrialization also caused problems in local land-area use and the environment. Communal and other supplies of rural settlements, however, lagged behind those of towns. The main problems of rural environmental quality – acidification of soil, nitrification of groundwaters, pollution of the soil and groundwaters, stronger erosion and deflation, loss of tree-stock and deforestation, landscape wounds and other problems relating to abandoned and neglected areas (e.g. weeding) – have occurred in connection with the above land-area and land use practice. In spite of all these, regarding environmental quality and abundance of natural resources (e.g. air quality, quietness, unique character and variety of landscapes, existing and prospective aquifers, renewable natural resources), the situation of rural settlements, in the majority, is better than those of bigger towns. In view of the economic, environmental and social impacts and performances of agricultural activities, the population-retaining capacity of the country must be strengthened and the conditions of sustainable development must be created by developing co-operation among National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 agricultural policy, regional development, environmental protection and nature conservation. This is in line with the rural development policy of the European Union, which in addition to agriculture and forest management is one of the pillars of the common agriculture policy. Rural development includes all the activities, which are aimed at improving the life conditions of the rural population in accordance with local endowments and the interests of environmental, landscape protection and nature conservation. An outstanding goal is to protect one of Hungary’s main natural resources, the conditionally renewable natural resource, the soil, and to preserve its fertility. Integrated (economic and ecological) land-area use planning is to be developed. Establishment of land use structure and practice in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development is to be promoted. Concepts and plan documentation of general and different sectoral programmes on land use are to be coordinated. Because of Hungary’s natural endowments and envisaged consequences of climate change, fight against draught requires great attention in accordance with the UNO Convention on “fight against desertification and fight against draught”. The following are related to the above goals: - researches to protect the geological medium (elaboration of comprehensive land protection strategy, sensitivity and loading tests to prevent environmental damage, evaluation of the pollution of soil, introduction and application of a new land evaluation system in accordance with the EU requirements), - rational use of soil and mineral raw materials, - renewal and elaboration of environmentally sound production methods (e.g. organic farming, elaboration and introduction of rational, environmentally sound farming on conservation areas and their protection zones promoting agricultural utilization). Development of rural tourism shall increase the retaining capacity of the country. To this end, the most urgent task is to develop the institution system and to popularize the possibilities. Comprehensive goal of the Action Programme Comprehensive goal of the Action programme is to promote the protection of the natural and cultural values of the country and sustainable use of natural resources by sufficient co- ordination of regional development, agriculture and environmental policy, at the same time to ensure adequate livelihood and infrastructure for people living in the country. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Specific and operative objectives of Action Programme of Rural Environmental Quality, Land-area and Land Use 3.6.1 Soil protection a) Rational land-area use b) Legal and programme-drafting tasks relating to soil protection and soil protection information and monitoring system c) Protection of soil and maintaining its fertility3.6.2 Horizontal and zonal programmes of the National Agri-Environmental Programme and related measures a) Implementation and development of the National Agri-Environmental Programme (NEAP) (Agri-environmental management basic programme, integrated management, ecological management, extensive grass utilization, wetland habitat utilization, (regional) programmes aimed at the utilization of sensitive conservation areas, training and demonstration programmes) b) Increasing the territorial proportion of semi-natural forest management c) Survey of grasslands of economic purposes (not under the scope of nature conservation) and establishment of their subsidy system d) Subsidy for keeping indigenous farm animals e) Disseminating and supporting rural development aimed at the retaining capacity of the country and sustainable development f) Development of the market of eco-products (support for producing, marketing and certification system of eco-products, promoting the consumption of eco-products)3.6.3 Improving the conditions of rural tourism a) Development of the institutional system and programmes of rural tourism b) Support for preserving and practicing crafts based on traditional artisan and handicraft technologies 3.6.4 Horizontal measures a) Researches aimed at the protection of geological media and soil (elaboration of detailed environmental-geological survey and comprehensive land protection strategy; sensitivity, pollution and load-bearing tests; taking pollution sources into account) b) R+D related to sustainable agriculture (decreasing production risks coming from climate factors by elaborating accommodating production and breeding procedures; National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 scientific basis and dissemination of environment and nature-sound production methods, systems) c) Attitude forming (expanding the consultancy system on environment and nature- sound land-use procedures; further training for farmers; disseminating knowledge on rural tourism)Indicators of progress - land areas supported by the National Agri-Environmental Programme ○ changes in area extension ○ breakdown by cultivation branches ○ proportion to agriculturally used areas in the country of - changes in amounts paid by the National Agri-Environmental Programme and the proportion of these subsidies in the breakdown of financing resources - number of farmers taking part in the programmes.3.7 Action Programme of Protection and Sustainable Use of Water Current situation Due to natural, hydrographical and geographical location, Hungary has special water balance conditions. Surface water resources per capita in the country is among the biggest in Europe, but the spatial and time distribution of the resources do not accommodate to the needs. Consequently, conflicts and damage caused by flood and draught may occur. A decisive factor is that 96 per cent of surface water resources come from abroad; its quality to a great extent is determined by pressures beyond the border. As a result of progress in wastewater treatment programmes and economic restructuring in Central- Eastern Europe and due to great diluting capacity, water quality of the big rivers is acceptable. The status of smaller rivers is worse since pressures sometimes substantially exceed the extent of self-treatment. The quality of surface waters, due to non-treated waters, is determined (in descending order of importance) by microbiological, primarily foreign-borne nutrient and oxygen balance features and finally organic and inorganic micro pollutants. Occurrence of often severe, disaster-like pollutions coming from abroad is quite frequent. Different extents of eutrophication emerge in lakes and reservoirs. Supply of ecological water demand also requires greater attention. Drinking water supply of the country is decisively based on groundwater aquifers and it will continue to be. The quality of groundwaters, existing and prospective drinking water sources, in many regions is endangered by point sources (wastewater desiccation, animal breeding plants, seeping waters of illegal or unprofessional landfills), wrong fertilizer use and diffuse pollution sources caused by atmospheric deposition, leading primarily to nitrification. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Due to the lack of a full-scale survey, there is only mosaic picture about the national situation; there are measurement data only on the quality of the extracted waters of existing aquifers. A part of deep aquifers used for drinking water supply contain greater concentration of natural materials (arsenic, boron, organic material, ammonium, iron, manganese) in drinking water than permissible. Bank filtered waters and the ones from karst aquifers are of high quality. To protect water resources, it is important to diminish investments at places affecting aquifers, contingency reservoirs and under-seepage areas. Civilization-borne pollution of groundwater and geological medium in most cases takes place in several years, risks are maintained for long years, and considerable natural degradation occurs only in case of some pollutants. They are present in the subsurface environment in hidden way; therefore their recognition and identification require appropriate diagnostic methods.Comprehensive Goals of the Action Programme: - implementation of the scheduled national tasks of the Water Framework Directive in accordance with deadlines; - protection of actual and potential sources and highlighted water protection areas; - wide-range dissemination of rational water use and pollution control technologies; - development of municipal wastewater treatment in due consideration of the endowments of the settlement (e.g. size, economical construction of sewers); - increasing the utilization rate of municipal wastewater sludge; - elimination of environmental damage endangering aquifers; - pollution control tasks (with comprehensive intersectoral programmes and the ones embracing environmental elements).Specific and operative objectives of Action Programme of Protection and Sustainable Use of Waters 3.7.1 Implementation of the scheduled national tasks of the Water Framework Directive in accordance with deadlines a) Legal harmonization tasks, delineation of water bodies, characterizing their status, economic analysis of water use, preparation of river basin management plans b) Individual determination and control of load-bearing capacity for reception sections and river basins c) Strengthening legal enforcement, development of institutions necessary to comply with EU legislations National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.7.2 Development of water quality protection of surface water in considering the river basin approach a) Development of wastewater collection and treatment of settlements, by increasing the number of inhabitants connected to existing sewerage, implementation of the scheduled tasks of the National Wastewater Collection and Treatment Implementation Programme, regulation and development of sludge treatment technologies and harmless disposal, development of semi-natural treatment and system to keep wastewater at place and support for small environmentally sound, individual wastewater treatment/disposal facilities b) Intersectional programmes for improvement of the non point sources pollution control (covering environmental elements) c) Complex water protection investments on highlighted water protection areas (Small- Balaton, Lake Balaton, big lakes, Ráckeve-Soroksár-Danube arm, Upper-Danube section)3.7.3 Development of quantitative protection of groundwater considering the river basin approach a) Elaboration of legal, technical, economic regulations aimed at the prevention of excess use of groundwaters b) Establishment and application of hydro-geological model for load-bearing tests, to provide basis for sustainable thermal water management strategy3.7.4 Development of qualitative protection of groundwater considering the river basin approach a) Elimination of existing, lasting environmental damage, scheduled implementation of the National Environmental Remediation Programme (NERP) b) Reduction of impacts of pollution sources endangering groundwaters (e.g. out of order, uncontrolled wells, industrial, agricultural, service activities resulting in dangerous material emission, nutrient load of agricultural origin) c) To secure actual and potential drinking water sources in vulnerable environment (scheduled implementation of the Drinking Water Sources Protection Programme)3.7.5 Expanding the Hungarian practice of rational water use and pollution-reducing technologies a) Wide-spread dissemination of rational water use b) Reducing the emission of water polluting materials into surface water (defining the best available technics, setting technological limit values, elaboration and implementation of pollution control programmes) National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.7.6 Horizontal measures a) Development and operation of the national network for surface water quality monitoring (including the survey and monitoring of ecological condition) b) Development and operation of the national network for groundwater and soil quality monitoring c) Implementation of international tasks to protect cross-boundary waters and international lakes d) R+D related to sustainable use of waters (among others: wastewater treatment technologies and nature-friendly methods, complex investigation of our big lakes, elaboration of model-systems) e) Information and raising awareness Indicators of progress - changes in selected water quality features of surface and groundwater bodies; - changes in ecological status of surface waters; - selected chemical features of groundwater bodies; - number of complex water protection investments completed; - capacity of secured actual and potential drinking water sources; - number of settlements with new sewerage and wastewater treatment plants, number of connected flats/inhabitants; - number of settlements and number of inhabitants remaining without sewerage on the long run, where individual treatment facilities have been used; - number of eliminated pollution sources, reduction of environmental load; - quantity and proportion of utilized municipal wastewater sludge; - number of shifts to less water demanding technologies, reduction of water demand; - capacity of municipal wastewater treatment plants and exploitation of the capacity.3.8 Action Programme of Waste Management Current situation In the 1990s the quantity and average hazard of waste decreased, primarily because of economic restructuring and the modernization of production. In the future, however, avoidance of the quantitative increase of waste, prevention also requires significant efforts and special measures. Typical treatment of the generated waste is disposal; proportion of recycling does not reach 30 per cent. Only 2.5-3 per cent of municipal solid waste is utilized as material, due to the National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 low proportion of selective collection. Of the several hundred operating landfills only 15 per cent, built in the last 4-5 years, meet up-to-date requirements, altogether, however, there are still lags particularly compared to the requirements of the European Union. To comply with the expectations, raising awareness and introduction of new incentives, in addition to technological developments, are needed. The basis of the Action Programme is the National Waste Management Plan with special regard to EU conformity and the goal-hierarchy of prevention-utilization-disposal. Improvement of planning and efficiency is highly emphasized. A part of the specific goals creates continuity between NEP-I and NEP-II, others appeared for the first time in 2003. Comprehensive goals of the Action Programme: - development of prevention and recycling in the field of municipal and production waste; - treatment of municipal and production waste to be disposed at low environmental risk; - improvement of planning and efficiency in waste management.Specific and operative objectives of the Action Programme of Waste Management 3.8.1 Development of prevention and recycling in the field of municipal waste a) Prevention and reduction of municipal waste generation b) Considerable increase in selective collection of municipal waste c) Pre-treatment and recycling of selectively collected municipal waste d) Separated treatment, composting of biologically decomposing organic waste, promotion of its local utilization3.8.2 Development of prevention and utilization in production branches a) Development of prevention and utilization for hazardous waste b) Agriculture and food industry biomass programme c) Development of prevention and utilization for non-hazardous waste d) Programmes of highlighted waste streams (packaging, mineral oil, PCB, dry batteries, batteries, tyres, motor-car, electronic equipment, sanitary waste, animal waste, pesticides) e) Recycling construction waste National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.8.3 Treatment of municipal waste to be disposed at low environmental risk a) Establishment of complex, regional collection-treatment systems b) Environmental assessment and recultivation of old, abandoned landfills c) Modernization of the Budapest Waste Recovery Plant d) Modernization of municipal liquid waste treatment3.8.4 Treatment of waste to be disposed at low environmental risk in production branches a) Establishment of national hazardous waste treatment network b) Other sectoral hazardous waste treatment and disposal programmes c) Industrial waste disposal programme d) Asbestos clean-up programme3.8.5 Improvement of planning and efficiency of waste management a) Strengthening legal enforcement b) Completion of the legal and economic incentive regulation system c) Co-ordination and support for waste management plans d) Technical and professional development, educational-training programmes3.8.6 Horizontal measures a) R+D related to waste management, its important fields are: creating the basis of protection against harmful impacts of waste (selective collection, separation and pre- treatment developments promoting reuse and recycling; waste utilization for power generation), elaboration of up-to-date technologies to moderate or avoid hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation, to utilize or dispose it b) Attitude forming Indicators of progress - quantity of generated waste; - quality of generated waste (composition, hazard); - quantity, proportion of selectively collected waste; - quantity and proportion of recovered waste; - quantity and proportion of disposed waste; - reduction of environmental load achieved by the installation of treatment facilities. National Environmental Programme 2003-20083.9 Action Programme of Environmental Security Current situation The goal of environmental security is the treatment and possible prevention of unpredictable hazardous/disastrous situations. The two main groups of disasters are events caused by natural and civilization reasons. Natural disasters are concomitant with the material and energy processes of the Earth (flood, earthquake, etc.) These events cannot be prevented, but certain causes strengthening the process can be moderated (e.g. to prevent the damage caused by extraordinary floods, territorial run-off can be regulated by adequate land-area utilization), and measures can eliminate or at least reduce the ensuing damage (e.g. forecasting, establishment of the system of observation and information, preparation for preventing and avoiding damage). The variety of civilization disasters range from industrial, traffic etc. disasters to building collapse, fire, damage to utilities, disasters caused by epidemics. In certain cases, natural and civilization environmental disasters are interrelated, give rise to and reinforce each other. Some 96 per cent of Hungary’s watercourses come from abroad, therefore water use beyond the borders, repeated and disaster-like water pollutions basically determine the quality of Hungarian watercourses and the ecological status of their environment (e.g. Szigetköz, dams on Dráva, river Tisza). The cause of the ecological disaster on river Tisza also had natural and human origins (extraordinary rainfall, human negligence, weakness of authority control). The damaging effect manifested itself as industrial disaster, but its final impact led to severe natural disaster in Hungary. Looking at the environmental security aspects of industrial disasters, we can conclude that chemical industry poses the greatest risk in Hungary currently, but nuclear environmental security also has outstanding significance. In the fields of traffic and transportation, shipment of poisonous or explosive materials involves high risk. Comprehensive goals of the Action Programme: The measures of the Action Programme are aimed at increasing environmental security, preventing dangerous activities with risk and creating conditions to efficiently moderate the consequences of disasters. Principles of prevention, precaution and the liability of the inducer of the damage are the most important in view of disasters. Regarding the efficiency of the Action Programme, public participation has priority. Accordingly the comprehensive goals are as follows: - raising environmental security to the level of strategy; - analysis of the impacts of past environmental damage (disasters); - identification of environmental disasters and hazards; - handling environmental risks; - horizontal tasks in the field of environmental security. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Specific and operative objectives of the Action Programme of Environmental Security3.9.1 Raising environmental security to the level of strategy a) Taking environmental risks into account on all levels of economic management (establishment of environmental security information centre, detailed legislative definition of hazardous activity) b) Transposition of EU legislation and application of the legal system on environmental security in Hungary (elaboration of National Environmental Security Strategy, voluntary instruments, e.g. application of environmental performance assessment) 3.9.2 Identification of environmental disasters and hazards a) Continuation of programmes preventing natural disasters, e.g. hazards caused by unstable embankments, co-ordination and development of protection against other natural disasters (e.g. forest fire, wind storm, earthquake) b) Mapping dangerous plants, technologies, processes, transportation routes including foreign activities posing indirect or direct hazards3.9.3 Analysis and treatment of environmental risks a) Reduction of environmental risks with regulation instruments (encouraging the introduction of labour safety and environmental management systems) b) Transformation of activities with significant risk to lower level of risk (application of chemical procedures, chemical materials, treatment and final disposal of spent nuclear fuels and other radioactive materials) c) Reducing the risks of serious accidents by introducing protection planning and physical planning measures in the vicinity of hazardous industrial plants when risks cannot be moderated economically3.9.4 Horizontal tasks a) Establishment of an institution system necessary to handle crises resulting from environmental damage and co-ordination of the activities of existing institutions b) Development of environmental monitoring/forecast systems including support for the establishment of transboundary systems and co-operation with international (NATO, etc.) systems c) Innovation and demonstration, research-development tasks (most important R+D subjects: scientific basis of the National Environmental Security Strategy, forecasting environmental disasters, elaboration of more efficient methods of prevention and the certification system of environmental remediation technologies, development of risk assessment methods) National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 d) Attitude forming, elaboration of the methodology to inform the society efficiently, methodological support for the ones obliged to provide informationIndicators of progress - number of voluntarily realized eco-management systems, agreements, surveys (ISO 14001, EMAS, environmental performance assessment, environmental statement, etc.) and their relation to the corresponding (average) indicator of the EU; - increasing the proportion of BAT-level plants in hazardous branches within the group; - changes in the number of identified and screened hazardous plants with upper threshold value under the scope of SEVESO II EU Directive and keeping social risk they cause at tolerable level; - environmental damage caused by fires; - changes in the quantity of dangerous materials according to categories and types of hazard and by specific materials taking the method of treatment into account; - number of products marketed with life-cycle analysis, their proportion among all products on the market; changes in the recollection of dangerous unused products; - transformation of subsurface pollutions ranked by detailed environmental risk analysis as high risk category into lower risk level as a result of partial remediation. National Environmental Programme 2003-20084. Instruments and Institutions of Implementation4.1 Those in Charge of and Taking Part in Planning and Implementing the ProgrammeNEP-II is a programme for all inhabitants of the country. Implementation of environmental policy requires coordinated action of all interested in and taking part in implementation. Active participation of the interested parties is indispensable for the implementation of NEP-II in both the process of planning and stages of implementation. This necessitates constructive dialogue, due consideration and enforcement of the proposals on the merits, on national, regional and local levels. To this end, establishment and operation of specific co-ordination mechanisms are necessary. The task of public administration is to execute the medium-term environmental policy in accordance with environmental needs and interests of the society. Environmental policy in this document must be coordinated with economic and regional policies. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the role of municipalities is to be strengthened in the implementation of NEP-II. Municipalities – in addition to carry out environmental tasks – must take part in the elaboration and implementation of regional environmental programmes. In order to eliminate environmental problems, partnership with the actors of economic life is to be established. Propagating environmentally-aware company behaviour is to be supported, it not only improves the market positions of companies (better competitive edge through economical use of resources, etc.), but environmental interests as well. Actors of scientific life, the research sites they represent, and educational institutions are to be given outstanding role in strategic tasks and environmental researches for the implementation of NEP-II. These institutions should be active in propagating cleaner production and sustainable consumption habits and in broader sense of raising awareness. Active incorporation of non-governmental organizations, professional associations and pressure groups affected by environmental issues is of outstanding importance to promote access to environmental information, PR, strengthening social contacts and consultancy. The above organizations can work excellently as networking partners, may promote the use of cleaner technologies and environmental innovation. These organizations and their experts are to be involved into governmental environmental planning, in the preparation and enforcement of legislation. Environmental protection imposes both rights and obligations on the society. Every citizen has the right to healthy environment. Citizens as consumers, at the same time, contribute to the generation of environmental problems. The growing significance of public participation in environmental tasks and decision-making is proved by the appearance of stronger local patriotism. Local, regional and national environmental-management civil forums of public participation are to be created within the framework of implementing NEP-II. National Environmental Programme 2003-20084.2 Possible Instruments of Implementation Taking the principle of prevention as the basis, the most efficient instrument of environmental protection and nature conservation is the environmentally friendly transformation of environment-using systems aimed at production, consumption and service to accommodate them to the environment. In general, several, various – different in applicability and cost-efficiency – interventions and measures can achieve the environmental goals. Among them demonstrably the most efficient – in environmental, social and economic senses – instruments are to be chosen. To achieve a goal, a set of instruments is to be elaborated; they should cover: raising awareness, raising environmental awareness, planning, harmonization and efficient implementation of legislation, legal, economic and other encouragement of voluntary environmental participation just as tracking and checking implementation. An additional important criterion is that the elements of the complex system should be transparent, simple to use and coordinated. The main groups of instruments to achieve environmental goals are as follows. Integration of environmental criteria into decision-making and sectoral policies Horizontal and vertical integration of environmental criteria is indispensable to prevent environmental problems, to enforce shared responsibility and the principle of subsidiarity. Primary tasks relating to the improvement of integration are as follows: - Drafting legislation on environmental integration and its implementation. - Introduction of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and its application in case of strategic decisions (plans and programmes). - Revision of central budget from environmental aspect, better enforcement of environmental considerations. - Drafting the National Sustainable Development Strategy. - Enforcement of sustainability criteria in land-area use and in utilization of natural resources, in course of drafting regional development and physical plans, sectoral and other plans (implementation of regional demonstration programmes built on the principles of ecological landscape management, establishment of sustainable development (landscape) centres). Direct environmental developments The goal of direct environmental developments and investments is to prevent and reduce environmental pressures, emissions. They include new and extending reconstruction investments and technical interventions (e.g. remediation, environmental infrastructure developments). The status has to undertake decisive role in the implementation of direct environmental developments in fields of outstanding importance and public responsibility (e.g. environmental security, environmental health, raising environmental awareness, certain fields of nature conservation). Indirect environmental developments They basically cover economic and infrastructure investments (modernization of production technologies, reduction of production costs, public transport, development of energy efficiency, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 etc.), whose implementation, at the same time, contributes to the reduction of the use of resources, pressure on the environment, the quantity, hazard of generated waste and harmful impacts. These interventions help to improve the market/social judgment of the efficiency of economic partners. This process must be strengthened by horizontal integration of the environmental criteria and improvement of constructive co-operation with the partners. Legal and authority instruments In recent years, environmental legislation has primarily focused on the modernization of regulations on level of acts to set the basic rules, to transpose regulations identical with EU requirements or approximating them into Hungarian law. This process is going on in the planning and implementation stages of NEP-II. Its main tasks are: - Tracking and analyzing the renewed regulations of the EU, incorporating Hungarian environmental interest in time. - Ensuring EU legal harmonization continuously, drafting the necessary provisions of law. - Drafting other legislation necessary to achieve the goals of the programmes. - Horizontal review of legislation in force, ensuring organic combination of new legislation drafted in course of EU legal harmonization and implementation of international conventions and the existing legislation. - Compliance with international conventions in legislation. - Taking part in improvement of international environmental law. In addition to the above ones, strengthening Hungarian enforcement and authority activities are of outstanding importance, they include: - Joining EU IMPEL to achieve ‘the best practice’ of legislation implementation. - Legislation monitoring, to indicate the status of implementation. - Establishment of right sanctions (including the system of fines). - Introducing the qualification of ‘to name, to praise, to condemn’. - To improve the working and regional conditions of authorities, to ensure the unification of legal practice, to regularly retrain those carrying out authority work, to expand capacities. Economic instruments To achieve the goals of NEP-II, a complex system of economic regulations (price regulation, tax laws, subsidy systems, other instruments) promoting substantial reduction of environmental pressure, supporting environmental protection and nature conservation is to be established. Elements and measures wrongly orienting users, destroying natural and built environment, decreasing the value of resources are to be eliminated. Basic function of economic instruments is to make the user feel the social costs from using and loading the environment and to enforce the ‘polluter pays’ principle. At the same time, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 resources (taxes) collected for public tasks are to support only activities, which have favourable environmental and social effects. As an important step, among others, the extent of status subsidies provided for environment polluting activities is to be surveyed and to be submitted for social debate in order to reduce the extent of pollution. Regulation of production performances of economic organizations should be left for the market (they are not performances to be covered from public money), although favourable eco- social performances of economic management systems should be supported also from public money. Application of economic instruments can be efficient only along with traditional legal instruments. Some instruments (e.g. product fees, environmental fees, users’ charges, tax allowances, subsidies) require the introduction of normative provisions for certain economic organizations, which require compulsory legal regulation. The introduction of others (e.g. deposit-refund charges, environmental liability) may be decided by economic organizations or their affiliates without normative status or municipality regulations. An important method to be used for the waste management problems of products causing the greatest problem is to disseminate the self-financing system based on manufacturers’ responsibility. Voluntary agreements belong to indirect economic instruments. One of their possible – assuming partnerships between the user of the environment and the authority – forms is that economic organizations undertake to meet certain environmental requirements according to a timetable they set and this undertaking is approved by the authority. A precondition to disseminate voluntary agreements is the elaboration of relevant legislation and improvement of institutional conditions. Estimating and taking into account the external costs of different activities causing pressure on the environment is a firm basis to modify regulatory instruments, to introduce new instruments and to develop subsidy systems. In the period of implementing NEP-II, the basis should be the internalization of external costs and more efficient enforcement of the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Gradually the principle of full cost recovery is to be used in setting utility fees (e.g. water and wastewater fees, waste management fees). Among economic instruments status subsidies have important role. In the modernization of environmental subsidy systems, the general tasks are: - Co-ordination of the subsidy systems belonging to given programmes, given goals, their operation according to unified principles, predictable rules; - High-level preparation of developments and interventions; - Creation and enforcement of the subsidy guarantees of efficient and economical developments; - Establishment of the subsidy system of programmes, measures to achieve new and so far unsupported goals in NEP-II; - Reform of the subsidy policy of ETF; National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- Increasing the proportion of subsidies – to be reimbursed – with preferential interest; - Increasing the role of preferential credits, involving banks into financing. Review of the system of status subsidies for non-environmental purposes is necessary from environmental, economic and social aspects. Subsidies are to be identified and quantified, and then their impacts on the economy, environment and society are to be studied. The subsidy systems should realize their goals in environmentally sound way. Innovation and research-development A priority instrument to implement environmental policy is the development of the knowledge-base, development and propagation of up-to-date technologies. A strategy is being worked out for future expansion of environmental R+D activities and enhancement of their co- ordination; the main frameworks of its implementation are as follows: Application/tender system of National Research and Development Programmes: - Environmental subprogramme: organized by ME for research and technical development tasks, for big, comprehensive projects based on the operation of consortia embracing the scientific and business spheres. - Ecological subprogramme: organized by ME for basic and applied research tasks, for big, comprehensive projects based on the operation of consortia. National Environmental Science and Nature Conservation Research Application System: organized by MEW for applied research tasks. Environmental Technical Development Application: jointly organized by ME and MEW for medium-size innovations utilized in the short term. Launching inter-sectoral R+D programmes: applications and comprehensive projects announced and financed jointly by the affected organizations to solve inter-sectoral, complex tasks. Research programmes of the ministries: to solve tasks of ministries in TAPs (MEW, MHA, MHSF, MA, MET). Basic research programmes: HAS, NSRF Hungarian environmental and nature conservation R+D expenditure per capita is some HUF 1,000 a year. Based on the Science and Technology Action Programme of the Government, R+D resources in medium term exceed 1.5 percent of GDP. Consequently, in medium term doubling the environmental R+D expenditure is expected, some 18 billion HUF a year. On this basis, proportional expansion of the environmental resources of the application/tender systems, basis of financing in public sector, is the task. National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Improving the environmental performance of municipalities and their institutions Municipalities have distinguished role in the implementation of national, regional and local environmental, nature conservation, just as water conservancy tasks. In addition to the tasks of municipalities regulated in law, the following main subjects are to be highlighted: - Assistance for the environmental information management of municipalities through regional institutions of environmental protection. - Supporting programmes aimed at the development of the social relations of municipalities. - Supporting the environmental audits and measures of municipalities and their institutions. - Supporting the elaboration of local sustainable development programmes. - Comprehensive study on the conditions of environmental financing and ensuring resources. Environmental certification of products, services and companies Lack of information on environmental performance causes problems not only for environmentally-aware consumers, but weakens the environmental basis of introducing economic instruments. Environmentally friendly product certification, and instruments to inform the users, customers (e.g. environmentally friendly label, eco-label), customer’s brochures giving the environmental parameters of the product (energy consumption, noise emission, recyclable, reusable material ratio) are to provide this missing information. Life-cycle analyses of products and their publication have an ever increasing role. Companies introducing the Eco- Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) voluntarily not only undertake to make programmes, take measures to improve their own environmental performance but also inform the public in the environmental statement. Environmental information Planning and implementing NEP-II is a series of decision preparations and decisions. Decisions can be made only in possession of right information. Environmental data management includes Hungarian statistical, public administration and other data systems, further on constitutes the basis of high level compliance with international data providing and reporting obligations. Environmental data management also ensures the information background necessary for sectoral, regional development and physical planning, jus as for authority work. Beginning the integration of environmental and economic data has great significance in the environmental evaluation of sectoral policies. In addition to looking at the changes in environmental pressure, utmost attention is to be paid to the development and tracking of complex indicators of changes in the status of environment in the period of NEP-II. Reduction of some environmental pressures does not necessarily lead to identical improvement in the status of the whole environment. Decrease of biological diversity, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 insufficient status of natural habitats and waters indicate that further comprehensive and targeted measures are needed to sufficiently change the status and quality of the environment as a whole. Renewal and development of an indicator system according to needs, which is suitable for quantitative and qualitative analysis of environmental and relating economic and social processes – in addition to tracking the implementation of the programme – has the task to inform the decision-makers and anyone who is interested. Establishment of national (environmental information centre) and regional environmental data storehouses (centres of regional organs) provides access to information by exploiting the available informatics possibilities. Main tasks to be performed during NEP-II: - Establishment of a national network of unified environmental information systems (including the related meta-databases). - Ensuring sufficient level of an environmental monitoring system, development of imission measurement network. - Elaboration of integrated environmental assessment system. - Operation of National Biodiversity Monitoring System. - Establishment of Geographic Information System helping the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. - Development of intersectoral co-operation to establish national environmental geographical information system. - Determination of environmental pressures and their trends at certain sectors. Development of the structure of statistical data supply, tracking the indicators of sustainability. Public participation and access to environmental information Public participation in the preparation of environmental decisions and the implementation of decisions are supported by EU expectations, obligations of the Aarhus Convention and Hungarian legislation, but social partners also increasingly require it. An operational information system with comprehensive, up-to-date data is a background for efficient decision-preparation, planning and regulatory activities, for international data provision obligations, for regular and occasional data provisions, for citizens, social organizations, groups, representatives of scientific and business life. Measures to stimulate public participation: - Improving access to environmental information. - Involvement of NGOs and the population in the preparation of decisions affecting them. - Compilation of practical sets of measures (for comparison of environmental performance of households and recommendations for measures aimed at improvement). National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- Involvement of NGOs in the implementation of environmental and nature conservation tasks, financial support for their co-operation. - Development of instruments to qualify for participation (information, training). Environmental education and raising awareness In addition to educational institutions, the role of cultural (e.g. monument protection, artistic, public education and public collection) institutions and organizations, families and social groups is important in this field. Mass media and advertisements have great impact on all generations. Environmentally-aware way of life, the idea of sustainable development, preparation and dissemination of publications, advertisements, programmes showing the relationship of society- economy-environment and its practice are to be supported. A precondition of raising awareness is that citizens, decision-makers and actors of economic life be well-informed on the status of the environment and the necessity of environmental protection, in addition, they should know the environmental, chemical and biological risks of products they use, their waste management consequences and the possibilities to moderate and handle these risks and consequences.4.3 The Institutional system of Implementation and Control Organizing implementation Modern environmental policy requires farsighted, goal-oriented and integrated approach, coordinated planning among different regional levels and branches, programme-creation and implementation. To solve this far-reaching task, an institutional background of planning and implementation is indispensable with the establishment of the adequate institutions and monitoring systems. Implementation of environmental policy and preservation of environmental assets also depend on ideas decided by other development endeavours; therefore the set goals of environmental policy are to be coordinated with and incorporated into these planning documents and their implementation mechanisms. Institutional system of implementation The basic task of programming i.e. organization of implementation is the management of the practical implementation of medium-term ideas, definition of the annual tasks of medium- term ideas (goals, programmes), scheduling. Specific interventions, the institutions in charge of their financing and financial resources for the given year are to be defined. Implementation of nature conservation, environmental protection and the majority of environment-oriented tasks is a job where only the co-operation of several sectors and the affected ones can achieve the target. The tasks aimed at common medium-term environmental protection goals are included in nine Thematic Action Programmes. A high-level Intersectoral Committee is to be set up to coordinate the nine Thematic Action Programmes of NEP-II; its members are ministerial officials and delegates of the regional development councils. The Intersectoral Committee must decide on professional and financial priorities and tasks relating to the coordinated development of the instruments (legal, economic, institutional) every year. Subcommittees are to be set up to elaborate the action programmes, National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 from the representatives of organizations in charge of and interested in the implementation of the tasks involved. They will carry out annual programming and make proposals for the tasks of the given year earmarking those in charge and the resources. Efficient implementation of the Programme necessitates the involvement of the possible widest circle of the affected parties. That is why members of the subcommittees are representatives of the ministries affected by the implementation of the Thematic Action Programmes, those of scientific life, municipalities, business associations and NGOs. Decentralized organs of the ministries and regional development councils should also be involved into the implementation and co-ordination of the annual implementation plans. The Intersectoral Committee, on the basis of the recommendations of subcommittees, makes proposals for the most efficient distribution of financing and ensures the incorporation of NEP-II tasks in the budget and in the annual progress and implementation plans of NEP-II. The Intersectoral Committee provides information for the National Environmental Council on the progress, implementation plans of NEP-II. The benefit of the above organizational form and operation is that without substantial institutional developments it enhances horizontal planning and financing of tasks requiring the co-operation of several organs and institutions. It creates accord among tasks to be performed by the individual institutions and earmarks financing needs. The clearly set and quantified goals and tasks can be distinctly incorporated into the annual central budget in accordance with legal regulations (Act LIII of 1995). National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Those in charge and taking part in the elaboration and implementation of the Thematic Action Programmes e n s o i u t c d e n t r a o l e y r t t s a p d e f s n e w a e a y s p f t n i a a e o l d c e r y a t r o s e a t i u a s o d r s n - w f q u n u e e e d a l r a c d e g l n l a l u m e n t a n a s s e b l d t a n a a a g l , n n e h e h a a n a e y t c t iTAP / t l n m m i a n n m a a e l n t l e t e o n s a o a i a m r h o t u u t m i r s a n l q e m n i v t Those in charge, taking part i a v o l l o v d s t n r r z a n a n e i i n e C t e r a s e v . n n o W n n e 2 g n a m . o H n E o b n m c 8 i i r . t o s n i r 9 y c U o i t a e r i . v t i s R 4 n o r v . r e n E 1P v e . i . l 3 d 7 a o r i u B R. . 5 6 MHA X X X X X X Equal Opportunities- X X MwP MHSFA X X X X X X X X EU-MwP X X MLE X MARD X X X X X X X X X MET X X X X X X X X X MChYS X X MD X X X MITT X MJ X MFA X MEW X X X X X X X X X X PMO X MNCH X X X X ME X X MF X X X X X X X X X CSO X X Municipalities X X X X X X X X X X Households X X X X X X X X X X Economic organizations X X X X X X X X X X Professional, scientific X X X X X X X X X X and civil organizations93 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008X - In charge X - TakingThe ones listed in the above table are those in charge and members of the thematic subcommittees operating in the framework of the Intersectoral Committee. Planning and co-ordination are going on in these subcommittees. The mandate of the responsible persons in the given action programme is the right to coordinate and submit proposals for the Intersectoral Committee. In cases where two ministries are in the table, the given ministries will have shared, identical rights and obligations. Measuring and controlling progress NEP-II and its Thematic Action Programmes include the most important goals and tasks of the national medium-term environmental policy. The most important environment policy mission of NEP-II is to achieve quantified environmental targets and to implement interventions concluded from the specific and operative goals set in the Thematic Action Programmes. The monitoring system of Programme progress tracks to what extent and how the implementation of the set tasks ensures the attainment of the main goals. An information basis is needed, which indicates whether the given tasks contributed to the goals set for the quantity and quality of the environmental elements in medium term. The second National Environmental Programme will come into force when the National Assembly passes it. The Government’s task is to coordinate the implementation of the tasks in NEP-II. The Government, to ensure scheduled implementation of the tasks, in accordance with the schedule of budget planning, lays down the timely tasks and ‘guarantees’ of their implementation in annual progress reports and implementation plans, and in accordance with the final accounts on the implementation of the budget act, evaluates the progress of the Programme in the previous implementation period. Another important goal of looking at progress is its updating, which indicates modification necessary in schedule and focuses. This document constitutes the basis of two-yearly accounts and control stipulated by law. Subcommittees responsible for Thematic Action Programmes prepare the annual progress report and implementation plans. In the framework of preparation the Intersectoral Committee makes a proposal for the Government until June 30th each year on the professional and financial guidelines of next year’s implementation plan. The Intersectoral Committee discusses the annual progress report and implementation plans, informs the National Environmental Council and puts forward a proposal to the minister for environment. Based on the proposal a motion94 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 is drafted for the Government on the tasks to be performed, those in charge of them and the financing resources until at the latest September 30th each year. Following the conclusion of budget planning, the Government at latest until February 28th looks over the given annual tasks planned and financed by the given budget, the annual tasks realized in non-governmental framework and the tasks to be performed in the remaining part of the programme, but at least in the next two years. The progress report and implementation plans prepared annually provide possibilities in the period of NEP-II for flexible accommodation to changes taking place in the meantime. They are suitable to take into consideration possible tasks and modification beginning in the year of EU membership and in the transition period for the next seven year-plan of the EU (2007). The Government, on the basis of Act LIII of 1995, makes a report to the National Assembly on the implementation of NEP every two years. The report must include accounts on the environmental performance of the sectors, the status of the implementation of the Thematic Action Programmes realized in joint implementation of several ministries and the current position and trend of achieving the targets. The framework of the wide-ranging implementation and follow-up mechanism, the specific content of reporting obligation and the informatics monitoring system necessary for performing the tasks must be elaborated in a year from the beginning of the Programme. Assessment of progress is to be determined by an adequate indicator set; achieving the targets, on the one hand, through target indicators, fulfilling the tasks determined by Thematic Action Programmes, on the other hand, by intervention and result indicators. Based on the indicators the process of cause-problem-goal- intervention-result-impact is to be examined. Evaluation of data necessary for control requires a lot of time because of their complexity and quantity. Therefore, in two years from the beginning of the Programme, on the basis of NEP-II indicators, combined macro-indicators are to be elaborated for the timely measurement of environmental performance, which sufficiently reflect changes in the status of the environment, the environmental performance of sectors and the extent of pollutions and environmental interventions.4.4 Financing Strategy Implementation of NEP-II and similar comprehensive programmes require particularly prudent governmental co-ordination. This is particularly true of the95 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 financial system of NEP-II where not only individual and separate Hungarian and foreign resources but their manifold agglomerations with various interests are present. In order to enhance annual professional and financial planning and implementation, NEP-II contains quantified environmental targets and determines Thematic Action Programmes aimed at their implementation. The Thematic Action Programmes include the operative target system (specific and operative goals) necessary for implementation with specific interventions and tasks attached to them. This system of goals and tasks enables the determination of the expenditure needs for the six-year period of tasks, at least to the extent of predictability.4.4.1 Background and Framework of Financing The amount of resources available for the implementation of NEP-II is determined on the one hand by economic conditions, on the other by resource demands of the planned tasks. The financing strategy covers a six-year period. Specific financial resources in accordance with budget planning may develop as a result of iterative co-ordination taking place in the framework of annual planning. The plan reconciling possibilities and demands may have consequences either on macroeconomic conditions or the scope and volume of tasks to be solved. Financing possibilities of NEP-II can be estimated by forecasting medium-term macroeconomic conditions, calculating the expected changes in economic performance and the resources available for environmental protection. Experiences of the past 15 years indicate that central budget still plays decisive role in the financial resources of environmental protection although its proportion is gradually decreasing. Between 1995 and 1999, budget resources (central budget and municipalities) covered at least 70 percent of environmental developments. The role of economic organizations is also becoming decisive in addition to the central budget sector. The role of external resources (credits, subsidies) will also grow. These tendencies contribute to the gradual expansion of environmental resources. In the implementation of the programme, however, the burdens, which business developments and developments realized in the budget sector (primarily municipality ones) impose on the population is to be examined. They include the inflationary impact of growing fees, impact of economic instruments aimed at environmental protection (product fees, possible environmental charges), the trend and constraints of redistributing budget resources because of changing economic conditions and changes in possibilities and conditions of borrowing. Regarding planning, tasks in the Thematic Action Programmes of NEP-II are divided into two groups. NEP-II partly includes interventions which are currently working (existing tasks), they are present separately or in other programmes and in96 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 this framework their necessary resources are also targeted. Incorporating these tasks into NEP-II is justified because environmental problems are dealt in a complex way. At the same time there are new elements among the goals and tasks, which have not belonged to the tasks of any programme but are indispensable for the solution of a given environmental problem. Financing the tasks of NEP-II is possible with coordinated co-operation of different actors including the tasks of the central budget, municipalities, business associations and the environmentally-aware activity of the population. The role of central budget resources has outstanding significance in the implementation of NEP- II. Budget resources, on the one hand, are to finance tasks of public responsibility, on the other, as an addition (subsidies) to municipality and business expenditures in the case of tasks of common interests. These subsidies, preferential credits play important role in mobilizing business resources devoted for environmental protection. The amounts of central resources spent on subsidies are to be used that they ensure matching funds necessary for foreign resources. In addition to specific environmental interventions, NEP-II pays utmost attention to preventive, indirect measures aimed at environmentally-aware behaviour and development of legislative conditions, which are reflecting environmental requirements. Decision on the use of other resources outside the central budget (municipalities’ own resources, economic organizations’ own resources) are made by those who have them at their disposal within the legislative framework in force for their activities, in accordance with their tasks and interests. NEP-II contains only recommendations on the use of these resources.4.4.2 The Role of the Central Budget The Programme in accordance with Government Resolution 1117/2001. (X.19.) contains the cost demand of the central budget resources, the most important financing instrument estimated for six years. - The part of the six-year amount compared to the financing possibilities of the years under review, or the parts of the estimate, which are planned to implement the tasks of NEP-II, must be involved in the annual budget bills among the estimates of the chapters (ministries) participating in implementation. - The textual justification of the bill on the implementation of the budget should cover the financial performance of the Programme. If possible, the given task/s/ should be built in the budget of the sector ‘undertaking’ it/them from central financing as special targeted task/s/ or in other97 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 cases as a part of another task. It is essential that the specific task group of NEP-II could be identified also in the latter case, and in this way utilization in accordance with the goal could be ensured. To realize the above scheme efficiently, it is expedient to involve central budgetary financing or (co-financing) of NEP-II into task financing, in the mode of operation of the central budget, determining it in broader scope of tasks than the current one, separately as a Thematic Action Programme. In course of the implementation of NEP-II – in case of both direct and indirect developments – co-ordination of the application/tender subsidy systems of tasks to be realized from several resources is to be strengthened. This, on the one hand, means the obligation of coordinating the budget estimates ‘aimed at identical support goal’ in the central budget in a wider than the current circle, on the other hand, the improvement of substantive co-operation e.g. in intersectoral committees to prepare decisions. The utilization rules of estimates, which finance the tasks of NEP-II are to be reviewed. Provisions – in legislation, which regulate resources – not adequately providing utilization possibilities for NEP-II are to be amended. Based on the annual progress reports and implementation plans of NEP-II, the subsidy goals, conditions of estimates are to be corrected. The tasks of the Thematic Action Programmes, which are to be solved by those, who have the given resource, are to be included in the utilization goals of certain resources present in the budget act and in the subsidy goals present in the calls for applications of subsidy estimates, which are utilized in the form of applications. The review cannot disregard the evaluation of the legislation regulating the utilization of the estimates of Environmental Target Fund (hereinafter ETF) handled by ministries. A subsidy strategy to ensure the implementation of NEP-II is to be developed and operated for 2003-2008. On the basis of the annual progress and implementation plans (monitoring), ETF also should have possibility for corrections, which may be called the modification of the weights of the subsidy goals in order to help the implementation of NEP-II. This in fact is an adaptive feedback in the intervention fields where backlog exists, in a way that ETF provides possibility for redistributing the resources. The tender applications of ETF are to be elaborated in this way. The annual progress report and the implementation plan must dictate the calls for application of ETF and also the decisions: the evaluation preparing the judgment in the decision-preparation of the application should deal separately with the contribution to the fulfilment of NEP-II goals. The internal regulation on the utilization of ETF should stipulate the implementation of NEP-II.98 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The utilization rules of VICE predominantly supporting wastewater investments are also to be determined in accordance with the goals and measures of NEP-II. The complete central budget resources of the Programme for the given year consist of different estimates of several chapters (ministries) or some of their parts. Annual schedules may differ from pro rate temporis, partly as a function of the given year budget, partly in the expenditure demand of implementation. On the basis of the conclusions of NEP-II monitoring, central financing of even a complete area requiring special treatment or the group of tasks belonging to a given chapter may be modified. Cost demands and resources of NEP-II The estimated costs of NEP-II include the results of surveys on indirect environmental developments in addition to direct environmental developments1. Indirect environmental developments statistically do not belong to environmental investments but have significant positive environmental impacts (e.g. development of public transport, increasing energy efficiency, production efficiency). In addition to the planned developments, R+D, institutional operation and operation-supporting costs of the central budget and the operation costs of municipalities have been quantified among the operation-like costs. The Thematic Action Programme “Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Protection” of NEP-II in fact gives the summary of the detailed National Nature Conservation Master Plan constituting part of NEP-II. Consequently the costs of NNB appear as the costs of this TAP. The estimated cost demand of NEP-II from central budget for six years has been determined in accordance with the medium-term economic policy programme. The Programme takes the current expenditure of the central budget, the extent of the definitely required, planned environmental expenditure and its proportion to GDP as its basis. The Programme takes the expenses coming from the environmental obligation of EU accession, other international environmental conventions and national programmes in force as minimum. These obligations constitute over four-fifth of the development expenses of the Programme. Some HUF 2,100 billion cover the tasks targeted in the nine Thematic Action Programmes of NEP-II from budget resources at 2002 price level, the total expenditure is HUF 4,200 billion. 1 Direct environmental developments include subsequent, end-of –pipe developments and integrated investments.99 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Breakdown of the central budget expenditure of NEP-II at 2002 price level (billion HUF)Others (R+D, Direct Indirect institutional environmental environmental Total operation, subsidy investments investments for operation)Central budget 900 800 400 2100 expenditureOf the HUF 2,100 billion central budget expenditure, HUF 900 billion is direct environmental investment. Indirect investment is HUF 800 billion and operation-like costs are HUF 400 billion. Since developments regarded environmental investments statistically and economically belong to the category of direct environmental investments, they are shown separately. Changes in indirect developments and operation-like costs are evaluated separately. Changes in direct environmental expenditure of the central budget in time (billion HUF, at 2002 price level, at current price, in per cent of GDP)* Name 2003** 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total Budget expenditure of direct environmental investments at 100 110 130 155 185 220 900 2002 price levelBudget expenditure of direct environmental investments at 105 121 146 180 219 270 current price Budget expenditure of direct environmental investments in 0.59 0.62 0.69 0.79 0.89 1.01 per cent of GDP *** * 5 per cent in 2003, 4 per cent for 2004, calculated with annual 3 per cent price level increase between 2005 and 2008 ** data expected for 2003 *** GDP forecast until 2005 according to Hungary’s medium-term economic policy programme, until 2006-2008 5 per cent GDP growth a yearThe financing structure will also be significantly transformed in the period of NEP-II. In the early period of NEP-II (in 2003-2004) central budget is expected to cover 56-58 per cent, municipalities (along with the population) 10-11 per cent,100 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 economic organizations 23-24 per cent and external resources 7-8 per cent of environmental expenditure. The volume of environmental expenditure of the central budget in the period of NEP-II will grow; their share, however, will gradually decrease, to 47-48 per cent by 2008. Simultaneously, the role of other resources will grow. Municipality share (along with the population) is expected to reach 12-13 per cent. In addition to the central budget, the role of economic organizations will become decisive. Business resources will amount to 26-28 per cent of all expenditure by the end of the period. The proportion of external resources will almost double (credits and EU funds) and will reach 12-14 per cent. Environmentally friendly transformation of the legal, economic regulation will free up additional resources for environmental protection and nature conservation, which will primarily contribute to financing the expenses of economic organizations and the population and to the reduction of certain environmental pressures. The size of direct environmental investments and their proportion to GDP can be assessed in view of available statistical data, projected environmental costs and projected GDP. The share of environmental investments compared to GDP was at about 1 per cent in the late 90s. In 2002-2003 it approximated 1.2 per cent. At the end of the Programme the proportion of the environmental expenditure of the central budget (which is 46-48 per cent of direct investments) to GDP will be around 1 per cent according to forecasts. Consequently, the proportion of direct environmental investments to the projected value of GDP will grow from 1.2 per cent to 2-2.2 per cent of GDP in six years. Indirect environmental investments statistically and regarding accounts do not belong to the category of environmental investments, but their realization basically influences the attainment of NEP-II goals. The amount to be spent for indirect investments from central budget, according to basic calculations amounts to some HUF 800 billion in 6 years (at 2002 price level). Indirect developments will gradually grow from HUF 90 billion in the first year until 2008 when they reach HUF 200 billion. Operation costs (institutional operation, R+D, operation support), which are directly aimed at the implementation of the operative goals of NEP-II amount to HUF 400 billion. Operation costs are planned to grow from HUF 40 billion to 90 billion by the last year of the Programme. The next important criterion – to be considered in financing plans – is the proportion of the resource breakdown of planned costs. The next figure shows the estimated resource breakdown by specialized Thematic Programmes (typical for both versions).101 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Estimated breakdown of planned costs by Thematic Action ProgrammesTAPs Direct env.investments of central budget 9 Indirect env. investments of 8 central budget7 Central budget R&D and operation6 EU5 Municipalities 4 Businesses 32 Households1 NGOS 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%4.5 Legal InstrumentsDue to the outstanding significance of central budget resources aimed at NEP-II, establishment and institutionalization of long-term budget relation between the tasks of NEP-II and central budget resources aimed at their solution is of high priority. Management and co-ordination of the implementation of NEP-II – based on the resolution of the National Assembly – is carried out with legislation in jurisdiction of the Government and government resolutions belonging to other legal instruments of state administration, they regulate: - the way central budget resources targeted in parliamentary resolutions finance the tasks of areas requiring special treatment (Thematic Action Programmes) during budget planning aimed at drafting budget bills from 2003 on (financing strategy in governmental decree); - more detailed elaboration of Thematic Action Programmes determined by parliamentary resolutions, laying down the tasks and those in charge of them in government resolution (government resolution on Thematic Action Programmes);102 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- specific utilization of estimates in the period of implementation based on budget acts of the planning period of NEP-II (annual progress report and government resolution on the implementation plan). Main substantive features of the documents relating to planning and implementing NEP-II are as follows: - The governmental decree on the financing strategy of NEP-II includes ○ management and organizational tasks to ensure coordinated solution of NEP-II tasks (e.g. management of some programmes, methods for resource co-ordination, possibilities of relationship among social organizations, representatives of science, economic organizations and municipalities in the preparation of resource utilization) and ○ special rules of planning estimates and reports related to performance in accordance with the stipulations of Act XXXVIII of 1992 on Budget and Government decree 217/1998. (XII.30.) on the mode of operation of the Central Budget.. - The government resolution on the programmes of areas requiring special treatment (Thematic Action Programmes) details ○ the goals of the Thematic Action Programmes, specific implementation measures drawn from the tasks stipulated in the framework of NEP-II and related instruments, based on the system of goals of NEP-II. - Government resolution provides for the professional and financing guidelines of next year implementation plan until June 30th each year. - Annual progress reports and implementation plans of NEP-II include: ○ results and impacts of specific implementation measures included in the Thematic Action Programmes – adopted by government resolution – of areas requiring special treatment, evaluation of professional and financial performance; in case of backlog, measures for moderation or elimination; ○ tasks of Thematic Action Programmes for given period, resources targeted from central budget for their solution taking the estimates of the budget act for the period under review into account.Possible financing resources of NEP-II103 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 e p l s t a l y r a h t c n t t t a e i s l t n e t r n f a e d n a e e u o m d e e e n y g c m w s n t n h a m n eTAP n e l m u e , o a f l n s s a o f r g n y i o a s i d o t d h a n t a t t o y r e n i v n s c n t n e i r c o n l n i o n i i a n s e a e a v a e l i t e d l e t v e t u t a n c u r y o m o c m n m a l t e e d u a q r e i o n e e t a n l n q e f t s P r m o g w o t o r b a i n o rResources r . u a r s l n d e i a r i a i a 5 P n n R v v n p C s v b i i . . i o a r . n n i a W d a 2 7 6 t E g U . E o sR i e . .8 . u r . b 9 4 3 s 1 I. CENTRAL RESOURCES 1. Ministerial estimates, targeted estimates 1.1 Environmental Fund X X X X X X X X X Targeted estimate 1.2 Water Targeted estimate X X X 1.3 Aimed and Targeted X X X X subsidy 1.4 Business estimates X X X 1.5 Regional and rural X X X development Targeted estimates 1.6 Agricultural Targeted X X X estimate 1.7 Tourism Targeted estimate X X X 1.8 Estimates related to X education 2. Nuclear Fund X II. EU RESOURCES 1. ISPA/Cohesion Fund X X X X 2. SAPARD X X 3. Structural Funds X X X X X X104 National Environmental Programme 2003-20084. LIFE programme III X X X X X X 5. EU 6th Research, X X X X X X X X X Development and Demonstration Framework Programme III. OTHER HUNGARIAN RESOURCES 1. Municipalities X X X X X X X X X 2. Economic organizations X X X X X X X X X 3. Households X X X X X X X X X5. National Nature Conservation Master Plan Summary Introduction Act No. LIII of 1995 on the general rules of environmental protection enacts the elaboration of the National Environmental Programme and lays down the rules in details. By the terms of Article 53 (1) of the Act of 1996 LIII on nature conservation: “As a part of the National Environmental Programme, a National Nature Conservation Master Plan must be projected, in order to adopt the government’s objectives and policy on conservation of nature and biodiversity, to ensure the survey, assessment, preservation and recovery of natural and landscape assets, habitats, wild species of plants and animals as well as other representatives of natural assets, and to co-ordinate the related activities. The National Environmental Programme of the period between 2003 and 2008 introduces thematic action programmes (TAP), of which the National Nature Conservation Master Plan corresponds to the action programme of “Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Protection” (TAP 5), and furthermore, to some extent, is connected to the action programmes below: - action Programme of raising environmental awareness (TAP 1); - action Programme of urban environmental quality (TAP 4); - action Programme of rural environmental quality, land-area and land use (TAP 6); - action programme of protection and sustainable use of waters (TAP 7); - action Programme of environmental security (TAP 9).105 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008However, the National Nature Conservation Master Plan is not only a part of the National Environmental Programme, but is also organically connected to other national plans and strategies, and determines the related sectoral policies that are completed in this planning period, such as, in the first instance the National Agri-Environmental Programme, the National Forestry Strategy (being elaborated), the new Vásárhelyi Plan, the National Regional Planning and the National Development Programme. The implementation of these plans greatly influences the status of nature, thus they must represent the interests of nature conservation in an integrative way, constituting an organic system. Professional Basis The conservation of biological and landscape diversity has become a major question of environmental policy on both global and European levels for the past few decades. Changes in attitude have been motivated by different factors. First of all, we are parts and participants of the biological system ourselves. The other main aspect is our economic interest, since our natural resources provide invaluable source of food and renewable energy for the rapidly growing population of the Earth. Accordingly, the conservation of natural and biological diversity is no longer only the interest of environmental protection: the conditions of protection must be integrated in every activity having an effect on the environment. The results and successes achieved in the conservation and improvement of biodiversity, beyond the universal purpose of nature conservation, either directly or indirectly, in the short or long term, are surely to every social and economic group’s and individual’s advantage.Current status Natural endowments of Hungary Hungary’s phytogeography and zoogeography, due to the concurrence of different climatic effects and diverse geological conditions, is enormously rich and precious. Thus, our flora and fauna are varied; we have significant biodiversity. Consequently, our richness can be explained by the bio-geographic situation of the Carpathian Basin, and the concurrence of different areas of flora and fauna. According to our present-day knowledge, in Hungary there are approximately 600 species of mosses, 2,200 species of vascular plants (including those naturalized in the flora of our country), 2,500 species of fungi and 42,000 species of animals today. Hungary’s location in the Carpathian Basin implies not only diversity but a particular uniformity and uniqueness, too. This uniqueness has resulted in the formation of a special Hungarian biogeographic region, the Pannonian Biogeographic region (or Pannonicum). The richness of our natural heritage is106 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 further increased by the variety of ‘inanimate’ natural assets (various types of rocks, formed in different geological eras under different formation conditions, rock- forming minerals, fossils, as well as unique formations and associations of formations, coming into being due to surface-forming forces). The karst areas stand out among the geological and geomorphological resources: there are also caves of different sizes and types under the characteristic geomorphological formations. The region is enriched by peculiar natural landscapes of unique beauty. The Status of Nature Conservation Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, as one of the most modern nature conservation legislations in Europe, orders the preservation and conservation of Hungarian natural assets and biodiversity. As the implementation of the Act, 6 governmental decrees, 9 ministerial decrees, 44 ministerial decrees on site designation, 9 ministerial decrees on forest reserve designation, 2 joint ministerial decrees and 3 significant ministerial bulletins have been issued, and several legislations are to be promulgated. Since 2002, a uniform organizational structure based on the ten national park directorates ensures effective and concerted conservation work. During the period of the National Nature Conservation Master Plan (1997-2002) a number of results arose, which were significant even in European comparison. At present, 9.2 per cent of Hungary’s territory is protected by separate decrees. The number and territory of the protected natural areas have increased, even if not at the rate prescribed by the Master Plan adopted by the Parliament. In comparison with the scope of the natural areas of national or local significance, protected by separate decrees and registered in 1997, the increase is approximately 70,000 hectares. Of the 695 endangered plants there are 63 that are under strict protection. The protection of over 50 species of terrestrial moss is also a new element (up to 2001 only the species of peat-moss known in Hungary were regarded as endangered). The number of endangered species of animals is now 965, 137 of which enjoy strict protection. It is the first time in Hungarian codification that biocenoses indispensable for the ecosystems have become protected as well, such as the ant- hills of ant species of special value. In the course of EU legal approximation, Community protection of altogether 1066 species, 498 species of plants and 568 species of animals have been declared in Hungarian legislation (of the species of animals there are 22 molluscs, 24 arthropods, 1 echinoderm, 7 fishes, 38 amphibians, 70 reptiles, 330 birds and 76 mammals). Of our inanimate natural assets the nearly 3,700 known caves are under ‘ex lege’ protection with 132 of them enjoying strict protection. The aggregate number of107 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 springs, swallets, tumuli and earthen fortifications similarly protected since 1997 is over 4000. Hungary has active international relationships with both the neighbouring countries and the countries of the European Union. We are parties to the most important nature conservation conventions relating to our region, taking part in a great number of specific action programmes, and ensuring the stipulated protection requirements. National environmental protection in Hungary was given PHARE assistance for accomplishing the tasks before European Union accession. Since 2001, within the framework of LIFE Nature Programme of the European Union, it has also become possible for Hungarian applicants to obtain EU assistance. The effects of social and economic transformation on nature conservation Land ownership has completely changed after the transformation of the political system: the extensive, contiguous lands have generally been parcelled out. The new owners have often utilized the lands more intensively than the previous farming methods did, and it has also often occurred that the previous way of land development has been altered, for instance grasslands have been converted into plough-fields. With economic recovery, the number and extension of green-field investments has significantly increased, new roads and motorways have been built. Due to the continuously rising standard of living, people have more and more spare time spent on hiking. Similarly, certain mass programmes are increasingly expected to be held in nature. Accordingly, the burden on natural environment – especially on lakes and rivers – has grown and the damage done on forests surrounding larger towns has also increased. These effects altogether continually endanger the natural habitats that have already considerably shrunk owing to human activities reshaping the landscape for thousands of years. A further threat can be imposed by the growing inclination to and activity in investments. However, with the change of land ownership and the ways of land development – with the beginning of environmental land-development – advantageous processes have also begun, for example the owners have gradually stopped forcing farming on lands of unsatisfactory fertility. Further lands getting out of intensive farming provide an opportunity for co-ordinating the purposes of nature conservation, rural development and extensive farming, re-considering the existing plans, as well as the recovery of habitats destroyed before (such as the readjustment of the ways of flood- control of river Tisza with regard to nature conservation). The National Nature Conservation Master Plan attempts to find the answer to these challenges that social development and conservation of natural assets could be108 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 ensured simultaneously, and natural resource management would be characterized by sustainable development. Accession to the European Union provides great opportunities for nature conservation. At the same time, the Pannonian region is of great economic value with its considerable attractiveness for ecotourism Identification of goals and priorities One of the priorities of the National Nature Conservation Master Plan between 2003 and 2008 is full accomplishment of the tasks necessary for EU accession. It is important that the principles of landscape protection and nature conservation – in accordance with the policies adopted by the European Union – fit into the operation of the particular sectors utilizing natural resources, and the utilization of natural resources be regulated in compliance with the requirements of sustainability. Obviously, the so-called reserve-approach of early nature conservation must be replaced by a modern, dynamic approach of conservation and utilization of nature, while the protected areas – reserves – around special natural assets must be preserved. For this reason, the system of protected natural areas and their buffer zones must be ensured by the overall protection of the national ecological network – including the natural areas, the areas registered as natural areas, the Natura 2000 sites, the ecological (green-) corridors and the semi-natural areas – as a complete system. Beyond the territorial protection above, it is the accomplishment of our overall national Programmes, such as the National Agri- Environmental Programme, the National Forest Strategy and the Hungarian implementation of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union that can ensure the preservation of the natural assets and landscapes in the long run. With the help of both site protection and sectoral programmes, the declining of diversity of species, biocenoses, habitats and landscapes must be considerably moderated or stopped during the planning period. The priorities of the next six years: - continuing to develop the system of protected natural areas; - the preservation and improvement of the status of protected natural areas and landscapes; - elaborating and accomplishing management plans, working out and fulfilling conservation plans; - obtaining property administration right at as many protected natural areas as possible, particularly in the course of the reconstruction of the level of protection; - conceptual foundation and regulation of the property administration activity; - restoration of habitats and landscapes;109 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008- organising the data in property register of protected and to-be protected lands, with regard to the territories to be given to the management of directorates of conservation areas; - researches establishing nature conservation and landscape protection actions; - supervising and redeeming easement and property rights (special hunting and fishing grounds subject to conservation priorities); - operation of overall programmes to ensure the conservation of biodiversity; - accepting the national biodiversity strategy and action programme (NBSAP); - designation and protection of the national ecological network; - drawing up and proclaiming the list of natural areas; - the extension of the National Agri-Environmental Programme in favour of preserving natural assets; - carrying out monitoring with the aim of nature conservation; - reinforcing the conservation and welfare functions of forests; - introducing the institutions of compensation and subsidies; - involving non-governmental organizations and local authorities to fulfil public nature conservation tasks; - surveying the particular landscape features, ensuring their protection, increasing the efficiency of general landscape protection; - elaborating and accomplishing protection plans for the preservation of stocks of endangered species; - preservation and surveying caves and geological and geo-morphological resources; - staff increase at regional bodies of nature conservation; - maintenance and development of information and registration systems of nature conservation; - building up the system of Natura 2000 in accordance with EU-accession, as well as the accomplishment of the conservation tasks of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union; - full accomplishment of the obligations of international conventions ratified by Hungary, as follows o the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as water fowl habitat, o the World Heritage Convention, o the Washington Convention on the international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, o the Bonn Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, o the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats,110 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 o implementation of the tasks relating to the Convention adopted for the conservation of biodiversity in Hungary; - enhancement of social awareness of nature conservation; - elaboration and accomplishment of a communication strategy; - elaboration of the concept of ecotourism, development of services; - interpretation of nature conservation areas and educational work; - organizing programmes as nature conservation days; - environmental protection in schooling and education, environmental approach as well as development of public relations; - constructing and making continuously up-to-date home-pages.111 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Means of implementation Legal instruments Fulfilment of legislative obligations resulting from Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, as well as the implementation of the tasks of legislation modernization and community legal harmonization. Provision of resources Nature conservation and landscape protection are prominent tasks of central and local governments, but, fortunately, different social and professional organizations, the institutions of local authorities and private persons have increasingly been taking part in implementing these tasks in Hungary as well. For accomplishing the tasks of nature conservation primarily national sources must be applied. The National Nature Conservation Master Plan specifies in detail how much of the sources are necessary for the particular tasks. (The origin of the sources is included in the appropriate chapters of National Environmental Programme.) As for the national sources, it is important to underline that they are to be indicated not exclusively in the budget of the Ministry of Environment and Water, but in that of other Ministries, depending on the character of the task. The given demands for sources apply to the optimal (complete) implementation of the tasks; in case of narrow resources they must be proportionally reduced and specified in one-year-plans. Raising public support At the beginning of human activity, natural resources were seemingly unrestrictedly at our disposal and they were accordingly exploited. On account of several thousand years of human activities, our environment has changed to a great extent; we have to revaluate significantly our relations to natural resources these days. It is essential that we profoundly influence the environmental-awareness partly of the present, but principally of the next generation, making ecological attitude natural and ordinary. The existing infrastructure of Hungarian nature conservation provides an excellent opportunity for this. 112 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.1 Introduction The conservation of biological and landscape diversity has become a major issue of environmental policy on both global and European levels for the past few decades. The fact that nature conservation and environmental protection have come into prominence was motivated by different factors, first of all, by the recognition that we are parts of the biological diversity ourselves. The other main aspect is economic interest, since our natural resources provide invaluable sources of food and renewable energy for the rapidly growing population of the Earth, as well as raw material ensuring the living of billions of people. At the same time, it is more and more recognized that diversity plays a primary role also in the processes influencing the status of the environment, from global warming through floods and drought to affecting the status and quality of regional, local, and even residential environments. Accordingly, the conservation of natural and biological diversity can no longer be only held as the task of environmental protection these days, but it must be integrated into every activity with an effect on the environment. The results and successes achieved in the conservation and improvement of biodiversity, beyond the universal purpose of nature conservation, either directly or indirectly, in the short or long term, are surely to every social and economic group’s and individual’s advantage. The sectoral integration of nature conservation policies is of prime importance in all of the developed countries nowadays. It is not only because the activity and strength of the nature conservation staff of state or local authorities and NGOs are never sufficient alone for coping with all the problems of nature conservation and environmental protection, but also because the factors endangering the preservation of natural heritage emerge in more and more fields. For instance, such an unfavourable process is the drastic decrease of the proportion of natural habitats. Owing to the growing and differentiating demands for exploitation of areas, the habitats of wildlife have shrunk to their fraction and these days they are confined to economically not exploitable areas. The interconnections among natural habitats have been dangerously dwindling owing to the ‘ecological barrier’ effect of the exploited areas being wedged in, and the majority of natural habitats have been fragmented and isolated. On account of certain ways of exploitation (such as river regulation, flood control, drainage operations) a great number of particular types of once spacious habitats have changed or their areas significantly decreased in Hungary. Environmental damage (water pollution, pollution of soil, air pollution, noise pollution, etc.) has further deteriorated the conditions of wildlife. The decrease of natural habitats and wildlife has a connection with particular sectoral activities. However, enforcement of the113 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 interests of nature conservation and environmental protection in sectoral policies was not duly realized for decades, since these questions were not properly accentuated during decision-making. In the early 1990s, the downturn of industrial activity and the decline of large-scale agricultural production all in all favoured the regeneration of our natural environment and preservation of natural and landscape assets. With economic recovery, more up-to-date technologies were introduced, the application of which generally decreased environmental damage and the pollution of the natural environment, as opposed to the previous practice. The application of new legal and economic regulators, integrating the requirements of the EU, has also significantly contributed to these improving tendencies. On the other hand, economic recovery involved new dangers as well. The agriculture and sylviculture, characteristic in the majority of the country and the proprietary structure of management and use underwent radical changes, the necessary redistribution of landed property did not take place, the majority of the present farmers did not have the necessary knowledge on modern environmental protection, and, because of the lack of capital, obtaining profit in the short run came into prominence. The policy on the exploitation of the areas of the under-funded local authorities – urging so-called green-field investments and infrastructural developments scheduled within the scope of regional development policies – entailed the loss of further parts of natural or semi-natural areas. All these together affected the possibilities to enforce the interests of nature conservation disadvantageously. The history of Hungarian nature conservation can be divided into clearly distinct periods. Initially, the protection of endangered species and preserving the areas of special natural assets was the practice applied all over the world (and so was in Hungary); later the more extensive natural areas, rich in resources and bearing considerable biological diversity, were also designated. During the past three decades, the system of protected natural areas has been established. By this time it has become obvious that, because of human activity transforming areas, the destruction of nature is of such an extent that it is no longer sufficient to declare the individual species endangered, or to establish and maintain the system of nature conservation areas. If we wish to stop the further decline of natural assets to stop, either in Hungary or in Europe, we urgently have to change over to exploiting natural resources in a sustainable way. This means that the aspects of nature conservation must be incorporated into the strategies, long and short term plans and practical activities of each sector. This approach corresponds to the Sustainable Development Strategy and to the 6th Environment Action Programme as well. In course of EU accession, the modification of the system of environmental impact assessment, the jointly highlighted new agrarian environmental programme and rural development, the community framework directive pervading completely water114 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 management and enhancing ecological requirements, as well as the introduction of nature conservation directives open up new prospects for nature conservation. In 2004, Hungary will become a member of the European Union. Meeting the requirements of European Union laws will entail a great number of new tasks for nature conservation. On the basis of Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive), as well as Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive) the system of Natura 2000 sites, natural areas of community importance must be determined. The implementation of the agreement on the international trade of endangered species of wild fauna and flora in Hungary must also be tailored to the regulations of the EU, which requires considerable institutional development. It is indispensable for nature conservation to establish its strategy, to draw up its professional policy for utilizing new opportunities, enforcing its interests, preserving Hungary’s special natural and landscape assets, and for reaching the necessary social consensus to realize the above tasks. Article 53 of Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation stipulates the elaboration of the National Nature Conservation Master Plan (NNCMP) as a part of NEP, laying down its requirements. The NNCMP is the highest level comprehensive strategy of nature conservation activities in Hungary. The National Nature Conservation Master Plan 1997-2002, adopted by Resolution 83/1997 of 1997 (26.09.) of Parliament laid down the major directions and priorities of nature conservation for six years. In view of the fundamental significance of NNCMP, and as an effect of this, during its six years of operation, considerable results were achieved, but on the other hand, there are backlogs and shortcomings in a number of fields. The National Natural Conservation Master Plan 2003-2008 was carried out as the immediate continuation of NNCMP 1997-2002, but with a remarkably different structure. This latter document takes account of the most important results achieved in the past six years, draws up the factors weakening the special field of nature conservation and lays down the implementation of rolled-over tasks. The most significant part of the National Nature Conservation Master Plan 2003- 2008 draws up the priorities and tasks of another six-year period, and determines the sources indispensable for their implementation. In the period of 2003-2008 the process of site designation must be accelerated, the system of Natura 2000 as well as the ecological network must be established, and the National Agri-Environmental Programme must be extended. In the National Forest Strategy, under development, the remarkable changes in the requirements of society as regards forests must115 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 explicitly be drawn up, enhancing the nature conservation and welfare role of forests. Declaring species and areas protected, working out and accomplishing species action plans and regenerating the original status of damaged habitats are special means of nature conservation. If we wish the goals of nature conservation on the most valuable areas proceed, it is expedient to nationalize the preserved natural areas, to pursue a special value-preserving activity and nature conservation administration. Creating the conditions of property management in accordance with nature conservation is one of the most important tasks of the period of NNCMP 2003-2008. Through the cumulative effects of these measures it is expectable to succeed in preventing natural areas and biodiversity from further decrease. However, all this requires well-adjusted sectoral preparation, intersectoral and social reconciliation. It is an essential need to specify the criteria of nature conservation aiming at the prevention of further problems, protection of existing assets and restoration of assets that can still be saved in a way that we obtain the support and assistance of society to enforce the interests of nature conservation. It is obvious these days that the state with its institutions, local authorities, civil organizations, research institutes, universities, schools and citizens – that is all of us – are participants in nature conservation. Thus it is an important goal that in the forthcoming years – in favour of a more effective representation of the interests of nature conservation – co-operation among the participants of economic life, special fields represented by different ministries and members of civil communities be improved. 5.2 The Status of Nature in Hungary Although the territory of Hungary is hardly 1 per cent of that of Europe, the richness of our natural assets greatly exceeds this proportion. Between the Carpathians, the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, the geographical regions of our country situated in the central and western parts of the Carpathian Basin - except the Transdanubian Mountains – continue beyond the borders, and this fact enhances the significance of international co-operation in nature conservation as well. The basin- character greatly affects both climate and the drainage network. Due to the different climatic effects and geographical circumstances the phytogeography and zoogeography of the country is most diversified. There are wet-continental effects from north-west, considerable Atlantic effects from the west, Mediterranean effects from the south and dry-continental effects from the east and south-east. Accordingly, there is a great number of species of plants and animals of Atlantic, sub-Atlantic, Mediterranean, Illyrian, continental, Alpine, and Carpathian origin that live in our country. Thus, our flora and fauna are greatly varied; we have a116 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 significant biodiversity. Consequently, our richness can be explained by the biogeographic situation of the Carpathian Basin, and the concurrence of different territories of flora and fauna. According to our present-day knowledge, in Hungary there are approximately 600 species of mosses, 2,200 species of vascular plants, 2,500 species of fungi and 42,000 species of animals today. As a result of the geographical isolation of the Carpathian Basin for millions of years, there are also a number of endemic species. Their proportion is especially high among invertebrate animals of little motility, such as land snails (at Carpathian Basin-level approximately 30 per cent), certain arachnoids, millipedes, flightless ground-beetles, weevils, etc. (approximately 10 per cent), but also 2 per cent of Hungarian flora exists exclusively in the Carpathian Basin. The location of our country in the Carpathian Basin does not only entail diversity but also a special uniformity and uniqueness. We have a specifically Hungarian biogeographic region, the Pannonian region (Pannonicum). The recognition of the Pannonian region as an independent biogeographic region by the European Union marks that we contribute to the natural heritage of the European Union with a considerable amount of natural assets. Moreover, our geographic location supposes the continuity of an organic connection with the surrounding biogeographic regions, which is of special importance not only for us but also for Europe. The transboundary ecological connections – like ecological corridors – ensure sources for naturalization and resettling of wildlife to natural habitats, provide opportunities for regular migration as well as survival of genetic diversity. However, this source crucially depends on the processes going on in the connected bio-geographic regions. That is why international, and thus borderland co-operation aiming at the protection of natural assets has great significance. An attribute of the Pannonian region is the climatic and geological diversity, which contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally rich flora and fauna. For example, the Pannonian plains and hills hold special wooded steppe vegetation akin to the vegetation of south-western and eastern areas. The western border of the range of a number of species of eastern wooded steppe is Pannonian loess-steppe (such as Crambe tataria and western mole-rat). These species occur in the clearings and edges of open oak woodlands belonging to the Euro-Siberian wooded steppe. On the lowland sands – as the main species of Pannonian wooded steppe – mixed stands of sub-Mediterranean downy oak and European common oak have subsisted. The steppe component here is represented by sandy steppe-grasslands, and on the driest sand-hills by open sand-grasses, rich in endemic and subendemic species (characteristic species are the endemic Hungarian fescue-grass and Dianthus diutinus; a subendemic Pannonian species is Colchicum arenarium).117 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The hard ground of the low parts of lowlands have become more alkaline due to water-table changes through the effects of continental climate, river regulations, and the land-drainage of flood zones, and are characterised by the presence of Pannonian saline steppes and salt-marshes. Pannonian saline steppes, as well as saline oak- woods, are akin to Euro-Siberian saline wooded steppe vegetation. The open parts of dry sand-grasses and the white sodic land maintain Pannonian endemic and subendemic species, such as Lepidium crassifolium and Pannonic seablite. Both in Central Europe and in the Carpathian Basin, bogs are among the most endangered habitats, which have usually been drained, degraded and reduced owing to hundreds of years of drainage and waterworks. The rocky areas of Pannonian mountains of medium height are especially rich habitats. The dolomite- and limestone surfaces of Hungarian mountains of medium height are among the oldest land terrains in Central Europe, some of them have been lands since the middle of the Tertiary era. Accordingly, a number of endemic species have evolved and survived in these areas. Seseli leucospermum, Dolomitic Flax, Onosma tornense and Lumnitzer Pink live nowhere else in the world but in the open south-facing Pannonian rock grasslands. On the southern slopes of the Pannonian mountains of medium height and under the particularly species-rich zone of rock grasslands, Pannonian slope-steppes and slopes with rock grasses can be found. On the hills there are extensive Pannonian Turkey oak woodlands. Unfortunately, only few old, close-to-natural, species-rich and well-structured forests remain today. The fact that the Carpathian Basin was on the edge of glaciation during the last glacial period that finished approximately 10,000 years ago, also largely contributed to the mosaic character of habitats and the significant exuberance in species. In consequence, the northern species going to the south because of the ice were able to get to this area and, at the same time, after warming, some of them stayed there in the cold or cool corners and with their presence they make our wildlife richer. After the glacial period, a number of species that had moved to the southern, warmer areas returned to the Carpathian Basin, and so it was not only the cold-loving species staying here, but also the thermophilous species returning that contributed to the exuberance of our wildlife. Additionally, a lot of plant species (and probably a number of invertebrates as well) survived the glacial period on the warm, southern slopes – some of them became independent species there. One example of them is the above mentioned Dolomitic Flax, which cannot be found anywhere else but in Hungary, near Budapest. The richness of our natural heritage is further increased by the diversity of the ‘inanimate’ assets of nature. The various types of rocks, forming in different cycles under different formation conditions, rock-forming minerals, fossils, as well as unique formations and associations of formations, created by various geomorphological forces keep the memories of several hundred million years of118 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 geohistory of the Carpathian Basin, and of the evolution of wildlife, and, as mineral raw materials serve the economy as non-renewable natural resources. The karst areas stand out among the geological and geomorphological assets: there can also be found caves of different sizes and types under the typical surface forms. According to our present day knowledge, there are approximately 3,700 caves in Hungary, the aggregate length of their passages is as much as 200 km. The proportion of thermal caves is remarkably high even in international comparison, and the location of the expansive cave-systems in Budapest under the living space of the capital is unrivalled in the world. Owing to the water seeping and flowing in through gully-holes, a total of almost 1800 km2 open karst area functions as the supply area for our karst waters, which constitute a considerable part of our subsurface water-resources. The droughty weather of the past few decades and the effects of mining water- intakes, however, did not only cause changes in the hydrological budget of karst areas: a number of the nearly 4,300 natural springs registered in the 1960s have dried up or have become seasonal, thus endangering the attached ecosystems. Further characteristic examples of the intertwining of geomorphological and other assets (including landscapes, cultural history and habitats) are the tumuli and earthen fortifications. The number of the former exceeds 1,600, while that of the latter is nearly 1,000, but, because of intensive land-utilization, only some of them remained in good status of preservation these days. Human activity in the Carpathian Basin has had a remarkable effect on nature for a long time. This fact is supremely shown perhaps by the decrease in the extent of forested areas. Before human activities, the extension of forests was about 85 per cent in this area, which decreased to 60 per cent by the time of the Hungarian conquest, and this decrease lasted as long as the beginning of the 20th century. At present, 19.2 per cent of Hungary’s territory is covered by forests. A quarter of Hungary’s present territory was flood area just 150 years ago, now the extension of the flood-plains of the rivers, confined between dykes, is less than 2 per cent of the whole territory of our country. In the past 100 years, transformation for agricultural purposes has become general, and due to this, half of the country’s territory is now used as plough-land. However, Hungary is much richer in natural assets than the countries situated in the western part of our continent, where natural conditions and biodiversity are also poorer owing to the major alteration of the landscape caused by human activity. Of course, this fact should not satisfy us, as due to intensive human utilization and pressures a significant proportion of natural habitats has perished or fragmented in Hungary, too – despite the efforts of nature conservation. Species have been pushed back to territories much smaller than their original habitats were, to natural and semi-119 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 natural refuges, or some of them were compelled to live in artificial or degraded habitats. The proportion of semi-natural areas, comparatively less hit by human activity, has decreased to 15-16 per cent on European average as a result of unfavourable processes. This proportion is much better in our country; semi-natural areas amount to about 30 per cent. The natural living world in Hungary, which, in comparison with other European countries, is still in a remarkably good status despite the manifold alterations, forms a considerable part of our natural assets. It is characteristic of our natural territories that – mainly due to the landscape altering activity of humans – they are of small range and their location is mosaic-like. Consequently, their survival generally requires continuous and often special intervention. Their preservation is greatly influenced by human activity prevailing in and around reserves, depending on the land use characterizing the surroundings of semi-natural areas. Now it is an established fact that these isolated sites, for example ‘ex lege’ protected sites, some of which have practically no extension, can only be saved or simply preserved with much greater effort and resources if they are managed separately from their surroundings rather than properly managing their environment, as well. Since the 1990s this new approach has spread more and more in Europe, and marked qualitative change and a new epoch in nature conservation policy. The new attitude to nature conservation increasingly concentrates on the preservation of biodiversity, and its strategy sets the target of preserving the variety of wildlife and the diversity of species and associations in a coherent system. Although in our country conservation efforts have existed for a long time, and the establishment of the network of outstanding nature reserves has been making progress (though is not finished at all), the conservation of biodiversity still implies more. Increasingly greater attention has been focusing on ordinary communities, agricultural and forest landscapes and cultivated areas. It is obvious that our natural assets can be preserved together with their environment in harmony with it.5.3 Implementation and Roll-Over Tasks of the First National Nature Conservation Master Plan (1997-2002) 5.3.1 Legislative Obligations from Act LIII of 1996 on Nature Conservation and Updating Nature Conservation Law One of the yardsticks of the success or failure of a sector is how far it represents the interests of the given professional area in the legislation, and to what extent the regulations formulated are feasible in practical life. The first National Nature Conservation Master Plan was irregular, as it was drafted simultaneously with the120 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Act LIII of 1996 on Nature Conservation - though it was adopted by Parliament within the framework of the National Environmental Programme (NEP) only a year after. Due to the infancy of this type of work, the Master Plan fails to specify clear- cut nature conservation priorities for the period between 1997 and 2002. Yet it would have been desperately needed as the tasks deriving from the act on nature conservation and from the Master Plan were emerging simultaneously. The efficiency of the nature conservation sector is rather difficult to judge, as it has an increasing influence on preserving biological and land diversity, protecting inanimate natural assets and managing the utilisation of natural resources, yet by itself, without appropriate support, interest and motivation system of connected sectors, it is unable to represent efficiently and in a form laid down by legal regulations the protection and sustainable utilisation of natural resources. Due to the above facts, despite the results of nature conservation, the past planning period left behind tasks that have not or only partly been implemented, and are to be performed in the period of the second National Nature Conservation Master Plan (2003-2008). The legislative obligations of Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation include the issue of nine governmental regulations, of which six have already entered into force, and three are still missing. From the latter ones the draft of one regulation has been completed (it is under intersectoral co-ordination) and two are at the stage of technical preparation. Out of the three missing legal regulations two are expressively of economic nature. Highlight should be given to the draft legal regulation on state subsidies for nature conservation, on agriculture and sylviculture restrictions imposed because of nature conservation, and on payment of damages in the case of prohibition, whose promulgation is delayed due to conflict of interests among ministries. The passing of this decree – especially on the threshold of EU accession – cannot be further delayed. The Act grants authorisation for the issue of ministerial decrees at twenty regulation points. In the past period there have been altogether 9 ministerial decrees containing enforcement rules, 44 decrees declaring protection and 9 decrees declaring forest reserves (in total 62) that entered into force. There are five activities laid down by the Act whose execution is not yet covered by a legal regulation. Their completion stages are varying from technical preparation to intersectoral co-ordination. Based on the liabilities as deriving from the Act there are five areas where joint ministerial decrees are required – of which three have come into effect. Out of the missing decrees the prerequisite to publish a MEW-MARD decree on the list of natural areas is the achievement of professional accord among the ministries. (The list of legal regulations published and missing is included in the Appendix.)121 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008There are a number of obligations, which entail activities other than of pure legislative nature. In several cases it is necessary to distribute lists, which are published in most cases as ministerial bulletins. Due to mandatory intersectoral co- ordination, similar difficulties shall be expected as in the course of accepting a ‘regular’ decree (e.g. lists of bogs, salt lakes, tumuli, earthen fortifications). As deriving from EU accession and the updating of nature conservation legislation, further legal regulations have been passed (animal protection, accommodation of animals at zoological gardens, announcement of EU list of species, etc). In the period of 2003-2008 a highlighted target is to complete all implementation decrees of the Act that has already been in effect in the past six years. 5.3.2 Designation of Protected and Non-protected Natural Areas 5.3.2.1 Procedures for declaration of protection Today, 9.2 per cent of the territory of Hungary is natural area protected by individual legal regulations. The number and extension of protected natural areas have increased – though not at the desired rate. Although the procedures related to site designation balked in 1998-1999, the increase as compared to the extent of protected natural areas of national or local importance registered in year 1997 protected by individual legal regulations was approximately 70,000 hectares. The number and extent of protected natural areas have increased by a rate lower than expected and remain under the 10 per cent set as a target for 2002; especially the proportion of areas in the category of strict protection is adversely small. This is attributed to several key aspects, like co-ordination procedures becoming ever more complicated, lags in completing the management plans for nature conservation which are set as a precondition to declaration of preservation, difficulty of obtaining data on actual real estate registration, and lack of legal and economic regulators aimed to counter-balance the prohibitions and limitations related to site designation of preservation, resistance of the owners, and attitude of wait and see in the hope of land price increase upon EU accession.122 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Number (pc) Area (ha) From this strictly Nature conservation category protected (ha) 1997 1999 2002 1997 1999 2002 1997 1999 2002 National parks 9 9 10 407 445 440 800 484 883 67 489 76 700 79 821Nature reserve zones 35 38 36 319 830 349 200 309 817 30 396 31 500 28 608Nature conservation 138 140 142 25 403 25 800 25 927 1 338 1 300 1 317 areas of national significance Natural monuments of 1 1 1 ------national significance Natural areas of 183 188 189 752 678 815 800 820 627 99 223 109 500 109 746 national significance, protected by individual statute in totalProtected natural areas 1 067 1 210 1 225 35 800 33 900 36 700 - - - of local significance Protected natural areas 1 250 1 398 1 414 788 478 849 700 857 327 99 223 109 500 109 746 in total ** The table does not include the ‘ex lege’ protected natural areas, the survey of which has not been fully completed. The exact data of the areas shall be available after the distribution of the topographical lot numbers including ‘ex lege’ protected areas. In accordance with the estimated data the ratio of protected natural areas in this way is about 9.9 per cent at present. Data equivalence for nature conservation areas in property, real estate and land registration is still insufficient. The protected natural areas are not available in digital map form at the land registry offices, and nature conservation organisations have no proper online connection to land registry offices. A government level solution for setting up and using a country-wide, digitalised real estate registration system is necessitated by future up-to-date and quick administration, completion and implementation of action plans. Since the acceleration of the national cadastral programme that provides for digital registration maps is a national interest, the related material conditions for implementation shall be created. Nature conservation and land preservation activities practically affect the country’s whole territory, thus the lack of digital land survey devices on which the execution of public administrative activities are based pose difficulties to the work of nature conservation authorities. 123 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.2.2 Designation of ‘ex lege’ protected bogs and salt lakes In February 2002 two bulletins were issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection containing the list of bogs and salt lakes, KöM Bulletin No. 8005/2001 (MK 156.) and KöM Bulletin No. 8006/2001. (MK 156.). The bulletins were promulgated with significant delay due to the lengthy process of interest enforcement – including real estate registration and identification. The new legal solution of ‘ex lege’ protection – justified by the protection of these highly endangered habitats – has evoked serious social tension, which should be eased in the period between 2003 and 2008. 5.3.2.3 Special categories of land protection Zonation of national parks KTM Decree No. 14/1997. (V.28.) has been published on the zonation of national parks into zone categories. The practical implementation, i.e. classifying specific national parks into zones, has only been partial, primarily due to the difficulties of co-ordination. Buffer zones Despite the opportunity as provided by law, the designation of buffer zones has failed to take place at most places (with the exception of the buffer zone for world heritage). Due to the lack of designation, it is impossible to enforce the justified structural goals in the buffer zones, and therefore the preservation of protected natural areas is not sufficiently guaranteed (see green field investments spreading, biting into downtown areas gaining ground). National ecological network The signatory countries to the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) initiated by the European Commission have decided within the framework of the strategy to build up the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN), as the system of national ecological networks. The member countries have to designate their own networks by 2005. This liability has been fulfilled by Hungary in line with the Directive approved in Geneva in 1999, with consideration to the already existing international conventions. The plans for regional ecological networks under the jurisdiction of national park directorates have also been prepared, their joining have resulted in the digital database at a scale of 1 : 50 000 of the national ecological network. The designation and protection of non-protected areas that form a part of the ecological network (e.g. ecological or green corridors) in the form of district resolutions124 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 has not yet taken place due to the lengthy process related to the promulgation of the ministerial decree on the establishment of ecological networks. Natural areas The survey of natural areas has been to a large extent completed at country level. However, the intersectoral co-ordination that precedes the drawing up of the list on natural areas has come to a halt, while the site surveys have also lost their timeliness. In the designation of these areas actual progress has been the promulgation of the legal regulation on management of flood-plains (see Government Regulation No. 46/1999 (III.18.) on the use and utilisation of flood-plains, shore strips, flooded areas and areas endangered by springing waters). System of Environmentally Sensitive Areas The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) have been defined and designated by each national park directorate (on their own area of competency) in three categories – highly important, important, and planned ESA. In the country’s territory there are in total 30 highly important, 20 important and 11 planned ESAs designated on land under extensive cultivation, where the preservation and maintenance of nature- friendly cultivation methods serve the protection of habitats and species. The KöM- MARD joint Ministerial Decree No. 2/2002. (I.23.) on the regulation of Environmentally Sensitive Areas has entered into force. The start-up of programmes required for the introduction of the system has been less smooth than expected, due to insufficient intersectoral co-ordination and financial resources. A key task of the next period is to elaborate detailed programme packages for new areas. Sanctuary oxbows Thanks to Parliament initiative, the process of designating and registering sanctuary oxbows has been completed along the Danube and Tisza. The transfer of designated sanctuary oxbows to the relevant national park directorates for property management has been closed in the Tisza Valley, while still going on along the Danube. Forest reserve network Section (3) Article 29 of Act has introduced as a supplementary category of protected natural areas the term of forest reserve. As a result of over 10 years of preparatory work, there have been 63 forest reserve areas designated (13,101 ha) up to now with the agreement of scientific organisations, sylviculture authorities and sylviculturists. Out of the areas designated for forest reserves 9 ministerial decrees have declared 49 protected natural areas to be forest reserves (9,731 ha). For further 14 – partly non-protected – natural areas designated for forest reserves, preparation for the promulgation of a ministerial decree on the declaration is in process. The125 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 delay is due to the lack of an action plan to be elaborated as preparatory step for declaration of preservation, and the lengthy process related to the division of real estates. A technical problem connected to the designation is that on the basis of the evaluation by forest communities, on the areas designated for forest reserves, specific communities (e.g. beeches, Downy Oaks, rocky forests) are present in a larger proportion than their country-level presence, while the Turkey oaks considered to be a special Hungarian community are present in the already designated areas in a much lower proportion than expectable. The forest stands of the reserves are older than the national average, and mainly comprise over 100 year old beeches and Downy Oaks. To solve the above technical problem, the extension of the forest reserve network is justified. Scientific and biosphere reserves The creation of scientific reserves has not been among the top priorities, though there has been an initiative for the designation of such a network. In the case of biosphere reserves it is essential to update legal evaluation and designate lagging core areas. Both the existing reserves and the ones proposed as potential new reserve are to be published according to a uniform legal regulation, with updated real estate registry. Moreover, it is important in the management of biosphere reserves to ensure the enforcement of the provisions as laid down by the Seville Decision. 5.3.2.4 Restoration of the protection level of protected natural areas Based on Constitutional Court Resolution No. 28/1994. (V.20.), Act No. XCIII of 1995 on restoring the protection level of protected natural areas has made it possible to restore the protection level of specific nature reserves and areas planned for preservation, as secured by legal regulations. Out of the protected areas and areas planned for preservation, the Act provides for the transfer of those areas that were formerly in co-operative ownership or use, to the ownership of the Hungarian State (State Treasury) and to the property management of national park directorates. The dispossessions (land purchases) started in 1996. In the first three years the majority of sellers were co-operatives, while in the past years they have been private individuals. A great achievement with decisive impact in the long run on domestic nature conservation is that over the past seven years the procurement of over 124,000 hectares of natural areas deserving high protection level has been carried out. The purchase of land as stipulated by law (more than 250,000 hectares) should have been carried out in 6 years. Land purchases have suffered a slow-back especially in the past 3-4 years. The lag is due to restricted annual resources, different interpretations of law, internal resolutions slowing down execution, and the difficulties of intersectoral co-ordination. 126 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.2.5 Register of protected natural areas and protected natural assets Based on KTM Decree No. 13/1997. (V.28.) on the registration of protected natural areas and protected natural assets the Ministry of Environment and Water is responsible for keeping a registry of protected areas and protected natural assets. Keeping the register records allows the Ministry’s reporting obligations to be fulfilled. The data kept in the register are regularly used as reference figures at various decision-making levels. The data in the register of protected natural assets are organised into a data base, but it is also necessary to elaborate the supplements to the registry. The most important supplement to the register of protected natural areas is the IT programme supported, authentic property data base, relying on the property registration of the land registry offices. The software has been updated for the sake of enhanced accuracy of registration. The national park directorates have been keeping their property registration since July 2001 according to a more up-to-date registration system. With fulfilment of their year-end reporting liabilities, following statistical aggregation and analysis the property registration has also reached a more up-to-date status creating a more accurate than ever information background for decision- making. Another key element of the supplement to the register is the map registration which is based on real estate registry maps. In 1999-2000, 80-90 per cent of the map portfolios on protected natural areas of national importance, containing land registration numbers, of M = 1 : 10 000 scale, has been obtained, and border lines have been marked. Further ongoing work is required by completing, fine-tuning and updating data portfolios. In the course of the planning period we envisage to gradually obtain the ground maps of national digital real-estate registration.5.3.3 Wildlife Protection 5.3.3.1 EU accession – law harmonisation The protection of wildlife is the backbone of nature conservation, being one of its most important lines. The primary task of the past period and the future is preparation for EU accession. The European Union Birds Directive and Habitats Directive have been to a large extent transposed into national legislation. To protect a part of the species of European importance, the development of action plans has been started, and progress has been made in surveying the location of these species’ habitats where – under appropriate protection and management - relatively strong and in the long run sustainable populations can be expected. The list of protected127 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 native species has been extended with the protected fauna and flora of Community level importance. Summary table of the protected natural assets2 Name Protected Highly protected Total Mosses 78 0 78 Ferns 42 1 43 Gymnospermae 0 1 1 Angiospermae 512 61 573 Plants in total: 632 63 695 Bivalves 2 0 2 Snails 41 1 42 Centipedes 1 0 1 Crustaceans 1 0 1 Spiders 15 0 15 Insects 390 31 421 Invertebrates in total: 450 32 482 Cyclostomes 0 2 2 Fishes 27 5 32 Amphibians 18 0 18 Reptiles 12 3 15 Birds 280 81 361 Mammals 41 14 55 Vertebrates in total: 378 105 483 Animals in total: 828 137 965 Protected species in total: 1460 200 1660Out of the 695 protected native plant species, 63 enjoy strict protection. A new element is the protection of the over 50 terrestrial mosses (up to 2001 only the few species of peat moss known in our country enjoyed protection). The number of protected animal species is currently 965, among them 137 are under strict protection. It is the fist time in Hungarian legal practice that biocenoses that are essential in respect of the operation of ecosystems have also become protected, like the ant-hills of six ant species representing special assets. In connection with EU law harmonisation we have announced in the form of national legal regulation the community protection of 1,066 species in total, 498 plant and 568 animal species (the animal species are made up of 22 molluscs, 242 Source: The KöM Decree No. 13/2001. (V.9.) KöM of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the protected and strictly protected plant and animal species, on the circle of strictly protected caves and the publication of plant and animal species significant in the European Community from nature conservation aspect.128 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 arthropods, 1 echinoderm, 7 fish, 38 amphibians, 70 reptiles, 330 birds and 76 mammal species). For the protection of specific plant and animal species proposed into the EU Habitats Directive, Appendix II, programmes co-ordinated by the national park directorates have commenced. These programmes have covered the appraisal and in some cases monitoring of populations, the development of a protection programme, and outlining and creating protective conditions. In many cases universities, research institutes and civil nature conservation organisations have also been involved in the execution of activities. The activities related to the implementation of the directives have been carried out within the framework of a PHARE project: the revision, extension and improvement of the existing CORINE Biotopes national data base has been realised by compiling the list of proposed sites of Community interest under the Habitats Directive. Based on the requirements as laid down by the Birds Directive, a proposal has been made on the designation of special protection areas being part of the Natura 2000 network, and on the development of a strategy and action plan serving their conservation. Hungary entered the EU LIFE Nature Programme in 2001, thus it has been opened to Hungarian applicants. The first domestic winner was the programme on protecting the Hungarian wolf and lynx populations (under the co-ordination of the St. Stephen’s University), the execution of which has been started with the involvement of experts from the relevant national parks. The other four winning LIFE projects have been the application submitted for protecting the habitats of Angelica plaustris (E-misszió Association for Nature and Environmental Protection), protecting the imperial eagle (Hungarian Ornithology and Nature Conservation Association), rehabilitating the local watershed areas of Hortobágy (Hortobágy National Park Directorate), and for establishing the wetland habitats planned in the district of the ‘Karácsonyfok’ of Vókonya - Hortobágy (Hortobágy Nature Conservation Association and Hortobágy National Park Directorate). The LIFE-programme for revitalising the habitats of the Tisza River, as developed by the Hungarian and Austrian organisation of WWF will also be implemented in Hungary. Though Hungarian legislation already provides for the general protection of animal and plant species, which are significant in the European Community, the provisions on site protection have not been finalised in respect of either the Birds Directive or the Habitats Directive: designation of sites, form and methods of protection. The elimination of delay in law harmonisation is among the most urgent tasks. 129 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The amendment of national legislation on the enforcement of the Washington Convention as well as its elevation to government regulation level has taken place. With this we have fulfilled our liability for EU legal approximation. Meanwhile a delay has emerged in respect of nature conservation/ecological activities deriving from the EU Water Framework Directive. Since harmonisation tasks affect several sectors, co-ordination difficulties have emerged that led to delays in outlining the way how the nature conservation sector can be involved in the preparatory work. 5.3.3.2 Protection of endangered species and communities The populations of certain animal species have been successfully stabilised and increased. Likewise, between 1996 and 2000 the Hungarian population of White- tailed Eagles endangered throughout Europe grew from 54 to 83 pairs, and the population of the globally endangered Imperial Eagle grew from 48 to 54 pairs. The seriously threatened population of ‘Saker’ Falcons and Rollers have also increased. At the same time, no meaningful progress has been achieved in respect of Great Bustard protection. Unfortunately further decrease has been observed in the population of Danubian Meadow Vipers, a vertebrate belonging to our most endangered assets, whose protection is to be treated in the future as a priority. Thanks to habitat protection, the populations of some endangered bat species – like the Pond Bat, the Greater Horseshoe Bat and the Geoffroy’s Bat – have shown a slight increase. However, no progress has been made in the protection of invertebrates, despite the fact that for instance a number of butterfly species would need special protective measures. Recently in Hungary, plant species new to the Hungarian flora or even to science (e.g. Hammarbya paludosa, Nepeta parviflora, Epipactis tallosii) have been identified. A number of new sites of already well-known protected plants have been discovered. Beside nature conservation and floristic research activities, vegetation research has also gained a new momentum, which – beyond its scientific importance – has contributed to creating the basis for the designation of Natura 2000 sites. A major summary work of Hungary’s vegetation research is the Red Book on Plant Communities in Hungary published in 1999. The past period has seen the commencement of a quite thorough exploration into Hungarian botanical assets (Intensive Botanical Data Collection programme [IBOA]; national botanical survey commenced within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan). No success has been achieved in stabilising - to a satisfactory extent - the populations and habitats of a few plant species of high nature conservation significance – like the Dolomitic Flax. In the future, in line with international130 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 expectations, protection plans are to be elaborated and implemented for the species that are globally endangered as well, and whose preservation primarily rests with Hungary. 5.3.4 International Commitments 5.3.4.1 International conventions In relation to the domestic enforcement of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat, Hungary in the past 6 years has reported eight new areas for taking up into the list of wetland habitats of international significance, including the most recently designated Ipoly Valley and Baradla Cave system. With this the number of Ramsar sites has increased to 21 (their total area is 150,000 hectares). A joint Ramsar site extending to several countries, planned in the area of the Upper Tisza River is just before announcement. The timely announcement of the designated areas and the international submission on transboundary sites are being slowed down by the difficulties of real estate registration falling on the preparatory bodies. The implementation of the World Heritage Convention on protecting the world’s cultural and natural heritage is primarily the responsibility of MNCH in Hungary. The submission of proposals on natural and cultural landscape sites, as well as the protection and management thereof fall into the responsibility of MEW. In Hungary 8 cultural sites and 1 natural site have been added to the list of world heritage. Our single world heritage of purely natural category – shared with Slovakia - is the caves of the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. The Hortobágy National Park and the Fertő (Lake Neusiedl) Region (Hungarian and Austrian territory together) belong, according to the terminology of UNESCO, to the category of ‘cultural landscapes’. Also in the cultural landscape category – as an example of man and nature living in harmony – this honourable title was awarded to the Tokaj Wine Region in year 2002. The past period has seen an increase in the trading of livestock, and products and derivatives produced from animals that fall under the effect of the Washington Convention on the international trade of endangered wild animal and plant species. The regulation and control thereof represent an increasing task, which has already been taken into account by the new implementation decree – Government Decree No. 271/2002. (XII.20.). As a result, the number of reports, which called for the introduction of national level CITES registration, considered significant also at European level has greatly increased. In line with the agreement between the Nature Conservation Authority of Ministry of Environment and Water and VPOP (Board of Customs and Excise) regular trainings have been launched for customs officers to131 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 improve the efficiency of implementation. The subsidy granted from the former central environmental fund has been the financial resource for establishing a conservation rescue centre on the area of the Budapest Zoo providing for the accommodation of protected animals, which has significantly eased the accommodation of confiscated live animals of illegal origin. In the national implementation of the Bern Convention on the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats in Europe, an important result is that Hungary in 2001 joined the Emerald Network which is established and operated by the Convention. The shortcoming of the past period is the failure of enforcing the Bern Convention in the form of an appropriate level legislation. In the implementation of the Bonn Convention on the conservation of migratory species, a significant result is represented by the fact that our country has joined both the Agreement on the Conservation of populations of European bats (EUROBATS) and the African-Eurasian migratory waterbird agreement (AEWA). A highly important legislative task of the next period is to create appropriate legal background for the national implementation of the convention. In relation to the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) our most important task is to draw up a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the basic materials of which have already been prepared by the relevant sectors. However, its nine sectoral chapters – agriculture, biotechnology, fishery, sylviculture, water management, hunting, agricultural land, mining, regional development and tourism – have not been finalised; it shall be the task of the next planning period. Another important task deriving from the implementation of the convention is the set-up of a national committee (the responsibilities of the committee are presently performed by the Secretariat for Sustainable Development on a temporary basis. A cardinal point of the convention is the monitoring of biodiversity. This task is partly fulfilled by the national biodiversity monitoring system, yet the state funded monitoring of species that can be counted for sustainable utilisation (like Chamomile and Edible Snail) is missing, and it is to be provided for in the next period. Another task much more difficult to realise is to identify and monitor activities with damaging effect, and to connect the various monitoring systems (e.g. data on flora protection, road supervision). It derives also from the Convention that it is necessary to deal with the ecological impacts of genetically modified organisms, and with prevention, in an institutional form. The Convention on European Landscape Conservation (Florence Convention) has been passed under the auspices of the European Council, to which132 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Hungary has not joined yet. The main reason for it is the lack of clarity regarding the division of activities between ministries (MNCH, MEW) and of primary responsibility. For the successful implementation of the latter two conventions, co- operation between the ministers will have to be improved. 5.3.4.2 Other initiatives Regarding the biosphere-reserve network system operating under the auspices of UNESCO MAB, we do not sufficiently exploit the opportunities granted by the Act and we have not enforced appropriately the principle of sustainable utilisation either. Within the framework of the UNESCO MAB programme, the proposal on extending the biosphere reserve of Lake Fertő to cover the whole Hanság area has already been submitted. The single domestic area reported to be included into the system of the biogenetical reserve initiated by the European Council is Lake Kolon (Kiskunság National Park). Out of the European Diploma holding sites, awarded by the Council of Europe, the management of the ‘Ipolytarnóc’ fossil reserve has been exemplary, a proof of which is that its seed area, the Tarnóc fossil habitat was nominated in early 2003 by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Bükk National Park Directorate to the title of world heritage. Yet out of our European Diploma holding sites, the management and maintenance of Kis- and Nagy-szénás (Buda Hills) at international standard have not been fully implemented. The rehabilitation of these areas will have to be solved in the period starting from 2003. In order to implement the Pan- European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy coordinated by the European Council and UNEP – as part of the Pan-European Ecological Network that applies to Hungary – the National Ecological Network has been designated. In the past period the ministry of environment has complied with the international requirements of the global, Pan-European, EU, and regional initiatives, conventions, agreements and actions related directly or indirectly to the ecological network. As regards bilateral co-operation, in the course of building relations with the nature conservation governments of neighbouring countries in several cases actual co-operation commenced in relation to harmonising nature conservation management and visiting hours. Among them the most important relationships are the one with Austria along Lake Fertő ((Lake Neusiedl) (between the Fertő-Hanság National Park and the Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park), the relationship with Croatia (between the Béda-Karapancsa region of the Danube-Dráva National Park and the Kopácsi meadow on the Croatian side), and the co-operation with Slovakia in relation to the joint world heritage of the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. There are protected natural areas and areas planned for protection in the133 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 territory of each national park directorate, which are linked to the natural areas of the neighbouring countries. The Dutch-Hungarian nature conservation co-operation is significant. In the past years the Netherlands have also granted significant financial support to a number of specific nature conservation projects, like wetland habitat restorations at smaller or larger scale, support of the AVALON project that fosters joining the EU 2078/92 agricultural-nature conservation regulation, and the nationalisation of endangered habitats at the Hortobágy National Park Directorate (the Navat Brook peat moss marsh, Zsibolya marsh, Júlia grove) with the help of the EECONET Action Fund. The main target of the 2003-2004 period is the restoration of wetland habitats that facilitates the implementation of the transboundary conservation area Béda- Karapancsa (Danube-Drava National Park) and the Croatian Kopácsi meadow. The Dutch-Hungarian co-operation for nature conservation intertwines on several points with the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC). The ECNC has organised several high level international seminars and conferences in the past period (Natura 2000; funding of nature conservation, etc.) in Hungary. The Nature Conservation Bureau is involved in the work of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Thematic Centre (EEA ETC/NPB), and has an international level data reporting connection with the European Information Network (EIONET). The Ministry of Environment has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Park Service of the United States in September 2000. On the basis of this agreement three domestic national park directorates (Hortobágy, Aggtelek, Balaton-felvidék) have built or made preparations for sister park co-operation with the American partners, and at the Bükk National Park Directorate the establishment of relationships has started in the line of geology. The Expertise Exchange Programme of EUROPARC (Federation of European National Parks and Nature Parks) funded from PHARE support lasted from February 1997 to December 2001, with the participation of over 50 Hungarian nature conservation experts. 5.3.5 Nature Conservation of Forests 5.3.5.1 Protected forest areas Forestland in Hungary amounts to nearly 1,787,400 hectares, and the proportion of areas covered by forests (forest stands) is 19.2 per cent (this rate also includes tree plantations). The extension of forests in nature conservation areas is 348,944 hectares, which amounts to 19.5 per cent of the country’s forested areas,134 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 and 3.8 per cent of Hungary’s total territory. The proportion of strictly protected forests does not exceed 5 per cent of the country’s forested areas. The forest act, passed parallel with the act on nature conservation, includes a number of provisions favourable for nature conservation in connection with sylvicultural activities permitted in protected forests. The new laws have extended the powers and responsibilities of nature conservation authorities in respect of forest planning, and forest authority procedures to a quite large extent. The three step system of sylviculture regulated in the new forest act, the introduction of district forest planning, has allowed the minister responsible for nature conservation to exercise the right of agreement in the approval of plans on forestry in protected areas, and the right of opinion in the plan on all forests. The ministerial authority has made it possible to enforce several favourable provisions related to nature conservation in the district forest plans. The contribution of national park directorates as co-operating authority in forest authority issues has proven successful. As a result of the enforcement of nature conservation interests, the condition of the country’s protected forests has slightly improved, and an increasing number of measures have been realised in protected forests to eliminate or reduce the proportion of non-native tree species. In forests of native tree species the number of natural regenerations has increased. The application of nature-friendly sylvicultural methods has been promoted by a number of ministry publications and the practical presentation of the Pro Silva method has also contributed significantly to raising the interest in nature-friendly sylvicultural methods. No sufficient support is given by the current forestry laws and funding system to reduce the proportion of non-native trees in forests in other land uses than forest. The delayed promulgation of the government decree on compensation and subsidies does not allow, as stipulated by Article 33 of the Act, the disbursement of nature conservation subsidies, which led to a deadlock in modifying the species composition of forests of non-native tree species in protected areas. At such unfavourable sites, where according to current practices the regeneration of forests is only possible with non-native tree species, it is necessary to initiate and support the cancellation of the renewing requirement. The areas impossible to afforest with native tree species (e.g. rock grasslands or dry sandy areas) should not be repeatedly burdened with artificial forestation, instead, in these habitats the regeneration of natural vegetation should be fostered. 5.3.5.2 Protection and maintenance of forest reserves In addition to the designation of forest reserves, the minister has treated their maintenance, the regular monitoring of changes in their stand, and the research as a top nature conservation priority. As part of the forest reserve research programme,135 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 the planning of long term maintenance of forest reserves has been going on. The maintenance plans of forest reserves under the jurisdiction of six national park directorates were developed in 1999-2001 as a result of completing the forest reserve programme – in line with uniform directives. 5.3.5.3 Elaboration of the nature conservation principles of the national forest strategy Within the framework of EU law harmonisation the government has undertaken to develop the National Forest Strategy. In close co-operation with scientific workshops that endeavour to create the basis for the National Forest Strategy, the development of nature conservation guidelines is going on under the ministry’s guidance and with the involvement of external experts. 5.3.6 Management of Game Populations on Nature Conservation Areas Act No. LV of 1996 on game protection, game management and hunting has placed the order of domestic game management and hunting on a new basis, which has resulted in a more nature-friendly legal construction on hunting. With the agreement of the minister responsible for nature conservation the number of minimum and maximum game population to be maintained has been set by game management districts (24 districts nationally). The latter means a positive change – decrease – as compared to the formerly accepted game population, yet in the protected forests – due to the still unacceptably large game population – the review of target numbers is of vital importance. The development of district game management plans including game management provisions is in process. Due to the oversize game population exceeding the set target numbers, damage done by game is significant in the forest regeneration processes, which is also proven by the increasing number of forest protection penalties imposed by forest protection authorities. The oversize, large game population causes enormous damage to the natural assets, and at some places makes it impossible to apply natural forest regeneration methods, which leads in the long run to an adverse change of forest structure and to shrinking genetic stock of plant species. In the near future – in line with the agreement concluded with the ministry of agriculture – it is necessary to revise the minimum and maximum target numbers for game populations to be maintained by game management districts, with special attention to the stock of Red Deer, Wild Boar, Red Fox, Hooded Crow and Magpie, and the non-native game species (Moufflon).136 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.7 Protection of Speleological, Geological and Geomorphological Assets Out of the particularly important, special inanimate formations of nature, ‘ex- lege’ protection has been granted to caves since 1961, and to springs, swallets, tumuli and earthen fortifications since the effect of the Act (1997). In accordance with relevant legal regulations, i.e. section (2) of Article 49 of the Act and KTM Decree No. 13/1998. (V.6.) on the registration of caves, the specific conditions of visits to and research of caves, and on the development of caves, authentic registry of caves has been started and – thanks to the funding provided by the ministry from a source allocated in 2000 – significantly accelerated. The computerised registration system has been set up, with the help of which up to the end of 2002 the data of 2000 caves out of the 3,700 currently known were processed. In the course of new technical review of the group of caves under strict protection, their number has increased from the former 125 to 132. On the territories of the Bükk National Park Directorate and the Aggtelek National Park Directorate the caves that require marked protection according to KTM Decree No. 13/1998. (V.6.) have been designated, the relevant directorates have completed the survey of caves under strict protection, and have commenced the survey of caves of particular interest. Plans for general cave management in the territory of three national park directorates (Duna-Dráva, Balaton-felvidék, Bükk) and individual management plans for 60 caves under strict protection as well as two regulations on tourist management (Caves of Abaliget and Pál-Valley) have been developed. For the sake of preserving and rehabilitating the natural condition of caves, and protecting their endangered natural assets (e.g. mineral precipitations and bats), technical measures have been necessary in 28 caves under strict protection, and in further 35 caves (close-down, provision of entrance and passages, removal of redundant objects, etc.). Development for tourism has been completed in the cave of the Buda Castle, as well as in the Caves of Abaliget and Pál Valley, and the development of the ‘Vass Imre’ Cave and Nagyharsány Crystal Cave for the purpose of nature conservation has been carried out. The tour-guide and research manager training course organised in accordance with the provisions of KTM Decree No. 13/1998. (V.6.) has facilitated the practical protection of caves, and the course providing the certificate for cave tourist-guides has contributed to higher standard of professional research and presentation activities at the caves. The traditional annual call for the ‘Cholnoky Jenő’ Karst and Cave Research Tender has assisted the preservation and exploration of caves by the activities of NGOs to this effect. 137 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008In the area of cave protection it is to be recorded as a shortcoming that the set-up of an authentic registry has not taken place yet, which has led in turn to delay in designating protective zones and indicating them in real estate registration. The above facts pose a significant problem primarily in conserving the natural conditions of caves opening outside protected areas and exposed directly or indirectly to the effects of industrial activities. In respect of this group, a further ongoing problem is posed by the total lack of research institutional background, and as a consequence, the gaps in research results on which protection measures could be based. The nature conservation survey and registration of tumuli and earthen fortifications under ‘ex lege’ protection have also started with significant delay. The national survey acting as a basis for the necessary protective measures was completed in respect of tumuli in 2002, and is before completion in respect of earthen fortifications; however, the real estate registry data are still missing for publishing the registers in accordance with legal regulations. Preparations for nature conservation registration of springs and swallets that do not fall under the requirement of register publication started only in 2002. The Act provides an opportunity for various levels of protection of additional inanimate natural assets as well, yet this means has not been exploited up to now. The publication of the register on open karst areas is being hindered by the need for real estate registry identification of the already available geological data, and due to the delay, the relevant legal restrictions cannot be enforced either. It is necessary to extend the circle of examinations that act as basis for declaring specific artificial caverns protected (such has taken place up to now only for the protection of bats), and to accelerate the technical preparatory works related to the designation of minerals and fossils, and unique geological and geomorphological formations. 5.3.8 Landscape Protection 5.3.8.1 General landscape protection Government Decree No. 166/1999. (XI.19.) on licensing procedures under the jurisdiction of landscape protection authorities, which grants the right of consent to national park directorates in authority procedures was promulgated. This has annually doubled the number of landscape preservation cases to be evaluated by national park directorates acting as co-operating authorities. However, a major step forward is the chance to prevent a number of investments unfavourable from landscape and nature conservation aspects, and the opportunity to carry out modifications to the effect that allows nature conservation aspects to be enforced in both protected and unprotected natural areas.138 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The performance of activities expanded as a result of the regulation mentioned is insufficient in many cases due to staff shortage and lack of training for technical supervisors. Another problem emerging in performing the activities as laid down in the regulation is in several cases the co-operating authority is not involved. The sectoral standards and guidelines under the jurisdiction of the landscape protection authority have not been fully completed yet. In the outskirts, with the construction and reconstruction of industrial buildings, one can observe the spreading of buildings that fail to adapt to traditional land utilisation or traditions. Similar co-ordination and planning problems emerge in fitting linear objects into the landscape. The area divided by technical infrastructure is expanding, along with degradation of the countryside. The role-taking of local governments in nature conservation is not common practice; on the contrary, in extreme cases they may be counter-interested due to their restricted financial resources. Consequently, among others, there is an inevitable expansion of built-in areas in the agglomerating regions (e.g. shopping centres, residential areas, dwelling houses, resort houses and other green field investments). The lack of residential compliance is particularly tangible in landscape protection work. Therefore, enhanced supervision, regular inspection of the areas, timely detection of any breaches of law and quick actions are essential, as the only feasible ways of enforcing the requirements of landscape conservation. Landscape conservation-oriented attitude is gaining ground at a slow pace, and few achievements can be recorded at settlement level decision-making as well. A further source of danger is represented by the fact that the opinion of the national park directorates in many cases is not incorporated into the physical plans (in some cases – unlawfully – the relevant directorate is not even involved in the procedure), and due to the lack of authentic public announcement it is impossible to enforce the co-operating authority right in respect of natural areas, elements of the ecological network, earthen fortifications, Natura 2000 sites, and buffer zones. The control of surface quarry and mine re-cultivation is incomplete. In many cases re-cultivation is a requirement at places, where from ecological aspects it would be more favourable to allow habitats to be resettled by pioneer plants, which is especially the case for the environment of abandoned quarries and material extraction sites. The unorganised and illegal dumping of industrial and municipal waste is an increasing problem, sometimes even on protected areas. 139 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.8.2 Registration of individual landscape assets For supporting the establishment of the national landscape cadastre, landscape evaluation and typology researches have been started, and a national level special landscape cadastre has been set up to protect special landscape features. Up to now the survey of special landscape features for 201 settlements have been carried out. As funds available for surveys have been rather restricted as compared to the number of settlements in Hungary, the survey of special landscape assets is progressing at a slow pace. Increased support is necessary to accelerate the process. 5.3.9 Nature Conservation Planning 5.3.9.1 Nature conservation planning and management plans At the end of the 1997-2002 period of the Master Plan, KöM Decree No. 30/2001. (XII.28.) regulating the development, author and content of nature conservation management plans was promulgated. The promulgation of the legislation on developing management plans has suffered almost a four-year delay due to co-ordination difficulties. The documentation (50 documents) serving as a basis for the management plans had been completed already before the promulgation of the decree, yet the standard of the documentation is not even. National park directorates have no sufficient capacities for preparation of management plans. There is no up-to-date database on natural assets (data on presence of protected species, size of population, level of risk, etc.). There is no feedback on the efficiency of nature conservation measures. Solution of the problem is an urgent task of the present period. The hierarchy of the nature conservation sector is being drawn up. The network plans related to the ecological network are meant to replace regional level planning upon adoption of the decree on ecological network. An important goal is that in determining land use, prior to any planning work, the regional, county, etc. level nature conservation plans of the national park directorates or the nature conservation management plans for given protected natural areas could be taken into account as basis. 5.3.9.2 Enforcement of nature conservation in national and regional plans, settlement and physical plans In the course of settlement and physical plans, and development planning, the interests of nature and land conservation are not always reflected. It is due at times to lack of co-ordination with the designer, and the partial lack of national and regional nature conservation plans – action plans, ecological network plans, etc. - , which should be reflected within the hierarchy of the planning system at the level of140 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 physical planning. In the development of physical plans, regarding utilisation of downtown areas, the landscape protection authority has no co-operating authority rights, only the right of opinion, thus it has no right of refusal (meanwhile in special cases it may interfere as a co-operating authority). Due to the above facts there has been no slowdown – on the contrary rather acceleration in the country’s more significant regions – of the adverse change of land utilisation, regarding nature conservation. The instruments of physical planning have not proved sufficient for protecting landscape structure, and slowing down or preventing unfavourable processes. 5.3.10 Funding of Nature ConservationYear The KvVM sources of nature conservation (billion HUF) 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Estimates of the regional organs 1.5 1.8 2.3 2.4 2.7 (together with the central investment) Highlighted programmes 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.1 0.9 (estimates handled by ministries + MEW administrative budget) ETF (nature conservation) 0.7 0.9 1.1 2.9 2.8 Total: 3.4 3.9 5.0 6.4 6.4The targeted assets and tender funds have continuously increased, almost doubled in the past five years. Yet the funds have not been sufficient for complete fulfilment of the liabilities as laid down by the Act. Due to the unjustifiably lengthy administration period following the evaluation and approval of ETF-tenders, a number of works due in the vegetation period (e.g. forest cultivation), and surveys could not be executed in the subject year. ETF – due to its funding methods justified from other aspects – is unable to follow special nature conservation demands, therefore the subsidies for the activities shall be earmarked from the budget. Contrary to this, for the failure to promulgate the government decree on subsidies for farmers pursuing nature-friendly cultivation in conservation areas and on compensation for nature conservation restrictions, the estimate under the chapter of “preservation of protected natural assets” has been included in the environmental fund estimate. With consideration to the positive experiences related to the operation of the estimate and the increasing interest in forest cultivation, it is justified in the transition period to introduce sector-managed estimate and to continue programmes until the government decree is promulgated. 141 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.11 Property and Property Management The areas under nature conservation – based on ecological considerations, conflict evasions and cost saving – are to be transferred to the national park directorates for property management. Together with the expansion of the past six years, by today the national park directorates have 224,000 hectares of nature conservation areas under their property management. The basic condition of property management is to provide both the directorate and the main authority with up-to-date and authentic data and information on the specific asset elements. To this end a uniform registration system has been set up supporting the property management of national park directorates with the purpose of nature conservation. The national stock of traditional Hungarian domestic animal breeds has significantly increased. In the areas transferred for property management to the national park directorates, the stock of Hungarian Grey Cattle has tripled in the past six years, and the size of ‘racka’ sheep and ‘cigája’ sheep populations have doubled, while the stock of Hungarian horse breeds is also slowly increasing. By keeping the animal stock, it is not only possible to provide for nature-friendly management of protected areas, but also for gene preservation of these species. Keeping the traditional Hungarian animal breeds has a role in tourism and maintaining of traditions. In protected areas, nature conservation interests enjoy priority to economic use. At the same time these areas may generate revenues which may significantly increase the funds for protecting natural assets. For efficient operation, it is necessary to modify and synchronise the currently existing subsidising-funding system, as this activity is still unprofitable. Nature conservation has paid special attention to the practical implementation of small-regional development initiatives serving the harmonisation of agriculture, nature conservation, and regional development (traditional land cultivation, ecological and organic farming, spreading historically naturalised plant and fruit species, etc.). To this end a number of tenders and projects have been launched. The revival of regional plant cultivation and contribution to the preservation of traditional plant cultivars (fruit and grape cultivars) are also important tasks of nature conservation. For the success of ecological and nature-tailored cultivation, primarily plant cultivars that have been improved under the natural conditions of the Carpathian Basin are required. These plant cultivars have adapted themselves well to their environment; therefore they can be produced without the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Forests under the property management of the national park directorates – the majority of which had been in cooperative ownership – were transferred to the142 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 national park directorates in a degraded condition and with duties in arrears as compared to the forest management prescriptions in effect, therefore, their management will incur significant extra expenses for a temporary period. The forests under nature conservation property management shall be managed in accordance with the effective forestry regulations (Act No. LIV of 1996, and FM Decree No. 29/1997. (IV.30.) on the implementation of the act), which requires permanent expenditure. In respect of managing protected areas transferred to the property management of national park directorates no uniform regulation (technical guide) has been drawn up, it has to be provided for in the next planning period. 5.3.12 Personnel Conditions and Technical Facilities of Nature Conservation 5.3.12.1 Nature conservation ranger service The staff number of the nature conservation ranger service is 226. In Hungary rangers were in the category of public officials from 1992 (from the promulgation of the act on the legal status of public officials) and have been authority officials entitled to act since 1998, their entitlement and liabilities have significantly been extended as compared to the past by Section II of Act No. CLIX of 1997. Further achievement of the 1997-2002 planning period of NNF is that the Government Decree No. 4/2000. (I.21.), and its amendment have come into effect with detailed rules related to nature conservation rangers and ranger services, as well as KöM Decree No. 9/2000. (V.19.) on service rules applying to nature conservation rangers. The ranger service performs its authoritative guarding activities on the basis of new legal regulations, in a new organisational structure, and at better material conditions. The service cards and badges of the rangers have been produced and issued – with ministerial signature. Nature conservation authority officials have also been provided with service cards – required by Article 12 of Government Decree No. 4/2000. (I.21.). The biggest lag has emerged in the field of staff development and schedule for staff development for the ranger service. The target has been 340 people in the National Environmental Programme and in the National Programme of Acquis adaptation, which has failed to be achieved. For efficient operation of the ranger service in accordance with the new rules and technical requirements, it is necessary to ensure an annual staff increase of 40-50 people, and appropriate financial conditions. 143 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.3.12.2 Co-operation agreements To ensure more efficient preservation of protected natural areas, there has been a co-operation agreement in effect since 1995 between the National Police Headquarters for Criminal and Public Security Affairs and the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Environmental Ministry. Within this framework our co-operation with the police’s criminal and public security services is useful and effective at both national and regional levels. The co-operation with the board of Customs and Excise since 1996 can be regarded as exemplarily effective, as a result of which a number of nature-harming activities have been detected. The co-operation agreement concluded in December 2002 with the National Command of Border Guard Service may also foster the cutting of nature harming activities, and the detection of acts committed. Based on the above facts, the national park directorates have drawn up co- operation action plans with the county police departments and urban police departments, as well as with customs bodies. Based on the effective new legislation the work of rangers can be supported by the work of civil rangers, thereby providing the participation of civilians in nature conservation as laid down in Act No. LIII of 1996 on nature conservation. In 1999 civil ranger groups were set up at the national park directorates. The number of civil rangers is currently 418 in total. In 2001 uniform identity cards for civil rangers were issued and allocated to the national park directorates, and the curriculum for civil rangers on which the examinations for ranger service are based has been developed. 5.3.12.3 Number of central staff and supervisory board The ranger service, the structural units of regional organisations dealing with wildlife protection and conservation of geological assets, as well as the central administration are also struggling with staff shortage. The institutional development related to EU accession (staff, infrastructure) has failed to take place both at central and regional levels. The establishment and implementation of technical activities as deriving from the Act and preceding EU accession have not been completed according to right schedule, due to increased authority (administrative) and organisational issues little time has been left for substantial high-quality work (designation of natural areas, ‘ex lege’ protected natural areas, ecological network elements, Natura 2000 sites, etc.).5.3.13 Nature Conservation Research and Monitoring For high standard fulfilment of international liabilities of Hungarian nature conservation and the tasks set by the act on nature conservation and by144 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 governmental programmes, documentations and studies have been prepared. Several research activities have been completed in relation to the national level registration of natural areas and assets already protected and planned for protection, their evaluative analysis, and ongoing detection of the phenomena and processes endangering these assets (with special attention to aridity in the Carpathian Basin, flood-inland waters situation, harmonising agriculture and nature conservation). Research activities have commenced to provide a technical basis for habitat restoration and other types of nature conservation investments planned in the protected areas. The establishment of the National Biodiversity Monitoring System (NBMR) as required by the Convention on Biodiversity has been started. In the period of 1998- 2001 the activity of NBMR organised into projects was partially performed. In the case of several taxa – at the sample-taking sites selected in line with the definition of monitoring and standard methods – monitoring is uninterrupted. Parts of the programmes are implemented under central management as national programmes, and the others – under national co-ordination – are built into the monitoring programmes of national park directorates. Implicit in the order of the projects is their priority: - monitoring of protected and endangered species; - monitoring of wetland habitats and their communities; - survey, mapping and monitoring of habitats in Hungary; - monitoring of invasive species; - monitoring of forest reserves - managed broad-leaved forests; - Kis-Balaton technical investment, monitoring of phase II impacts; - monitoring of the habitats of Szigetköz; - monitoring of saline habitats; - monitoring of dry grasslands; - monitoring of mountain meadows. Out of the regional nature conservation programmes, the observation of the condition of Kis-Balaton has continued. The nature conservation monitoring of the River Dráva, highly important because of the planned Novo-Virje power station, has started. The observation system is the basis of the representation of the nature conservation field in monitoring of crossborder environmental impacts, as per the provisions of the Espoo Convention. In accordance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 2066/1999. (III.31.) the Danube-Drava National Park Directorate has developed a GIS recording the nature monitoring of the River Dráva. In the next planning period it is necessary to elaborate a nature conservation research strategy which defines the key research topics and their priorities. The145 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 resources shall be used in the future mainly for ecological and conservation biology research. 5.3.14 Training, Raising Awareness, Education Training and raising awareness are important strategic issues of nature conservation, which have played up to now only an indirect role in the sectoral policy. The agreements between the concerned ministers (Ministry of Environment and Water and Ministry of Education) have given a new momentum to training in nature conservation, as a result of which the forest school network is developing on a gradual basis, and an increasing number of children have access to programmes outside educational institutions, that provide nature conservation training and education. Smaller visitor centres have operated long in the territory of each national park directorate. Their utilisation level is quite good, not only in the ‘high season’ of the school year; they provide programmes of extremely high standard throughout the whole year. Their technical capabilities – thanks to ETF supports – expand continuously. The newly established training centres that play an important role in nature conservation education (Kecskemét; Őriszentpéter; Bakonybél; Börzsöny, Királyrét etc.) must also be mentioned. The visitation of national park directorates (at about sixty locations) is higher year by year, thanks to the increasing standard of nature conservation training and the improving efficiency of information providing. Eco-tourism facilitating training and environmental education has accelerated in state-level nature conservation and the activities of NGOs. Nature trails can be found in large numbers in the territories of national park directorates. Some are managed by the directorates (about 70), and others are operated by the national directorates jointly with other organisations, but there are also ones maintained by external organisations. Their condition is unfortunately not sufficient in every case, which calls for their renewal and the creation of new trails in the next period. Nature education has even today no appropriate weight in public education. In the curriculum of public education institutions many subjects include training and education for the love and protection of nature, and the National Master Plan also sets as the education on nature conservation a requirement of the framework curriculum plan, while nature-oriented and nature conservation education is still at an insufficient level. In the values and attitude of teachers, the importance of nature conservation still fails to appear sufficiently, and in many cases it is up to the authors of text-books, teachers and institutions what emphasis is given to environmental education. Improvement may be expected in the growth of the role represented by national park training centres, as they perform a useful activity in the field of nature conservation education. It is important in the future that the training146 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 organisers of national park directorates can better fulfil their organisational roles by synchronising the training, education and information providing programmes within the territory of the directorates. The promotion materials, publications and books serving education and disseminating information are important means of raising awareness. Yet the number of materials published has not been too high in the past period, and they have been mostly related to introducing a national park. In the next period an increased number of publications fostering education and dissemination of information are needed, at the same time efforts should be taken for their structural and content-related unification. 5.3.15 Tasks related to Agri-Harmonisation Though with significant delay, in 2002 the National Agri-Environmental Programme, which implements in a synchronised way the activities related to environment and nature protection, agriculture and rural development was launched. In accordance with the provisions of FM Decree No. 102/2001. (XII.16.) on budget estimates for 2002 agricultural targets, farmers could apply to a HUF 2.2 billion funding facility. With the overall introduction of the programme, the natural resources of about 6 million hectares of non-protected natural areas, primarily soil, surface and under-service waters, and the still sound systems of wildlife can be sustained in the long term. The number one priority of the programme developed according to the rules of the European Union is to establish agricultural practices which are based on sustainable utilisation of natural resources, on conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, establishment of farming systems that provide local residents with goals in life, activities, work and living, in total on the creation of a ‘liveable countryside’. A major achievement is the fact that as specific regulation (the only one up to now) KöM-MARD joint Ministerial Decree No. 2/2002. (I.18.) on the detailed regulation of Environmentally Sensitive Areas has been finalised for the introduction of the zonal programme of the National Agri-Environmental Programme. The development of legal regulations has allowed the ongoing, years-long operation of the programme. The zonal programme has been launched in 11 pilot areas up to now. It is also a major result that Government Regulation No. 140/1999. (IX.3.) on ecological management, and KöM-MARD joint Ministerial Decree No. 2/2000. (I.23.) have entered into force. The method of utilising protected natural areas and147 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 areas designed for protection as laid down by these legal regulations is in the best harmony with nature conservation goals. At the same time, the evaluation from nature conservation aspects of pesticides, bio-regulators, crop-increasing substances, mosquito exterminating technologies that are used in the areas of intensive agricultural cultivation is successfully progressing as part of the licensing procedure. In the long run it will enable exclusive distribution of substances whose impact on nature is not or to an ever lower extent dangerous.5.4 Activities Planned for the Period of the Second National Conservational Master Plan (2003-2008) The amounts allocated for the activities and performance of tasks planned in chapter 4 of the National Conservational Master Plan (NCMP) reconcile with the costs allocated to the action programme of “biodiversity conservation and landscape protection” (TAP 5) within the National Environmental Programme II. Only the central budgetary requirements are shown in the tables (National Environmental Programme II, financing table, “requirement from the central budget” column). In addition to (TAP 5) “biodiversity conservation and landscape protection” of the National Environmental Programme II, nature conservation is also connected to the following action programmes: - action programme of raising environmental awareness (TAP 1); - action programme of urban environmental quality (TAP 4); - action programme of rural environmental quality, land-area and land use (TAP 6); - action programme of protection and sustainable use of waters (TAP 7); - action programme of environmental security (TAP 9).A part of the costs that have been planned to finance the indicated action programmes also serves as the coverage for the tasks of nature conservation. Since the activities that are indicated in the above-mentioned action programmes include the common tasks of environmental protection, nature conservation and water management issues, the amounts that can be used to finance nature conservation are not clearly separated. 148 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1 Preserving the Diversity of Animals, Plants, Landscape and Inanimate Natural Assets 5.4.1.1 Continuing the establishment of the network of protected natural areas In Hungary, the current, total area of non-protected natural environment that is rich enough in natural assets to justify their declaration as protected areas in the classical sense, by individual law is significant – a lot more than a hundred and fifty thousand hectares according to the registration of year 2002. The conditions of declaring new protected areas are that the areas planned to be protected should be revealed in advance, a natural inventory should be performed and – based on all these – a nature conservation management plan, which is detailed below and is the legal condition of the declaration should be made. The network of the approximately 1 million hectare protected natural areas, the Natura 2000 network of the European Union and the national ecological network, which includes these areas, the buffer zones, the natural areas, the areas that are registered as natural areas, the ecological (green) corridors and the areas that are semi-natural practically include the major part of all the areas that are valuable in view of conservation (naturally, not all of the areas will belong to the ‘classical’ category of protected natural area). The Natura 2000 sites and the protected natural areas may overlap, but – on some part of the areas – an agreement, a contract, concluded with the user of the area will ensure nature-friendly, extensive management that best satisfies the needs of the species and habitats to be protected. In addition to protecting the areas that have been mentioned, the long-term preservation of the country’s natural resources can be ensured by the collective realisation of large national programmes, such as the National Agri-Environmental Programme and the National Forestry Strategy, which is updated to the current requirements and is being elaborated and also the Water Framework Directive of the European Union. Based on paragraph (1), Article 36 of Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, the management methods of conservation in the protected areas, the restrictions, prohibitions and other obligations are to be defined in the law that declares something protected. 149 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1.2 Preserving, improving the condition of the protected areas and landscapes 5.4.1.2.1 Preparing conservational management plans, conservational plans According to paragraph (3), Article 36 of act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, a conservational management plan – which will be binding on all activities performed in these areas – is to be prepared for each protected area and the plan is to be revised at least in every ten-year period. Decree 30/2001. (XII.28.) of KöM defines the detailed rules on preparing and the preparing person/entity in charge of the conservational management plans. Conservational management plans include – among others – the assets of the protected natural areas and the activities aiming at preserving, maintaining, describing them, and also – if needed – the activities of restoration. It also includes the description of the economic and management activities that will be pursued for a long-time or are expected in the future on the given area and also the obligatory regulations that relate to the latter ones. The tasks of elaborating the conservational management plans for the natural areas of national importance are to be performed by the national park directorates, and the plans for the protected natural areas of local importance are to be performed by the authority that issued the declaration of the protected status (municipality). The directorate makes sure that the examinations that provide the basis of the plans will be performed and that the basic data are collected. In the case of protected forests, the regional forestry plan – that has been defined in agreement with the minister responsible for nature conservation, on the basis of paragraph (2), Article 7 of the decree of 30/2001. (XII.28.) of KöM – is to be considered as the management plan, until the conservational management plan has been made. Preparing the conservational management plan of 10 national parks, 36 landscape protection areas and 142 nature conservation areas is a highlighted task of the planning period. Simultaneously with this, the necessary arrangements are to be made for preparing the conservational management plans of bogs and alkaline lakes that have been categorised as protected areas according to paragraph (4), Article 28 of Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, and already announced in the registry, as well as of sites planned for designation. A further important task is to make a survey of the conditions of the springs and swallets that are protected on the basis of paragraph (5) of the above law since they are categorised as natural monuments, and to include the activities to be performed in connection with them and also the tumuli and earthen fortifications that are of the same status, in management plans. From 2004 onwards, it will be a new, compulsory EU task to prepare management plans for the Natura 2000 sites. 150 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Conservational plans on different levels (relating to regions, areas, counties, designated areas, parts of regions) are to be prepared for the total area of the country and the areas that are under the authority of the directorates. By defining the protected and unprotected elements of the ecological network and defining the regulations on protecting landscape and nature that relate to them, these plans could be used as conservational plans of landscape and nature in the development plans of the area and the municipality. They help to prevent unfavourable area and settlement development procedures and also unfavourable developments. 5.4.1.2.2 Maintenance and development of conservation Although the property management that maintains protected natural assets and – wherever it is possible – enriches them is similar to economic management considering its methods and means, it is significantly different considering its purposes. It cannot be considered a profit-oriented economic activity because its primary purpose is to ensure the living conditions of the natural assets that live in grasslands, forests, etc. Having all these fulfilled, the typical Hungarian landscapes, the genes of the ancient animal species and breeds and also the connected ethnographic, historical-cultural and architectural heritage can also be preserved and can be organically connected to the goals of regional development – by providing employment opportunities to local inhabitants. The goal of conservational management, as a special habitat maintaining activity, is not to generate revenues but to properly manage the areas that serve as the living space of the species to be protected and to ensure and improve the living conditions of the natural assets. The national park directorates keep a portion of the arable land that are in conservation management and also the majority of livestock within their own management because the conservational goals can be best achieved in this way. The ratio of ploughland in the protected natural areas and their productivity is very low; thus no successful agricultural management can be performed on them. Consequently, they can primarily be used as a source of mass feed and fodder for the livestock in national park management or can be converted back into grassland or forest. The majority of protected natural areas that are cultivated and managed by national park directorates belong to the land use category of grassland. The purpose of conservation is to ensure the survival of species that are connected to semi-natural grasslands and the survival of special or extraordinary types of grasslands and plant communities. The environmental factors and the specialties of the agricultural management of the given area influence primarily the way of maintaining the natural assets of the individual grasslands. 151 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Considering conservation, the most important task – within the protection of grasslands areas – is to maintain natural grasslands and the extensive grassland management systems because they have special features significant from the aspect of biodiversity conservation. Basically, the composition of flora influences the conservational value of grasslands, in addition to their age. Grasslands richer in species can simultaneously satisfy the needs of more species of animals. Grassland management, such as grazing and cutting, significantly influences species-richness. The forests managed by national park directorates are to be managed according to the forestry laws in force (act LIV of 1996 and the 29/1997. (IV.30.) FM decree, which regulates the implementation of the law) and are supervised by the forestry authority. The funds needed for the professional management, which can serve as a model, are to be included in the budget of the directorates every year. In compliance with chapter X of act LIV of 1996 on forests and forest conservation, and with the implementation decree of the forest act, professional forestry staff are to be hired for the professional management of forestry work in forests managed by national park directorates and for guarding the forest. The total area of independent and associated hunting areas that are under the hunting authority of national park directorates was 104,000 hectares in December 2002, which represent 14 hunting areas. These are conservational hunting areas of special functions; therefore the game population of those areas is to be preserved in a way subordinated to the conservational goals and interests, and in compliance with the effective laws on hunting. In conservational hunting areas of special functions, in addition to fulfilment of the requirements of laws and the hunting norms, high-level ethical requirements that represent the long-term conservation strategy are to prevail. These hunting areas can serve as models from the aspect of hunting ethic. In harmony with all these, the possibility of increasing the number of protected ground- nesting birds and game birds is to be ensured by complex habitat development measures carried out as a part of conservational management and by efficient reduction of the number of Red Foxes, Hooded Crows and Magpies. On the conservational areas and the special purpose hunting areas, hunting for big game is to be carried out independently, in line with professional hunting goals (age bracket, quality, etc.), but in a way that the current number of games be significantly reduced and the stock be regulated. In order to perform game-preserving functions in the hunting areas of national park directorates, official hunters are to be employed or contracted at a number that is prescribed by Article 50, Act LV of 1996 on preserving game, game management and hunting and the resolutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that include the declaration of special-function hunting areas. The number of official hunters for the total, current hunting areas is 47. 152 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1.2.3 Obtaining property management right in order to restore the preservation level of protected natural areas In Hungary, the land of protected areas was primarily owned by the state. Like in other countries they are in the vanguard of conservation, this is the most efficient way of preserving natural resources in Hungary. In addition, this type of ownership expresses in best way that preserving the natural assets is in the interest of the whole nation. In order to perform modern preserving activities that best satisfy the conservation interests, it is necessary that the most precious and most important protected areas (national parks and areas that are specially protected because they are covered by international conventions or are of international importance) be in state ownership. The interests of conservation can fully prevail within this type of ownership if state organisations perform the conservation management activities in these areas. However, this will not exclude the possibility that NGOs that have been established with the purpose of protecting the environment can preserve or extend the areas that they own and that are rich in natural assets. In resolution 28/1994 (V. 20) AB of the Constitutional Court, the court has declared that the preservation level of the natural areas that have become protected by separate law cannot decrease; therefore it obliged the National Assembly to create a law that stipulates restoring the original state of protected areas that have gone into private ownership. Thus, the National Assembly passed Act XCIII of 1995 on restoring the preservation level of protected natural areas. A specified portion of the areas already protected or planned to be protected that fall under the law and are commonly used by cooperatives or have gone into private ownership are to be expropriated for the benefit of the state by 31 December 2006, and are to be handed over to the property management of national park directorates. The speed of expropriations is to be increased significantly. Considering the present speed of purchase (4-6 thousand hectares per year), purchasing the remaining, about 126,000 hectares probably cannot be performed by the new deadline (31 December 2006) because the price of land will rapidly rise but the budgetary sources allocated for the purchases in 2003 do not reach the level of 2002. 5.4.1.2.4 Obtaining the property management right in other cases If the natural assets cannot be protected otherwise, nationalisation of real estate that is protected or is planned to be protected is justified even if they do not fall under Act XCIII of 1995, detailed under point 5.4.1.2.3., which means that earlier they were not owned by cooperatives but have gone into private ownership by now. In such cases, nationalisation and transfer of the areas into the property management153 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 of the directorates can be performed under different legal titles. Most important is the right of pre-emption to which the state is entitled and which can be exercised by the directorate, according to paragraph (6), Article 68 of Act LIII of 1996. The professional justification for state ownership is included in point 5.4.1.2.3. 5.4.1.2.5 Restoration of habitats and landscapes The natural destruction or, as a consequence of human activities, the degradation and destruction of the habitats that are important from environmental aspects can be stopped by special measures and attempts should be made to restore the original state of affairs. This is a particularly important task at protected areas of national importance (for example, the areas of national parks). In domestic practice, primarily the degradation of wetland habitats and habitats that are strongly dependent on water was reversed. Lack of water was the main problem in these areas. In the realisation period of NCMP between 2003-2008, in addition to restoring the wetland areas, measures must be taken to stop the degradation of habitats in the Carpathian basin that hold individual natural assets and communities – such as dolomite rock grasslands, communities on sand and the remnants of lowland oak forests. Also – wherever it is possible – the restoration of the original state before the damage and of the natural ecological processes is to be started. In connection with the latter one, proper supply of groundwater is to be ensured, which is the condition of improving the state of lowland bogs, marshes and forests. Within the framework of landscape restoration, the abandoned and aborted pieces of real estate constructions that distort the landscape, excavations, landscape scars, the areas of the former centres of agricultural cooperatives, military drill grounds are to be sorted out, as a first step, in the protected natural areas. Suppressing the non-native, invasive species of the flora and the fauna that represent a danger to natural biocenoses is a highlighted task. Connected to this, research, survey and strategy-making, and later, legislative tasks are to be performed. It is justified to suppress non-native species in the areas which are the most exposed to this danger as soon as possible. 5.4.1.2.6 Real estate registration of protected areas and areas planned to be protected (paying special attention to the areas getting into the property management of national park directorates) The land registries record the legal status of ‘protected natural area’ for the whole plot recorded under a single land registration number; consequently – in the course of the procedure of declaring a protected area, plots of real estate under a single land registration number need to be divided in several cases (for example, separating a plough land from the grassland that is planned to be protected). 154 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008In the case of real estates that went into the property management of national park directorates, it is often necessary to perform real estate separating and site- border arrangement tasks (for example, determining the border of the site for the sake of protecting the estate). In addition, the number of real estates that are to be divided in order to register the legal status of bogs, alkaline lakes, springs, swallets, tumuli and earthen fortification that have become ‘ex lege’ protected under Article 23 (2) of Act amounts to a thousand. Based on resolution 53/2002. (XI.18.) AB of the constitutional court – which does not challenge the protection of bogs in the category of ‘ex lege’ conservation area of national importance – arrangements are to be made in order to ensure that the borders of the areas should be defined and announced by individual resolutions. 5.4.1.2.7 Conservation research Presently the conservation sector does not have an independent research institute; therefore, the different institutions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the institutions of higher-education, museums and civil organisations perform the tasks that are related to preserving the protected natural areas and natural assets. It will be necessary to further maintain this network in the future, but creating a unit that synthesises the results of the different researches performed at different domestic and foreign research workshops, makes them usable in practice and performs such researches on its own cannot be postponed any more. Conservation researches are to provide help primarily with practical conservation activities. By establishing the forest reserve network, the conditions of monitoring and research on unlimited natural forestry processes have been created. The purpose of research is to gain knowledge about forest dynamics, long-term forest ecological processes, the regeneration of forests, and the mechanism of natural disturbances. In order to establish the most appropriate management methods, to designate the individual experimental areas of semi-natural forest control and management that can be applied on protected natural areas and support of the relating researches are to be continued. For the sake of preserving and restoring the wooded steppe areas of the plains, mountains and hilly areas, researches to obtain knowledge about the processes of wooded steppe dynamics that are in progress in these areas, the management procedures to be applied here and the possibilities and procedures of forest regeneration are to be started. Researches that examine the damaging impacts of light pollution on wildlife (such as migratory birds, butterflies) and the negative impacts on the visual effects of landscape are to be started.155 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1.2.8 Review, repurchase of easement and rights of property value (special- function hunting areas and fishing areas that need to be spared) The easement rights (linear constructions, base stations, industrial and communal establishments, roads, etc.) that were established in the past on real estate and are managed by national park directorates need to be reviewed. Such constructions can be transferred and modified on the basis of an agreement with the person/institution that has entitlement to the easement. In compliance with paragraphs (4), (5), Article 21 of Act and paragraph (4), Article 7 of Act, the initiator of such an action is obliged to pay the additional costs of qualifying the hunting or the fishing area as a special purpose area. 5.4.1.3 Preserving bio-diversity, operating comprehensive programmes Big, comprehensive programmes that incorporate the activities, initiatives and tasks important to preserve biodiversity and that are connected to the non- protected areas, species and communities – in addition to the protected natural areas and assets are included in this chapter. 5.4.1.3.1 Adopting the national biodiversity strategy and action programme (NBSAP) Article 6 of the convention on biodiversity prescribes the elaboration of “national strategies, plans or programmes aiming at preserving biodiversity and using it in a sustainable way” or instead, adapting the already existing strategies, plans or programmes. In order to make plans about the fulfilment of further obligations that are included in the agreement, the preparation of NBSAP started in 1997, with international support (within the framework of the GEF/UNEP project). On the basis of the agreement and international directives, NBSAP includes further tasks, in addition to the general strategy on preserving wildlife, according to the following professional areas: mining (opencast mining), biotechnology (genetically modified organisms), forestry, fishing and angling, agriculture, use of area, tourism, (issues about regional development), hunting, water management. In the coming time period, arrangements are to be made about finalising the strategic document, its acceptance and realisation. 5.4.1.3.2 Tasks about the genetically modified organisms It is known that certain characteristics of even distantly related organisms – for example, bacteria, plants or humans – can be combined through transgenic techniques (recombination of DNA). The first successes have been achieved by156 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 transplanting the gene that regulates the production of the growth hormone of man into a bacterium. As a consequence, organisms will be created that have basically new characteristics, which are not created naturally or cannot be created through traditional breeding and these organisms may get into our environment. This may cause several problems. As an impact of international processes (primarily the stipulations of the convention on biodiversity), the Hungarian law on nature conservation included a moratorium on creating and using GMOs (Article 9, of Act LIII of 1996) and later the act on regulating gene technology activities was also created. According to the stipulations of the act (Act on nature conservation), the professional authority responsible for authorisations relating to genetically modified organisms is MEW. Measures necessary for the fulfilment of professional authority tasks of gene technology are as follows: - in addition to judge applications for permits, monitoring and controlling gene technological activities (including illegal activities) and processing related, up- to-date information; - participation in international authorisation procedures after the Cartagena Protocol on biodiversity has been ratified; - creating an organisational unit for the fulfilment of MEW tasks related to GMOs; - ensuring that a laboratory that is appropriate for detecting GMO particles (in shipments or elsewhere) will be established. (It would be practical to operate the laboratory that was designated on the basis of Act XXVII of 1998 also as a MEW laboratory). 5.4.1.3.3 Preservation and development tasks of the national ecological network A draft ministerial decree of the Ministry of Environment was made on the detailed rules relating to the ecological network in 2002. The tasks emerging from this decree are arranged around the large, nationally important programme, the national ecological network (NEN). When defining the tasks of the coming six years and allocating their costs, emphasis should be placed on carrying out what has been stated in the ministerial decree, which is awaiting acceptance. NEN includes significantly large areas having different status: protected natural areas, the buffer zones of protected natural areas, natural areas, ecological and green corridors. The programme of the national ecological network is to be prepared for the period between 2003 and 2008. In order to execute the maintenance tasks of the157 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 ecological network, all national park directorates are to make network plans. The required content of the network plan is to be defined and the conditions of introducing the planning system are to be ensured. Mapping the habitats of the national ecological network is to be continued. We are to endeavour to achieve that the ratio of the revealed habitats should be as big as possible and the mapping should be as detailed as possible. In order to monitor the speed of constructing the network – in line with the draft decree and based on the professional aspects that have been defined in the NEN programme – a system that monitors the ecological network (network monitoring) is to be created and maintained. The conditions of operating the system are to be created. Designation of semi-natural areas, the ecological and green corridors is a new legal institution that has been created on the basis of the draft, and its practical application appears as a completely additional task (administrational procedure of the state, survey of state/condition, etc.). Although NEN will also include the areas of the Natura 2000 network, from the aspect of planning the costs, the tasks and sources that are connected to Natura 2000 will appear separately. 5.4.1.3.4 Compiling the registry of natural areas and promulgating them as law The areas that are primarily characterised by semi-natural features can be considered natural areas. According to Article 15 of Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation, all of the natural areas are to be defined, and their registry is to be announced in a collective decree of the ministers of MEW and MARD. The national survey of the natural areas was started after the law on nature conservation had become effective and was completed for the major part of the country. Since the work came to a halt because of differences in professional interests of the ministries, almost the total process (more detailed survey of habitats; nature inventory of the missing regions; defining the real estate registration data; review and update of the total database; local checks of the areas) needs a review. In the course of the activities of professional authorities relating to natural areas, survival of the natural areas is to be ensured and including them among downtown areas is to be avoided. According to paragraph (3) of Article 6 of 46/1999. (III.18.) government decree on the use and utilisation of flood-plains, the stretches along shorelines, the areas that are in danger because they are occasionally covered by water or because of the springing waters, the flood-plains being organic and dominant parts of the ecological network – if they are not qualified otherwise as protected natural areas – are to be treated as natural areas. This system needs to include the exact real estate registration data of the flood-plains that are yet to be defined and their natural characteristics. 158 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1.3.5 Enlarging the areas included in the National Agri-Environmental Programme The National Agri-Environmental Programme (NAEP), which is included in government decree of 2253/1999. (X.7.), and which is the domestic realisation of the EU agrarian model, provides great help with the aims of protecting nature. The goal of NAEP is to harmonise environmental protection, nature conservation, agriculture and rural development. By having the programme fully implemented, the natural resources of approximately 6 million hectares of non-protected area can be sustained in the long term. At the same time, NAEP is also a new agrarian strategy, which aims at a multifunctional and sustainable agriculture that is adapted to the ecological features, but is still competitive. The programme consists of a horizontal and a zonal programme: - the horizontal scheme covers the total cultivated area of the country; - the zonal programme, covering the areas that have been assigned as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA), is related to about 2 million hectares – according to calculations of the Environmental Ministry. The notion of Environmentally Sensitive Areas is defined by point (3) c), Article 53 of Act LIII of 1996 as follows: “an Environmentally Sensitive Area is an area that is extensively cultivated and serves the purpose of maintaining and preserving nature-friendly cultivating methods, and, consequently, protecting the habitats, preserving biodiversity and safeguarding landscape and cultural assets”. The joint decree of “2/2002. (I.23.) KöM-MARD”, which includes rules relating to Environmentally Sensitive Areas, created the legal basis for declaring the areas. In order to continue the zonal programme, which was started on 11 pilot areas, it is inevitable to prepare the management requirement packages about the new ESAs. The programme that controls the system is to be operational already in 2003. And in the following years, the scheme packages are to be prepared by adjusting them to the extension of the system of ESAs. 5.4.1.3.6 Nature conservation monitoring 5.4.1.3.6.1 The national biodiversity monitoring system The National Biodiversity Monitoring System (NBMS), launched in 1998, is a national programme for monitoring the state of Hungary’s biodiversity. This operates according to the stipulations of article 7 of the Convention on Biodiversity (promulgated by act LXXXI of 1995). In addition to the existing 10 projects, as the tasks increase, new projects need to be started in the coming six years. The whole programme can only be realised in the long run, gradually, through continuous development, by involving new components159 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 and areas into the programme. The most important tasks for the coming years will be to organise the data into an information system, besides realising the programme. When realising the tasks of the NBMS, in the course of monitoring a species or an area, we are to try involving volunteers (members of NGOs, study circles at schools, etc.). NBMS contributes to carrying out the monitoring activities of several directives related to nature conservation (Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Water Framework Directive) and also to fulfilling the data provision requirements of our country. Endeavours are to be made to harmonise the methods that have been formulated by NBMS and the activities of the related monitoring programmes. 5.4.1.3.6.2 Related monitoring programmes Monitoring related to the Natura 2000 network Monitoring the Natura 2000 sites is a task to be fulfilled in the future. Within this framework, Hungary will be obliged to provide data about the environmental situation of the species and types of habitats for the protection of which the Natura 2000 sites have been designated. The priorities of NBMS include monitoring, by way of several projects, certain species of the fauna and flora, plant communities and habitats that are included in the annexes of the EU nature directives. Monitoring tasks of the EU water framework directive There are significant monitoring tasks among the stipulations of the water framework directive. Fulfilment of these tasks is to be started at the end of the planning period. This monitoring is to be performed through examining taxa (aquatic vegetation, algae, macro-invertebrates and fish) that have been indicated by the directive. “Monitoring wetland habitats and their communities” is the second in priority among the projects of NBMS. This will make it possible to connect the activities performed within this project in the future to the compulsory monitoring related to the introduction of the water framework directive. Monitoring endangered species In compliance with international practice, the populations of some endangered species have been continually monitored in Hungary for the past ten years. This primarily relates to species the number of which fell to such an extent that each individual is or can be significant in view of the survival of the species. 160 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008It is also international practice that the population of species that currently have large numbers and can be well counted, but their numbers are dramatically decreasing, are continually monitored (for example, the white stork). Monitoring strictly protected colonially nesting bird species The primary goal of national monitoring, started in 2000, was to establish the bases of the programmes of protecting the species and identifying trends of population changes. Simultaneously – by complying with the Birds Directive of the EU – this serves as the basis of our international reporting obligations (also about the species of birds that are listed in the annexes to the Bern Convention). Monitoring common birds The monitoring activity performed within this programme covers most of the species and the major part of the country and involves the highest number of participants in Hungary. Continuing the programme in the future and extending it enables us to assess the state of nature and the changes in our country, on the basis of a large amount of data. National waterfowl monitoring In co-operation with MARD, the dynamics of nesting and migratory waterfowls are monitored for 8 months, by performing simultaneous counts on ‘Ramsar’ sites and on wetland areas that are important for migration. This monitoring is important not just to fulfil the obligations under the Ramsar Convention, but – because of the endangered migratory waterfowl species – is also of basic importance considering the tasks under the Bonn Convention. Monitoring programmes having regional environmental goals Maintaining and developing the monitoring programmes that are organised around regional environmental problems and have been running for several years (for example, monitoring the Kis-Balaton and River Dráva) is an important task. Monitoring the success of the national conservation programmes Preparing and operating programmes in the future to monitor the degree of success of the national, comprehensive nature conservation programmes (such as the national ecological network, the agri-environmental programme, and the forest reserve programme) is an important task and is an inevitable part of the programmes that have been listed. It is practical to organise these monitoring activities in a unified system because in this way the processing and assessment of data that have been collected at different places will enable a wider use. 161 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Monitoring protected natural areas of particular interest Continuous monitoring of wildlife on protected natural areas of special importance within national parks is also necessary. Continuous monitoring of the state of these assets is to be connected to other monitoring activities and the data are to be incorporated into a unified system. Monitoring nature conservation activities The national park directorates perform several activities aiming at protecting the environment the success of which is to be monitored in the long run. These include, for example, examining the effect of different management methods, methodology and examining the changes in wildlife at the sites of habitat restorations. Monitoring the impacts of such activities helps not only in assessing the degree of success of the management but may also give the foundation to future measures. Monitoring the changes of landscape, stating prognoses and making the necessary interventions are also required. Monitoring the utilised species This is a new monitoring area to be formulated in the future for monitoring the population of certain species that are utilised in the economy (for example, camomile, edible snail, hamster, etc.), with the purpose of ensuring the survival of these populations. 5.4.1.3.7 Establishing a consultancy system about preserving biodiversity for farmers Reviving agricultural activities that are adjusted to the conditions of land (ecological conditions), preserving the traditional varieties of plants (fruit and grape species, etc.) is as important in protecting nature as preserving the traditional Hungarian domestic animal breeds. The plant cultivars and animal breeds that have been developed under the ecological conditions of the Carpathian basin are indispensable to the success of ecological agricultural activities because they have become most adapted to their environment, can be produced and kept at the most environmentally friendly and environmentally sound way. In order to maintain the richness of the natural assets of the country, farmers are needed – both in the protected and in non-protected areas – who undertake realising the above purposes and whose activities can be and must be helped most effectively by a special consultancy system. The co-operation agreement that has been concluded between the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development includes the need for a consultancy system to be collectively formulated for the sake of harmonising the execution of the tasks of the National Agri-Environmental Programme. 162 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008The consultancy system will be operated in order to achieve safe food supply in an environment that is rich in natural and landscape assets where farmers should have an appropriate level of income, while the natural assets survive. 5.4.1.3.8 Strengthening the environmental protection and public welfare functions of forests During the past two decades, the requirement of the society towards the forests has changed significantly and the tasks to be performed in connection with preserving biodiversity according to national and international expectations have also become more significant. At present, Hungarian forestry management can only partially fulfil these new tasks. State subsidy needs to be ensured from the central budget to help shifting to nature-friendly forestry management. Considering social expectations and the new challenges, formulating the professional concept of forestry and the ideas of its long-term development are important tasks. The co-operation between the ministries and scientific workshops that work on elaborating the national forestry strategy and forestry programme is continuing in order to prepare the nature conservation guidelines of the strategy. Unified guidelines are to be compiled for preparing and defining the regional forestry plans, for performing the tasks of the national park directorates related to the jurisdiction of the minister to give approval and opinion. 5.4.1.3.9 Compensation In certain cases, restrictions on agriculture and forestry, prohibition of agricultural production or considerable modification in the structure of production are to be stipulated to enforce environmental interests. Outside protected areas, however, these efforts are to be implemented with the co-operation of farmers. In most cases this co-operation means financial losses, which could be compensated in the course of a compensation procedure. The Act on Nature Conservation regulates how farmers are compensated for managing their land in an environmentally friendly manner: Article 72 of the Act sets out the compensation rules arising from the losses caused by the prohibitions and restrictions related to nature conservation. In the cases listed in the act the actual losses must be reimbursed, unless restrictions or prohibitions are applied for the justified goal of preventing or stopping the losses of environmental harm as compensation claims do not arise in such cases.In the long term instead of compensation schemes farmers should be encouraged by agreements to perform environmentally aware farming activity. This would enable to achieve the required results through a grant system.163 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Besides areas protected by local governments, the preservation of natural assets plays a very important role in raising environmental awareness and the formation of a responsible attitude of the population toward their neighbourhood. As local governments usually do not have the expert staff to perform such activities, in most cases locally important nature conservation areas have been established through the co-operation of civil organizations and local governments. For sustaining conservation areas expert help and financial aid are indispensable elements. 5.4.1.3.10 Involving local governments and NGOs in the execution of nature conservation tasks Out of the 1,414 nature conservation areas protected by a specific law 1,225 are locally important protected areas. This also shows what a significant part local governments have in nature conservation. Local governments play an important role in protecting natural assets, as well as representing and increasing their social acceptance and raising awareness to them. Therefore, a wide-spectrum involvement of the local governments in nature conservation activities should be among priority tasks for a more effective protection of local resources. In this way on one hand, the motivation of smaller communities could serve environmental goals and on the other hand local communities will be able to assume a more active role in the conservation of their own resources. For this purpose it is necessary that local governments get acquainted with the practical tasks of protection (from the procedure of declaring species protected to active conservation measures). It is also crucial to extend the network of locally important conservation areas and to provide financial support to their establishment and safeguarding. Local governments could be of immense help with fulfilling international obligations. Designating a world heritage site or a Natura 2000 site could well boost the pride of people living in the vicinity. This may bring new hope that the long-term concept of transforming nature conservation into a leading sector may become creditable. Nature conservation may be effective at international, government and local levels only if there is stronger co-operation between local governments and national park directorates. The government authorities must support (e.g. by drafting guidelines and by organizing professional trainings) the activities of local governments. The national park directorates will have to establish ongoing contacts with local authorities. The regional development and organization plans must assure the sustenance and protection of the natural assets and also the original landscape structure of the settlements. For this purpose the extension of areas to be built in and also the extension of the city and town centres may not cause damage to the ecological network, its habitats or the landscape assets of the given settlement.164 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008In Hungary, NGOs set up with the specific aim of nature conservation have a significant role in the conservation, exhibition of natural assets as well as in environmental education. There are over a hundred NGOs, which regularly participate in the above activities. In certain protected areas belonging to these environmental NGOs great results have been achieved in the last two decades as regards for example area management, preservation of populations of endangered species, exploration of new sites of endangered species or regarding continuous population monitoring. In the field of environmental education NGOs have unique achievements surpassing, in many aspects, the activity of government efforts. The work of NGOs carrying out activities focused on nature conservation, awareness raising and education centres must be given high priority and must be supported. NGOs, beside their professional activities, can have a great influence on nature conservation issues. Due to their quick reaction they effectively help the work of government bodies and possessing appropriate expert knowledge they also have a controlling function. The well-organized and built-up network of NGOs constitutes the mass basis of nature conservation. Neither are their activities negligible in view of the national economy as NGOs have been adding two more Hungarian forints to each and every forint received in the form of grants in the last ten years either with voluntary work or by raising funds from other sources. In the field of nature conservation there are a number of tasks which – according to the current legislation – should be implemented by the government or local authorities, however part of the tasks could be performed by civil organizations in most cases more effectively, quickly and in a more cost effective way removing burden from government bodies. For the above reasons it will be practical in the future to support the programmes of civil organizations which carry out tasks specified in the Nature Conservation Master Plan. 5.4.1.3.11 Cadastral survey of unique landscape features and general protection of landscapeIn order to facilitate the harmonization of sectoral development plans and the execution of the Nature Conservation Master Plan it has become necessary – enabled by the Act on Nature Conservation – to draft the missing nature and landscape protection plans on different levels. The missing standards of landscape protection will have to be elaborated and enforced in the coming years. In order to enable a more consistent and detailed implementation of the landscape protection tasks the Guidance on Landscape Protection which have been designed to provide assistance for the landscape protection authorities as included in law 166/1999 (XI. 19.) shall be finished and published.165 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Nature and landscape conservation also plays an important role in the protection of the elements of cultural history belonging to the landscape within and outside nature conservation areas. Elaboration of legislation necessary for fulfilling the task must be commenced. Joining the European Landscape Convention (Florence Convention) must be ensured The conditions of tenders used for granting state subsidies, allowances for certain sectoral investments must contain criteria to exclude any possible harm to the landscape or nature. Article 6 of Act No. LIII. of 1996 on Nature Conservation gives a definition of the unique landscape features and also defines their designation and registration. The types of unique landscape features and the way cadastral surveys are carried out are specified in detail by Hungarian Standard MSZ 20381: 1999. In compliance with this standard, national park directorates implement among their tasks the survey of unique cadastral landscape features and their registration. This task has been finished in the administrative territory of 201 Hungarian settlements. To set up a consistent system it will be necessary to carry out cadastral surveys with the supervision of the directorates in co-operation with local governments and NGOs. The management plans of given nature conservation areas should include the unique landscape features, the conditions of cadastral surveying and its digital processing must be created to enable a wider usage. (Beside the cadastral surveys, the elaboration of the information technology registration system to survey the unique landscape features is also important.) 5.4.1.3.12 Game managementIn the protected woodlands and nature conservation areas reducing the unacceptably high number of game populations is still indispensable. Therefore, in accordance with the agreement concluded with the Ministry of Agriculture the lower and upper limits applicable to the number of sustainable game populations must be revised in each game management area, in particular in case of red deer, wild boar and non-native species. Simultaneously, the hunting concept of nature conservation is being formulated, whereas long-term development plans are also being drafted. Dealing with the topic and the task - due to their importance - is justified but it does not require separate cost allocation. 166 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.1.4 Preserving the populations of endangered species5.4.1.4.1 Elaboration and implementation of plans for the protection of endangered species In the course of the last decade according to international nature conservation practices it was general to elaborate protection plans for the species, which require management. In Hungary it will be also practical to work out protection plans for a number of endangered species and species with a considerable number of game populations even in international comparison. To date the protection plans of 14 bird species (e.g. Great Bustard, Imperial Eagle, Red-footed Falcon etc.) have been finished, however, for many other vertebrates, as well as butterflies and other endangered invertebrates the elaboration and implementation of such plans will be necessary as well. The aim of the protection is to identify the research areas, protective measures and the task of each participant to ensure the survival and sustenance of the given species over a long period of time. 5.4.1.4.2 General protective measures The execution of plans designed to protect populations of endangered species may require specific measures in certain cases. As an example we can mention the insulating caps on high-tension electric poles protecting birds of prey or attaching artificial stork’s nests on electric poles. In order to assure the uninterrupted movement of animals in ecological corridors, protective measures involving the construction of planned technical facilities such as overpasses for game over motorways, frog tunnels and other similar facilities reduce the risk factors appearing as a consequence of human activities. The preservation of natural assets in residential areas also belongs to such measures. Even in larger towns in Hungary we can find a considerable number of protected plant and animal species and the necessary measures should be taken to protect their populations or specimens (White Stork, Barn Owl, different bat species etc.). 5.4.1.5 Preservation of caves and geomorphological formations 5.4.1.5.1 Protection of caves In the natural asset category, caves are ‘ex lege’ protected under subsection e of Article 4 and paragraph 2 of Article 23 of the Act on nature conservation. Due to their specific nature, being immobile and having no extension on the surface, tasks for maintaining their state and conditions are very similar to that of site conservation. A priority task in the planning period will be to hand over these assets exclusively in state property, (paragraph (1) of Article 68 of the Act) to the property management of national park directorates as well as to create a property registration167 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008(paragraph (1) of Article 49 of the act ) based on authentic cave registration data, furthermore to designate protected areas of protected caves with an opening located outside the protected surface area and to define related restrictions (paragraph (5) of Article 48 of the Act). Another legislative measure – (paragraphs (1), (3) of Article 4 of KTM decree 13/1998 (V. 6) – stipulates the supervision of the survey of 132 strictly protected caves and 400 caves of particular interest in every five years, which will enable to include the related management, research, reconstruction, interpretation and educational tasks in the nature conservation management plans. 5.4.1.5.2 Declaring the protection of geological formations, artificial hollows and other geomorphological assets Act No. LIII. of 1996 on nature conservation regulates geological – geomorphological formations (subsections f, g, h, j, of Article 22) artificial hollows of special conservation importance (paragraph (2) of Article 48) as well as minerals, mineral associations and fossil remains of special importance (paragraph (1) of Article 52). In the survey of the above resources there has been advance only in connection to artificial hollows important in the protection of bats. In order to prepare the protection declaration of the above assets their survey must be carried out, in addition, necessary tasks for the management, sustenance and restoration are to be defined and executed. 5.4.1.6 Increasing the staff of regional nature conservation bodies 5.4.1.6.1 Development of ranger service The number of state-employed rangers reached 226 in January 2003, one ranger watches, on average, an area of 41,164 hectares out of which 3,631 hectares are located in protected areas. Taking into consideration the protected ‘ex lege’ assets, this proportion is even higher and every additional designation further increases the number of sites to be guarded. For an effective and high-standard execution of duties – regarding the complexity of the tasks arising from the relevant legislation – doubling the number of rangers would be a must. The planned increase in the number of rangers at national park directorates should not be decided only according to the size of protected and non-protected natural areas of the relevant directorates, but the number of visitors in the protected area as well as the extent to which the area is endangered (agglomeration of cities, number of acts damaging the environment) should also be taken into account. For the operation of the ranger service uniforms, service identity cards and badges, handheld service weapons, service diaries, mobile phones, digital cameras168 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 recording the date, legal codes etc. and service cars – depending on the nature of duty – must be provided for. 5.4.1.6.2 Developments necessary for implementing the tasks of national park directorates beyond safeguarding activities In the last couple of years due to new legislative measures and the accession to the EU the number of tasks to be implemented by national park directorates has markedly risen both under national legislation and international agreements. Monitoring obligations arising from the National Agri-Environmental Protection Programme, animal protection, landscape conservation, the increase of agricultural- and woodland in property management of the directorates, the tasks in connection to keeping dangerous animals, liabilities involving the protection of the national ecological network etc. have significantly increased the number of tasks to be carried out and therefore the number of staff and related costs have also risen. 5.4.1.7 Maintenance and development of nature conservation information and registration systems Article 67 of Act No. LIII. of 1996 on nature conservation and Article 49 of Act No. LIII. of 1995 on general regulations concerning environmental protection stipulate the operation of a national information system serving environmental purposes and other related tasks of the minister. In compliance with the above law environmental authorities must carry out the continuous registration of protected natural areas and assets. Authorities also have to manage, among their tasks, the regular maintenance and development of digital data bases and map data bases. Today high standard storage and handling of data is inconceivable without geographic information systems for the digital display of maps. Their usage, updating map data bases and their integration into the information providing process requires continuous development. Hungary will only be able to comply with the information providing obligations raised by the European Union if the country reaches Western European standard of data registration and information supply. In order to modernize the property registration and property management as regards nature conservation the digital state-developed reference map and TAKANET system should be gradually replaced. 5.4.2 International Obligations 5.4.2.1 Tasks related to EU accession 5.4.2.1.1 Establishment of the Natura 2000 network In the course of joining the European Union our country’s most important law harmonization task in the field of nature conservation is to identify the Hungarian169 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 sites of the Natura 2000 network to be established for the protection of the habitats and species of community importance. Special Protection Areas constitute a part of the Natura 2000 network in accordance with Directive No. 79/409/EEC on the protection of birds living in the wild, which have to be identified by Hungary for the protection of the migrating birds and the endangered species of birds listed in Appendix I of the Directive. In accordance with article 3. of Directive No. 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive) a proposal has to be made for Special Areas of Conservation, (SAC), where types of natural habitats listed in Appendix I of the Directive and important from the community’s aspect and habitats of plant and animal species listed in Appendix II can be found. The aim is to preserve these types of natural habitats and the habitats of these species. The areas recommended on the basis of professional considerations are approved by the European Union Commission and after the approval each member state provides for the protection of the areas, for which community joint support can be obtained in justified cases. In relation to the Natura 2000 sites, our country, similarly to other member states, has to take the necessary protection steps, if required by making management plans, which relate specifically to the areas or as a part of other development plans. Appropriate legislative, administrative or contractual measures, which meet the ecological demands of the endangered natural habitat types and species have to be taken. The necessary steps have to be taken in order to avoid the destruction of natural habitats, the habitats of the species in these areas and the disturbance of those species to the protection of which the area has been identified. In the interest of the protection of the species and habitat types of high importance member states may apply for community joint fund for the establishment of the Natura 2000. Within the programme of the EU entitled “regions with adverse conditions and environmental restrictions” (LFA) further possibilities for support and resources shall be available. During the planning cycle it is necessary to arrange a scientific professional reconciliation forum, i.e. a Steering Committee, with international experience to provide continuous help in the public administration work focusing on the fulfilment of the tasks connected to EU accession and arising from international obligations. 5.4.2.1.1.1 Designation of Special Protection Areas On the basis of the Birds Directive on the protection of birds, the technical draft of the list of Special Protection Areas has been compiled, constituting a part of the Natura 2000 network and serving for the protection of habitats of bird species of community importance. After their designation, these sites shall automatically170 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 become parts of the Natura 2000 network. When identifying these areas, the ecological demands of the species have to be kept in view, with special regard to the areas of their reproduction, moulting, wintering and migration resting sites. Special attention has to be paid to the protection of the wetlands, especially to the habitats of international significance. The appropriate administrative and public administrative measures have to be taken for the legal announcement of the identification (reconciliation, collection of land registration numbers, further surveys, etc.). The Special Protection Areas have to be identified by Hungary before the date of accession to the EU. 5.4.2.1.1.2 Survey and designation of Special Areas of Conservation On the basis of the criteria listed in the Habitats Directive and the relating scientific knowledge Hungary also has to make a proposal for the list of sites of Community importance indicating which endangered natural habitat types and species the particular areas hold. The list of the proposed sites of Community importance – together with the full documentation of the areas – has to be submitted to the European Union Commission before the date of accession. The documents have to include the map, name, location, and extension of the areas and – in the form prescribed by the Commission – the data arising from the application of the professional criteria listed in Appendix III of the directive. The Commission in co-operation with our country shall select and – in compliance with the directive – approve the list of those areas which are justified by them as of community importance. Afterwards, as soon as possible, – but not later than within six years – the area has to be declared a Special Area of Conservation. 5.4.2.1.1.3 Monitoring, research Both nature conservation directives prescribe for the member states the continuous monitoring of the conservation status of the species and habitats listed therein with special regard to the regular monitoring of their populations, the scientific research of the factors endangering their survival. Within the framework of the national biodiversity monitoring system, the monitoring of habitats and species included in the appendices of the directives and occurring in Hungary has started with standardized methods. The information obtained this way is to be exchanged in the interest of the appropriate co-ordination of the research performed on member state and Community levels. The national reports to be prepared periodically are also based on the data arising from monitoring. Special attention has to be paid to the identification of the areas, the scientific work required for the implementation of the ecological network, as well as the support of the transboundary research co-operation among the member states.171 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.2.1.1.4 Data supplying obligation towards the European Union After becoming a member of the EU Hungary has to prepare detailed reports every three years under the Birds Directive, and every six years under the Habitats Directive to the European Union Commission on the execution of the provisions made in accordance with the two directives, on the control of the execution, on the conditions of the Natura 2000 sites, on the status of the endangered habitats and species, the actual threats, and the measures taken to prevent them. Every country has to make a report every year on the internal derogation, exemptions performed during the implementation of the directives and their possible effects. For preparing the reports, in addition to the results of the monitoring and research, regular collection, processing of further data are essential in connection with the activities described in the directives (e.g. derogation related to hunting, livestock regulation in relation to certain species). 5.4.2.1.1.5 Extensive information for the society The European Union lays special emphasis on making the society familiar with the stipulations of the directives in as wide range as possible because these objectives of protection cannot be realized without involving wider strata of the society. The information has to include the presentation of the restrictions and prohibitions complying with the directives and built in the domestic legislation on the one hand and the introduction of the financing systems available to farmers on the other. These latter monetary assets help to preserve the favourable state of the endangered habitats and species in respect of nature conservation by supporting extensive agricultural production. 5.4.2.1.1.6 Maintenance of Natura 2000 sites The favourable conservation status of Natura 2000 sites has to be preserved after the announcement and if required, it has to be restored. The identification of Natura 2000 sites is in progress in Hungary, in accordance with estimations based on the data of the present member states, the designation of about two hundred Natura 2000 sites can be expected covering 15 per cent of the country. A part of the areas to be identified already enjoys national or local protection or will become protected soon, thus the sources of their maintenance are included in the costs of protected areas. At the same time, according to estimations, at least one-third to two-thirds of the Natura 2000 sites (5-10 per cent of the territory of the country) belong to the network of non-protected natural areas thus their maintenance means a cost factor connected explicitly to EU accession. On these areas the favourable conservation status is ensured by purchasing the area, and carrying out active management activities and habitat restoration. On the areas remaining in private property, costs can arise from indemnification to be paid for compensating possible profit loss due to nature-172 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 friendly agriculture complying with the management plan or from the payment of the subsidy based on contracts made with farmers. The demands for funds can just be estimated at present taking into consideration the costs of other EU member states. Counting with the areas amounting to 5-10 per cent of the country (465,000- 930,000 ha) and with the costs of HUF 4.5-50 thousand/hectare per year (on the basis of EU data) the operation of the Natura 2000 network shall mean additional annual maintenance costs of minimum HUF 2.1-4.2 billion (maximum 46.5 billion HUF!) per year. 5.4.2.1.2 Implementation of the Washington Convention (CITES) and the decree No. 338/97/EC 5.4.2.1.2.1 Tasks of the central and local organs Hungary joined the Washington Convention (CITES), which came into force in 1973, in 1985, and promulgated its regulations through the law-decree No. 15/1986, the implementation of which is stipulated by Government decree No. 271/2002. (XII.20.). The aim of the CITES is the protection of the species which are endangered primarily by international trade. It regulates the international trade of about 35,000 species of animals and plants falling under its force through a strict licensing system, and listed in three supplements in accordance with their endangered status. The EU decree No. 338/97/EC as well as the decrees No. 939/97/EC and 1808/2001/EC issued for the implementation thereof stipulate the implementation of the convention for the member states by law. After Hungary’s accession, in addition to maintain some stricter national regulations, the articles of these statutes shall replace the national statutes effective at present. The convention operates with a licensing system vested with the ministries, which are completed with other official, registering, and controlling tasks. The import and export (re-export) licences for the specimens entering and leaving the country and falling under the force of CITES are issued by the CITES administration authority of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Due to the strict licensing system prescribed by the new implementation decree of the convention, the number of licences issued are expected to increase by an order of magnitude. As a result of the increased number of licences also the number of official controls, seizure and confiscation will increase. For the execution of these tasks on European Union level, staff increase of the administrative authority is required. The new government decree passed about the implementation of the convention stipulates obligations for the registration of a certain circle of species. Similarly to the former decree, each specimen of these species has to be registered. The central register kept at the administrative authority has to be vested with the national park173 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 directorates in the planning period. In connection to it electronic database and informatics background of the communication between the central and regional registers have to be established. The registration vested with the directorates involves the checking of the specimens subject to registration, tradesmen, shops, and the maintenance of the relations with the customs and other authorities. It is necessary to establish the appropriate infrastructural background to fulfil the tasks (usage of vehicles, computer, mobile phone, etc.). In the field of legislation it is an important task to transform the decree-law promulgating the text of the convention into an act. 5.4.2.1.2.2 Training (customs organizations, veterinary and plant hygiene, police, etc.) and public information In the domestic implementation of CITES, in addition to the nature conservation authorities, the customs and excise office also has a significant role. The convention in its supplements prescribes licence requirement for transporting the specimens of the species across the borders. Taking into consideration that the control of international trade is the most effective at frontiers, customs offices, the veterinary and plant hygiene stations operating there have significant responsibility in this work. At the same time, it is the customs organizations’ duty to indicate the fact of leaving or entering the country on the licences attached to the shipments crossing frontiers. To enable the staff of the customs and excise office to fulfil these tasks their permanent training is necessary. These training sessions were held regularly in the past years by nature conservation professionals in accordance with the co- operation agreement concluded between VPOP (National Customs and Excise Office) and TvH (Office for Nature Conservation) in 1996 and renewed in 2002 and the continuation thereof has great importance also in the future. The same relates to the further training of veterinary and plant hygiene professionals and their more active involvement. It is an important task to involve the regional organs of the police in the central controls relating to the convention. The police organizations have a significant role in the investigation phase of the criminal procedures initiated in the case of violating the stipulations of the convention. Their training to fulfil these tasks has basic significance. The statues promulgating the Washington Convention stipulate obligations also in relation to the concerned citizens. It is a highly important task to make the widest possible strata of society and the concerned sectors familiar with these regulations.174 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008In the interest thereof it is required to prepare publications, information materials, posters presenting the aims and regulations of the convention to the public and possibly to organize campaigns. In addition, increased attention must be paid to the regular presentation of the subject in the media because this is the only way to make the citizens of the country familiar with the most important information of CITES. 5.4.2.1.3 The EU Water Framework Directive Government resolution No. 2329/2001. (XI.21.) has specified the tasks related to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive No. 2000/60/EC and the ministries responsible for the realization. The Water Framework Directive lays great emphasis on nature conservation, the preservation and improvement of the status of aquatic ecosystems, the terrestrial ecosystems depending directly on water and wetland areas. In the directive, the identification of water bodies, typology, ecological water qualification and monitoring are very important tasks. In the following period many tasks related to nature conservation are expected to be executed for the national adaptation of the Water Framework Directive of the EU. Accordingly, the identification, hydrological-morphological characterization and classification according to types of water bodies have been started. The assessment and characterization of the basic state of water bodies have to be completed until the end of 2004. It is connected with the development of a type-specific reference system, an ecological water qualification system, and a monitoring system, different from the existing ones. In the latter ones the role of nature conservation sector is decisive. The Water Framework Directive also stipulates the identification of protected waters and wetland areas. The list of these protected areas has to be compiled until the end of 2004. Full harmonization of the provisions connected to the Water Framework Directive and the legal material of national nature conservation related to wetland areas is an urgent task. The most important professional task is to determine the typology, the indicator parameters, the reference relations of surface waters and the limits belonging to the various classes of the biological state, to characterize the surface water bodies, to evaluate the state of the ecosystems depending on subsurface waters as well as the sources reflecting the volume of subsurface waters, to determine the related environmental restrictions, to identify the water bodies and reference areas and to monitor the surface waters and subsurface waters.175 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.2.2 International conventions 5.4.2.2.1 Implementation of the Ramsar Convention The convention on the protection of wetland habitats was signed in 1971 and it was promulgated in Hungary through the Act No. XLII. of 1993. In the course of the realization of the Ramsar Convention, permanent monitoring, documentation of the ecological character of wetland habitats of international significance, wise use of all wetland habitats found in the country and their sustainable usage have to be ensured. The enacting clause of the convention has to be elaborated. All of the already existing wetland habitats of international significance and the areas falling under the scope of the convention in the following years (on the basis of a list of land registration numbers) have to be announced together with data of property registration. In accordance with the expectations of the convention the Hungarian National Ramsar Committee has to be renewed, which will consist of representatives of ministries, sectors concerned in the field of the wetland habitats, representatives of scientific life and civil organizations. The execution of the Ramsar Communication Programme complying with the resolutions of the convention has to be started. Within this, activities strengthening the general popularity of wetland habitats, the local, regional and national popularity of Ramsar sites have to be carried out, in which the International Day of the Wetland Habitats to be organized on 2 February every year may have an important role. 5.4.2.2.2 Implementation of the World Heritage Convention The convention on the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of the world was adopted by the UNESCO in 1972 in response to the dangers threatening the global, cultural and natural assets and to the fact that many countries have neither financial nor scientific nor technical means to ensure the protection thereof. The convention determines the circle of natural and cultural assets which may be suitable for being included in the world heritage list and states the obligations of the countries concerned in the interest of their protection. Primarily the MNCH is responsible for the execution of the convention. However, the presentation, protection and management of the proposals relating to the natural and cultural landscape groups are the tasks of MEW. The intersectoral coordinating organization is the Hungarian National Committee of the World Heritage existing since 1986. This body fulfils the tasks related to the selection of potential Hungarian world heritage sites and the presentation of the tender documents.176 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008In the plans of nature conservation – in addition to the high level management and infrastructural development of the existing natural assets – the presentation of new natural world heritage sites is also included. The palaeontological site of Tarnóc and the thermal karst of Buda are already included in the preliminary list and after the acceptance of the latter the world heritage of Budapest could be requalified in the most valuable and rarest category, the miscellaneous category. The national committee will propose the primordial habitat of Tarnóc as world heritage in 2004. 5.4.2.2.3 Implementation of the Washington Convention (CITES) In relation to the regulations of CITES we have tasks only as a party to the convention until joining the EU in 2004. Since following accession the regulations of the decrees relating to the implementation of the convention and constituting a part of the community legal material shall become the responsibility of our country as EU obligations, the acts to be passed are described in item 4.2.1.2. 5.4.2.2.4 Implementation of the Bonn Convention Hungary joined the convention announced in 1979, for the protection of migratory species living in the wild, in 1986. The convention was promulgated through law- decree No. 6. of 1986, which has to be transformed into an act during the next years. In accordance with the resolutions of the 7th conference of the parties, Hungary also has to take steps to take into consideration the interests of migratory animals when planning wind power plants, and the risk of bird destruction caused by medium voltage power lines has to be decreased through measures protecting the species independent of site protection. The Bonn Convention is a framework convention which – similarly to other international conventions – enumerates in supplements the species that need protection. The countries affected by migration routes have to conclude agreements and memoranda of understanding for the protection of these species. So far six such agreements have been made and Hungary is affected by two of them. Hungary joined the agreement on the preservation of the populations of European bat species (EUROBATS) in 1994. In accordance with the regulations of the convention, the monitoring of the bat species living in Hungary has to be realized as a part of the NBMR programme. The monitoring of the artificial underground cavities serving as habitats has to be carried out and the database of the caves occupied by bats has to be established in a similar way. The protection of the bats living in the slits of prefabricated blocks of buildings is a highly important task in respect of practical nature conservation. For the preservation of these bat species, protection steps have to be elaborated and the information of the population should be an inseparable part thereof.177 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Our country joined the agreement on the protection of African-Eurasian migrating waterfowl (AEWA) on 17 December, 2002. In addition to the promulgation of the agreement through an act, the most important task is to put an end to the use of lead shot in wetland habitats, before 15 August, 2005. In case of endangered waterfowl species, plans for the protection of the species have to be prepared. The preservation of significant waterfowl habitats has to be ensured. 5.4.2.2.5 Implementation of the Bern Convention The Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats can be considered as a nature conservation convention of Europe; it was accepted in 1979, in Bern, and became effective in 1982. It was promulgated in Hungary in 1990. The main aim of the convention is to ensure European co-operation in the interest of the protection of endangered animal and plant species living in Europe as well as of endangered ecosystems. Within the convention – in addition to resolutions – also recommendations related to particular cases are made. Up to now one of them referred specifically to Hungary, which was adopted in 1991 for the protection of the Vipera ursinii rakosiensis. For the implementation thereof research and protection programmes are being prepared. It is a task for the future to promulgate the convention as an act and to draft the enacting decree. 5.4.2.2.6 The national implementation of the convention on biodiversity The Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD was promulgated through the Act No. LXXXI. of 1995, in Hungary. The CBD opens wider perspectives in the interest of the conservation of wildlife. Contrary to former conventions regulating the protection and utilization of endangered groups, species and wildlife habitats, it refers to the whole of wildlife and also its aims reflect a holistic concept: the prevention of the further degradation of the Earth’s wildlife. It has three main objectives: preservation of the biodiversity, maintainable utilization of its elements, and fair distribution of the benefits arising from the genetic resources. These include access to the genetic sources, delivery of appropriate technologies and also financial support. The convention sets forth that it is the sovereign right of the states to dispose of their flora and fauna and they are responsible for the damage caused by them in the environment beyond their borders. One of our important tasks in accordance with the CBD is the acceptance and execution of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Programme (NBSAP).178 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008An important task not yet completed is the ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on the international regulation relating to the genetically modified organisms and the establishment of the organization required for its execution. For this purpose, among others, the authoritative tasks of the MEW have to be fulfilled in a scientifically founded way. 5.4.2.3 Further international relations 5.4.2.3.1 Bi- and multilateral co-operation (action plans, PR, operation cost) On the territory of each national park directorate there are protected natural areas and areas to be protected, which are connected to the natural areas of the neighbouring countries, thus Hungarian public nature conservation, in the framework of bi- and multilateral nature conservation co-operation, works on the harmonization of nature management and on visits. The most important fields of co- operation in the future are: - harmonising the establishment of the Natura 2000 network; - establishment of new transboundary national parks and landscape protection areas; - establishment of a common ecological system; - establishment of common tourist border crossings; - submission of common PHARE-tenders; - harmonised management and research of shared world heritage sites. 5.4.2.3.2 Maintaining relations with international professional organizations The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), established in 1948, unites states, governmental organizations and civil organizations with a wide scope of activities in a special co-operation frame. At present 181 countries represent themselves in the organization. The IUCN offers a neutral forum where the above organizations can meet, exchange views and plan the common work. Hungary as a member state of the Council of Europe must face many challenges in the field of environmental and regional or physical planning, which often makes international co-operation necessary. The Council of Europe has elaborated a lot of instruments in these subjects, in this way also in the interest of the preservation and management of the European natural environment. The information and documentation centre of the Council of Europe specialized in nature conservation as well as the Naturopa Centre established in 1967, which provides information for the decision-makers and the public on the basis of the ‘right information to the right179 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 person at the right time’ principle and publishes its publications in many languages can be mentioned here. The Council of Europe gives European Diplomas as rewards to the natural areas which give evidence of the richness and diversity of European nature; this is a prestigious international recognition in the field of safeguarding natural heritage. The Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe proposed to sign the European Nature Conservation Convention on the protection, management and planning of the European landscapes in 2000. 1 or 2 years following the appropriate number of ratifications, the convention shall become effective. In the past year also Hungary took part in the preparatory conferences and discussions. The signing and ratification of the convention as well as the fulfilment of the system of tasks connected thereto is the duty of the planning period of 2003-2008. The EUROPARC (Association of European National Parks) is an important organization, which carries in its name the recognition that the maintenance of natural resources cannot be solved within the borders of individual national parks or countries. However, through international co- operation, by exchanging the experiences and information, harmonizing certain habitat protection programmes and through renewed nature conservation policy, the desired state can be achieved. On May 26, every year – on the Day of the European National Parks – the members of the organization organize a meeting, within which there is an additional opportunity to establish relations among the various nature conservation organizations. The ministry and the national park directorates maintain profitable relations with other significant international professional organizations such as Wetlands International (also Hungary is a member of it), the ECNC (European Centre for Nature Conservation), the FFI (Flora and Fauna International), the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and the ISCA (International Show Caves Association). Bilateral professional co-operation is highly important for the national park directorates whose nature conservation areas and assets are along the border of the country. The cost demands arising from co-operation and contacts with international professional organizations result from the member fees of the individual organizations, participation fees of international events and conferences, exchanges and publications.180 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.4.3 Raising Social Awareness for Nature Conservation 5.4.3.1 Development and implementation of communication strategy The communication strategy of nature conservation in harmony with the communication strategy of the ministry, as a part thereof, but independently, has to be developed emphasizing the specific features. The importance of the values of the Pannonicum in Europe, the priority of the principle of sustainability, the presentation of the legal background of Hungarian nature conservation has to be highlighted. The strategy must include the target groups of the messages of nature conservation. In the course of the elaboration of the tasks the measures, which – as a part of the common, uniform and single strategy – are communicated by certain actors of nature conservation (TvH, national park directorates, background institute, social organizations, institutes of the educational and cultural heritage, etc.) have to be defined exactly. In the course of implementation, application of the methods of conscious marketing communication as well as the involvement of civil organizations are essential. 5.4.3.2 Elaboration of the concept of ecotourism, improving services, increasing the standard of tourism In 2002 the Ministry of Economy and Transport as well as the Ministry of Environment and Water jointly prepared their concept proposal on the 10-year development of ecotourism, which was presented to the government for discussion and decision. Today it is already possible to take into consideration ecotourism developments during the determination of the financial resources of tourism developments. In the course of ecotourism, developments, the aspects of nature conservation must take priority, especially if the developments are related to protected natural areas. Reckless ruining natural resources would terminate tourism attraction, which is the basis of ecotourism. Ecotourism targeting the natural heritage is important in respect of both the economy of the country, vitalization of internal turnover, the improvement of the image of the country and it also promotes foreigners’ visits to Hungary. The expansion, improvement of services, increasing the standard of tourism is practical, professional task, the realization of which should be performed by the participants thereof adjusting to the development concept. An important task for the181 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 future is a significant expansion of the information flow and the establishment of visitors’ centres as widely as possible. 5.4.3.3 Raising awareness 5.4.3.3.1 Presentation of protected natural areas: education Among the basic activities of national park directorates, and in addition to the support of protection and research, Act No. LIII. of 1996 on nature conservation stipulates the interpretation of protected assets. In the course of educational activities and the establishment of the infrastructure of ecotourism, the priority to protect the natural and cultural heritage has to be kept in view. The already heavy pressure of some strictly protected areas has to be terminated and at the same time zones free to the public and those that can be visited to a limited extent led by special guides have to be improved for interpretation. When compiling the programme offer, visitors should get to know the protected natural assets and the aim of their protection through various interpretation techniques, not only through secondary sources (publications, films, photos, etc.) but through direct experience. We consider primarily the youth, the children and students (from kindergarten to higher institutes) as the target group of educational activities. In addition, the programmes have to be forwarded to the widest possible circle of the potential visitors both at home and abroad, making use of the possibilities provided by the Internet in addition to the conventional information carriers. The media (television, radio, written press) must have leading role in presenting protected natural areas, thus the media initiatives aiming at nature conservation, reaching a wide circle have to be supported as much as possible. Nature education has to be encouraged by intellectual and financial support so that our natural heritage in works (fine arts, nature film, video film, nature photo) providing aesthetic experience to the society could gain larger space than they have at present. In order to step forward, competition possibilities have to be provided for the preparation and publication of essays on nature conservation. 5.4.3.3.2 Organizing ‘high days’ of nature conservation The primary aim of the national park directorates by organizing the high days of nature conservation, celebrating the famous days related to the protection of our natural environment – beyond disseminating information – is the active involvement of the population and ensuring cooperation to safeguard the protected natural areas and assets. In accordance with Article 54. of Act LIII./1995 on the general regulations concerning environmental protection, every citizen shall have the right to acquire environmental information, to improve their knowledge and it shall be the task of the central and local governments to ensure the possibility thereof. In accordance with section (1) Article 64. of Act. No. LIII. of 1996 on nature182 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 conservation, the improvement of the society’s nature conservation culture has to be promoted by imparting knowledge relating to nature conservation, thus at the same time this task is a legal stipulation, too, for the national park directorates. The programmes, commemorations in connection with the Day of Birds and Trees the Day of the Earth, the Day of the European National Parks, the Day of International Bird watching, the Village Day and other high days ordered by section (3) Article 64. of the Act serving commitment to nature conservation may provide an excellent opportunity for wide circles of the society to get insight into the work of certain directorates, to get to know the protected natural territories, the assets characteristic to a particular region and the main goals of nature conservation. During the several-day programmes, events, meetings, camps – for example week of the forests, week of nature, local history camps, international artists’ camps, summer schools, nature camps – organized by the national park directorates, the participants may acquire deeper knowledge about our natural environment. These all may provide permanent experience primarily for the young generation, which results in a lifelong commitment to nature conservation. In addition to the demonstrative events, teaching of the healthy way of life has an important role, which can be ensured by organizing various sporting days and events (cross-country race, orienteering, touring cycle race, other cup ties, etc.). Intellectual competitions – for instance the Kaán Károly nature knowledge competition, the Herman Ottó national biology competition, the Teleki Pál national Geography-geology competition, the National competition on the Day of Birds and Trees – are to be further supported because these programmes serve to expand knowledge on nature. The direct benefit of environmental protection and nature conservation actions organized for grammar school students is indisputable; they may also promote the development of individuals’ responsibility. The aim of the competitions announced by MEW and the national park directorates is to support independent research, in the course of which the competitors reveal the natural assets existing in the environment of their residence (for example Our living heritage competition, Cholnoky Jenő karst- and cave researching competition). 5.4.3.3.3 Environmental education, teaching, raising awareness, PR Environmental education, teaching, forming of attitude, the interpretation of protected natural assets should be a harmonized task of public and higher education (within this particularly of teachers’ education) as well as of the organizations operating in the field of nature conservation. In order to achieve the aims it is necessary to harmonize the ideas and programmes of the concerned ministries related to summer schools, nature and environment protection camps and ecotourism programmes.183 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Without raising environmental awareness, wide-spread recognition of natural resources and nature conservation have no future. The target groups of raising awareness include each social group but actually effective and long term results in this field may be achieved among children and young people. Simultaneously with education, teaching and raising awareness activities serving nature conservation, attention must be paid to adult education promoting life-long learning with impact on the local society and local governments. Thus it is an important task of nature conservation organizations to take part in teaching, education and raising awareness. On the basis of Article 69 of the Act No. LIII./1996 on nature conservation also the teaching, educating and raising awareness activities aimed at nature conservation can be supported from the central budget. Teaching of nature conservation has to be present in public education and as a part of teaching the healthy way of life it should be involved in young people’s free time and sport programmes. The network of summer schools (summer kindergartens) has to be developed and all children should have possibility to outdoor learning about the natural heritage of Hungary at least once a year. In order to achieve it, possibilities for summer camps have to be ensured in the premises of national park directorates and water management directorates suitable for this aim. Simultaneously, postgraduate training of nurses, affected primary school and grammar school teachers, increased emphasis has to be laid on imparting knowledge on nature. When designing the infrastructure and operation of the information and visitor centres in the national parks, the establishment and operation of their functions as nature conservation teaching centres also have to be ensured. Leisure time teaching and popular educational activities of various NGOs, foundations, church organizations, local governments, etc. providing knowledge on environment protection and nature conservation have to be supported. 5.4.3.3.4 Preparation of homepages, their permanent updating The rapid development of informatics and the World Wide Web continuously shape and modify the possibilities of using the information channels. Most of the users of personal computers (professionals, researchers and students) obtain the information necessary for them mainly from the home pages available through the Internet. The home pages work as a kind of company information: on the pages many useful data, textual and other picture information can be provided to visitors. By establishing, developing and updating homepages, we may communicate data of general interest and other information presenting and popularizing works related to nature conservation more effectively than by any other communication channel.184 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Due to their interactive feature homepages may provide valuable data also to the owners. 5.4.3.4 Protection of animals Act No. XXVIII. of 1998, on the protection and consideration of animals was elaborated by the Ministry of Environment after a more than 10-year reconciliation work. After the effective day thereof the tasks related to the protection of animals were handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Ministry of Environment and Water remained responsible for wild animals living in captivity. In connection with it Hungary has tasks in EU law harmonization and legislation. The amendment of the joint decree No. 3/2001. (II.23.) KöM-MARD- MNCH-MHA on the establishment, operation and maintenance of zoos and animals’ homes is in progress – mainly at the request of the zoos. The joint decree No. 8/1999. (VIII.13) ME-MARD-MNCH-MHA is about the dangerous animals and the detailed rules of permitting their keeping, and also determines important tasks. The regulatory statutes assign significant additional permitting and controlling tasks to national park directorates, such as licensing, controlling the operation of zoos; licensing, checking the keeping of dangerous animals under the effect of national protection and international conventions on nature conservation; in case of other dangerous animals the fulfilment of authoritative tasks; in case of endangered animals and animals under the effect of international conventions on nature conversation, controlling fulfilment of the regulations of the Act on protection of animals, and imposing fines, if necessary. The harmonization, integration and management of these tasks is the Ministry’s duty. 5.4.3.5 Establishment and operation of the trademark system The European Union, in connection with its common agricultural policy (CAP) reform along with certifying special characteristics (2082/92) and organic production (2092/91), regulated the protection of the origin identification and the geographical identification. The most important economic background of the three decrees dealing with it is the following: - the intensive agriculture inspired by the common agricultural policy realized on the basis of the Rome Treaty produced huge quantity of surplus goods and environmental pollution as adverse “by-products”; - the manpower keeping ability of the underdeveloped regions continuously decreased, the developed industrialized regions became overpopulated; - the quantity of food consumption stagnates meanwhile the demand for specialities increases.185 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008On approximately 40 per cent of protected areas some kind of agricultural production may take place because the natural assets there may be maintained through extensive agriculture. The products produced as a result thereof have to be indicated and supplied with trademarks; consumers’ attention this way may be called that they buy healthy products. The products produced on protected natural areas fully take into consideration the aspects of environmental protection and nature conservation and they maximally comply with the food safety regulations.186 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Appendix: Legislative Obligations from Act No. LIII of 1996. I. Enacted rules of law Government decrees (6 pcs): 1.) Government decree No. 33/1997. (II. 20.) on the rules related to imposing nature conservation fines - Government decree* No. 238/2000. (XII. 23.) on the amendment of the Government decree No. 4/2000. (I. 21.) on the detailed rules relating to rangers and ranger duties as well as of the Government decree No. 33/1997. (II. 20.) on the rules related to imposing nature conservation fines 2.) Government decree No. 211/1997. (XI. 26.) on the scope of duties and authority of environmental inspectorates and national park directorates and on the Environmental and Nature Conservation Chief Inspectorate - Government decree* No. 35/2002. (III. 7.) on the scope of duties and authority of environmental inspectorates and national park directorates and on the amendment of Government decree No. 211/1997. (XI. 26.) on the Environmental and Nature Conservation Chief Inspectorate 3.) Government decree No. 8/1998. (I. 23.) on the detailed rules related to the protection, keeping, demonstrating, utilizing endangered species - Government decree* No. 139/1999. (IV. 3.) on the amendment of the Government decree No. 8/1998. (I. 23.) on the detailed rules related to the protection, keeping, demonstrating and utilizing endangered species - Government decree* No. 100/2001. (VI. 20.) on the amendment of the Government decree No. 8/1998. (I. 23.) on the detailed rules related to the protection, keeping, demonstrating and utilizing endangered species 4.) Government decree No. 67/1998. (IV. 3.) on the restrictions and prohibitions related to the protected and highly protected biocenoses 5.) Government decree No. 166/1999. (XI. 19.) on the permitting procedures falling under the scope of landscape conservation authorities 6.) Government decree No. 4/2000. (I. 21.) on the detailed rules relating to rangers and ranger duties - Government decree* No. 238/2000. (XII. 23.) on the amendment of the Government decree No. 4/2000. (I. 21.) on the detailed rules relating to rangers and ranger duties and the Government decree No. 33/1997. (II. 20.) on the rules related to imposing nature conservation fines 187 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008Ministerial decrees: Implementation decrees (9 pcs): 1.) KTM decree No. 13/1997. (V. 28.) on the register of protected natural areas and assets 2.) KTM decree No. 14/1997.(V. 28.) on categorizing the areas of national parks according to zones 3.) KTM decree No. 19/1997.(VII. 4.) on measures related to confiscated protected natural resources 4.) KTM decree No. 33/1997. (XI. 20.) on civil nature rangers - Government decree* KöM 23/2000. (XII. 14.) on the amendment of KTM decree No. 33/1997. (XI. 20.) on civil nature rangers 5.) KTM decree No. 36/1997. (XII. 8.) on the jurisdiction of environmental inspectorates and national park directorates - KvVM decree* No. 3/2002. (VII. 17.) on the amendment of KTM decree No. 36/ 1997. (XII. 8.) on the jurisdiction of environmental inspectorates and national park directorates 6.) KTM decree No. 13/1998. (V. 6.) on the register of caves, on certain conditions of visiting and researching the caves and the expansion of caves 7.) KöM decree No. 9/2000. (V. 19.) on the regulations of Ranger Service 8.) KöM decree No. 30/2001. (XII. 28.) on the rules related to the preparation, author and content of nature conservation management plans 9.) KöM decree No. 13/2001. (V. 9.) on the protected and highly protected plant and animal species, on the highly protected circle of caves and on the publication of plants and animals that are significant in the European Community in respect of nature conservation - KöM decree* No. 21/2001. (IX. 28.) on the amendment of the KöM decree No. 13/2001. (V. 9.) on the protected and highly protected plant and animal species, on the circle of highly protected caves and on the publication of plants and animals that are significant in the European Community in respect of nature conservation Ministerial decrees declaring forest reserves (9 pcs): 1.) KöM decree No. 1/2000. (III. 24.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Aggtelek * Amending and related legislation188 National Environmental Programme 2003-20082.) KöM decree No. 2/2000. (III. 24.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Balaton-felvidék 3.) KöM decree No. 3/2000. (III. 24.) on declaration certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Bükk 4.) KöM decree No. 4/2000. (III. 24.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Duna- Dráva 5.) KöM decree No. 13/2000. (VI. 26.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Fertő- Hanság 6.) KöM decree No. 14/2000. (VI. 26.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Duna- Ipoly 7.) KöM decree No. 15/2000. (VI. 26.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Hortobágy 8.) KöM decree No. 16/2000. (VI. 26.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Kiskunság 9.) KöM decree No. 17/2000. (VI. 26.) on declaration of certain protected natural areas forest reserves in the jurisdiction of the National Park Directorate of Körös-Maros Ministerial decrees declaring protection (44 pcs): 1.) KTM decree No. 3/1996. (IV. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Lake Vajai Nature Conservation Area 2.) KTM decree No. 4/1996. (IV. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Peregi Park Forest Nature Conservation Area 3.) KTM decree No. 5/1996. (IV. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Rácalmás Islands Nature Conservation Area 4.) KTM decree No. 6/1996. (IV. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Hortobágy National Park 189 National Environmental Programme 2003-20085.) KTM decree No. 7/1996. (IV. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Duna-Dráva National Park 6.) KTM decree No. 22/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Kiskunság National Park 7.) KTM decree No. 23/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Bükk National Park 8.) KTM decree No. 24/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Pilis Nature Reserve and modification some of its land register numbers 9.) KTM decree No. 25/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Lakes of Rétszilas Nature Conservation Area 10.) KTM decree No. 26/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Nagy-Mező - Arany-hegy Nature Conservation Area 11.) KTM decree No. 27/1996. (X. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Long Forest Nature Conservation Area 12.) KTM decree No. 1/1997. (I. 8.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Gellért Hill Nature Conservation Area 13.) KTM decree No. 3/1997. (I. 8.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Körös-Maros National Park 14.) KTM decree No. 11/1997. (III. 26.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Aggtelek National Park 15.) KTM decree No. 22/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Kesznyéten Nature Reserve and the amendment of the KTM decree No. 3/1996. (IV. 17.) on the establishment of the Lake Vajai Nature Conservation Area 16.) KTM decree No. 23/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Pécsely Basin Nature Reserve 17.) KTM decree No. 24/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the requalification of the Megyer Mountain Lake Nature Conservation Area as a protected natural area of national significance 190 National Environmental Programme 2003-200818.) KTM decree No. 25/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Fekete Mountain Nature Conservation Area 19.) KTM decree No. 26/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Sárvíz Valley Nature Reserve 20.) KTM decree No. 27/1997. (VIII. 1.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Dénesmajori Csigás-erdő Nature Conservation Area 21.) KTM decree No. 31/1997. (IX. 23.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Balaton-felvidék National Park 22.) KTM decree No. 34/1997. (XI. 20.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Duna-Ipoly National Park 23.) KTM decree No. 4/1998. (II. 20.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Bihari-plain Nature Reserve 24.) KTM decree No. 7/1998. (III. 18.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Gödöllő Royal Castle Park Nature Conservation Area 25.) KTM decree No. 11/1998. (V. 6.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Kőlyuktető Nature Conservation Area 26.) KTM decree No. 19/1998. (VI. 25.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Region of Tápió-Hajta Nature Reserve 27.) KTM decree No. 20/1998. (VI. 25.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the expansion of the Hajdúság Nature Reserve 28.) KTM decree No. 23/1998. (VII. 10.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Érsekhalma Seven Valley Nature Conservation Area 29.) KTM decree No. 24/1998. (VII. 10.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Kunpeszéri Szalag-erdő Nature Conservation Area 191 National Environmental Programme 2003-200830.) KTM decree No. 25/1998. (VII. 10.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Hajósi Homokpuszta Nature Conservation Area 31.) KTM decree No. 26/1998. (VII. 10.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Csongrádi Kónyaszék Nature Conservation Area 32.) KTM decree No. 27/1998. (VII. 10.) of the Minister of Environmental and Regional Development on the establishment of the Dunaszekcsői Löszfal Nature Conservation Area 33.) KöM decree No. 1/1998. (VIII. 15.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the amendment of the KTM decree No. 34/1997. (XI. 20.) on the establishment of the Duna-Ipoly National Park 34.) KöM decree No. 3/1998. (XII. 17.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Hortobágy National Park 35.) KöM decree No. 1/1999. (I. 18.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Fertő-Hanság National Park 36.) KöM decree No. 4/1999. (V. 5.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Körös-Maros National Park 37.) KöM decree No. 11/1999. (X. 29.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the establishment of the Dél-Mezőföld Nature Reserve 38.) KöM decree No. 19/2000. (VII. 24.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the establishment of the Lake Dávodi Földvári Nature Conservation Area 39.) KöM decree No. 21/2000. (VIII. 31.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the requalification of the Tiszakürt Arboretum Nature Conservation Area as a protected natural area of national significance 40.) KöM decree No. 2/2001. (II. 9.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Aggtelek National Park 41.) KöM decree No. 18/2001. (VIII. 27.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Boronka-region Nature Reserve 42.) KöM decree No. 20/2001. (IX. 21.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Pannonhalma Nature Reserve 43.) KöM decree No. 1/2002. (I. 15.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the expansion of the Balaton-felvidék National Park 192 National Environmental Programme 2003-200844.) KöM decree No. 4/2002. (II. 27.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the establishment of the Őrség National Park Ministerial joint decrees (2 pcs): 1.) FM-KTM joint decree No. 73/1997. (X. 28.) on fish species and water animals which are prohibited to be fished (angled) and on closed seasons of the fishing of certain species MARD-KöM joint decree No. 5/2002. (I. 12.) on the amendment of the FM- KTM joint decree No. 73/1997. (X. 28.) on fish species and water animals which are prohibited to be fished (angled) and on closed seasons of the fishing of certain species 2.) KöM-MARD joint decree No. 2/2002. (I. 23.) on the rules relating to Environmentally Sensitive Areas II. Other legal instruments of state administration Ministerial bulletins (3 pcs): KöM bulletin No. 8003/2001. (K. Ért. 5.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the complement of the KTM bulletin No. 8001/1997. (KI. É. Ért. 4.) on domestic protected waters and wild water areas registered in the “List of the Wild waters of International Significance” KöM bulletin No. 8005/2001. (MK 156.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the list of marshlands protected by Act No. LIII. of 1996 on nature conservation KöM bulletin No. 8006/2001. (MK 156.) of the Minister of Environmental Protection on the list of natron lakes protected by Act. No. LIII. of 1996 on nature conservation III. Missing legislation Governmental decrees (total: 1 + 2): a.) Under intersectoral co-ordination: On the basis of sections (3) Article 71 and (3) Article 72: on state subsidies serving nature conservation and about certain rules of indemnification b.) Their drafting is the task of the planning period: On the basis of section (1) Article 10: on the import of an individual of an organism living in the wild into the country, its transit, export, propagation, keeping under 193 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008 artificial conditions, involving in production, breeding, cross-breeding, placing in nature, sale On the basis of section (2) Article 73: detailed rules of security granting obligation and liability Ministerial decrees (total: 2 + 4): a.) Under intersectoral co-ordination: On the basis of section (3) Article 44.: Ordering restrictions of usage and agriculture in the environment of highly protected plant and animal species On the basis of paragraph (5) Article 53.: Rules relating to the establishment of ecological corridor and ecological network b.) Their drafting is the task of the planning period: On the basis of section (4) Article 6: Identification of individual regional assets, their registration, making their list On the basis of section (2) Article 30: Determination of the protection zone of protected natural areas of national significance On the basis of section (1) Article 52: Circle of rare minerals, mineral aggregates and primordial remains of special size, development level, or of outstanding significance from scientific aspect and their value expressed in money On the basis of the Government decree No. 67/1998 (IV. 3.): announcement of the list of protected and highly protected biocenoses Ministerial joint decrees (total: 3 pcs): Their drafting is the task of the planning period: On the basis of sections (1) and (2) Article 15: List of natural areas On the basis of section (2) Article 46: Rules relating to the preservation of old domestic protected animal species and types, their individuals’ registration in the pedigree, breeding and performance testing principles On the basis of section (7) Article 48: conditions of declaring caves, medicinal caves and utilization thereof for medicinal purposes and its rules of procedure IV. Other legal instruments of state administration Ministerial bulletins (total: 2 pcs) 1.) On the basis of section (3) Article 19: Announcement of the list of open karst areas 2.) On the basis of section (2) of (4) Article 23: Announcement of the national list of tumuli, earthen fortifications under ‘ex lege’ protection 194 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008List of AbbreviationsInstitutions, organizations, programmes CSO /KSH) Central Statistical Office (Központi Statisztikai Hivatal) EEA European Environmental Agency ENCORE Environment Conference of the Regions of Europe EU European Union EU IMPEL European Union - Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (network) HAS /MTA/ Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Magyar Tudományos Akadémia) ISPA Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession IVP Improvement of Vásárhelyi Plan KöM Ministry of Environment (Környezetvédelmi Minisztérium) KTM Ministry of Environment and Regional Policy (Környezetvédelmi és Területfejlesztési Minisztérium) LIFE III European Environment Fund MARD /FVM/ Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Földművelésügyi és Vidékfejlesztési Minisztérium) MChYS Ministry of Children, Youth and Sports (Gyermek, Ifjúsági és /GyISM/ Sportminisztérium MD /HM/ Ministry of Defence (Honvédelmi Minisztérium) ME /OM/ Ministry of Education (Oktatási Minisztérium) MET /GKM/ Ministry of Economy and Transport (Gazdasági és Közlekedési Minisztérium) MEW /KvVM/ Ministry of Environment and Water (Környezetvédelmi és Vízügyi Minisztérium) MF /PM/ Ministry of Finance (Pénzügyminisztérium) MFA /KüM/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Külügyminisztérium) MHA /BM/ Ministry of Home Affairs (Belügyminisztérium) MHSFA Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs (Egészségügyi,195 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008/ESzCsM/ Szociális és Családügyi Minisztérium) MITT /IHM/ Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (Informatikai és Hírközlési Minisztérium) MJ /IM/ Ministry of Justice (Igazságügyi Minisztérium) MLE /FMM/ Ministry of Labour and Employment (Foglalkoztatási és Munkaügyi Minisztérium) MNCH Ministry of National Cultural Heritage (Nemzeti Kulturális Örökség /NKÖM/ Minisztériuma) NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Natura 2000 Network of conservation areas of European significance; its establishment was decided by the 1992 World Conference of the UN relating to the Convention on Biological Diversity NCEO /VPOP/ National Customs and Excise Office (Vám és Pénzügyőrség Országos Parancsnoksága) NDP National Development Plan NEAP National Agri-Environmental Programme NEEP National Environmental Education Programme NEN National Ecological Network NEP-I National Environmental Program for 1997-2002 NEP-II National Environmental Programme for 2003-2008 NERP National Environmental Remediation Programme NSRF National Scientific Research Fund NWMP National Waste Management Plan OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PEEN Pan-European Ecological Network PHARE Poland and Hungary - Assistance for the Restructuring of Economy PMO (MEH) Miniszterelnöki Hivatal PRTR Pollutant Release and Transfer Register SAPARD Support for Pre-Accession Measures for Agriculture and Rural Development 196 National Environmental Programme 2003-2008SEVESO II EU Directive on the prevention of severe industrial accidents relating to dangerous materials SPIMS Soil Protection Information and Monitoring System TAP Thematic Action Programme TvH Office for Nature Conservation UN-ECE UN Economic Commission for Europe UNESCO MAB United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - Man and Biosphere V4 Visegrád Four – Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, SlovakiaMaterialsCH4 methaneCO2 carbon dioxide CO carbon monoxideNOx nitrogen oxidesN2O nitrous oxide PCB polychlorinated biphenylSO2 sulphur dioxide VOC Volatile Organic Compound Other abbreviations GDP Gross Domestic Product ETF Environmental Target Fund R+D Research-Development P+R Park and Ride SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment197

National Environmental Programme 2003-2008

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