Hungary ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in February 1994 and it has been enacted by the Parliament as an Act (No. LXXXI of 1995). In harmony with the country's tradition in nature conservation and with the growing public awareness to environmental problems, Hungary is committed to performing the objectives of the CBD.

Hungary is situated in an overlapping zone of various biogeographical regions. Its
territory is considered a gene-bank and juncture of several elements of the European fauna
and flora. The resulting biodiversity, in comparison with the rest of Europe, has survived
in relatively good state in spite of the fact that it is basically determined by the high
population density, agriculture, forestry and water management.


A project supported in the frame of the PHARE Programme on the Hungarian Biodiversity
Monitoring Program (HBMP) has been accomplished in 1996. Based on this a Biodiversity
Monitoring System has been organised within the Ministry for Environment (M.E.), Authority for Nature
Conservation.


The Hungarian institutional background is similar to that of most of the European states. The Ministry for Environment is responsible to co-ordinate the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.


A renewed legal framework for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of its
components has recently been established.


Nowadays all the native higher plants and vertebrate animals known to be threatened, are
protected together with 396 endangered invertebrate species. Following an  increase
since the signing of the CBD, the network of various nature conservation areas covers 9.2 %
of the country's territory.

Hungary is party to most international environmental conventions and highly appreciates the relevant intergovernmental and other international organisations and takes part in their activities.


The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to be prepared under an UNEP-GEF project has to build upon existing documents, programmes and proposals and further ideas, and to select
appropriate actions primarily for the following sectors: agriculture, biotechnology,
fishery, forestry, freshwaters, hunting, land use, mining, regional development and
tourism.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Gábor Nechay
National Focal Point to the CBD
Authority for Nature Conservation,
Ministry for Environment

H-1121 Budapest, Költo u. 21.
Phone & Fax: (36)-1-395-7458
e-mail: nechay@mail2.ktm.hu

Compiled by:

Zoltán Czirák
e-mail: czirak@iris.geobio.elte.hu

WEB design:

Viktor Martha
e-mail:  martha@mail2.ktm.hu

Otis tarda photo: dr. Zsolt Kalotás

Related WEB-sites:

Ministry for Environment http://www.ktm.hu

GRID Budapest http://www.gridbp.ktm.hu/INDEXA.HTM

Authority for Nature Conservation,
Ministry for Environment
http://www.ktm.hu/tvh/termhiv/index.htm