Hortobágy is beautiful! On the occasion of networking, our BROZ project team together with the coordinating partner SOS/BirdLife visited Hortobágy National Park (Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park) during the hot days of June 21 – 23, 2023. We exchanged knowledge with experienced colleagues from the administration of the Hortobágy National Park and NGO: Hortobágyi Környezetvédelmi Egyesület-Hortobágy Environmental Association. Zoltán Ecsedi, an expert on salt marsh biotopes, accompanied us around the national park. We learned about new challenges and plans within the ongoing project  LIFE Sodic Wetland System and compared experiences with the project LIFE Sub Pannonic.

During the two days of the visit, we explored the entire project territory on foot and discussed the exact management requirements of salt marsh and wetland habitats, which are key habitats for the target species of the LIFE 4 steppe birds project, such as: black-tailed godwit, european roller, red-footed falcon, common redshank, garganey, and pied avocet. Protecting salt marshes and wetlands is our key priority. Thanks to the support from LIFE projects, the Hortobágy National Park currently provides nesting opportunities for many breeders, including those whose existence is threatened in Slovakia. 

Hortobágy National Park is an attraction for ornithologists from all over the world. We look forward to welcome the team of Hortobágyi Környezetvédelmi Egyesület-Hortobágy Environmental Association to our project sites in Slovakia next year.