The design of the Hungarian Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (HBMP) was initiated and organised by the Authority for Nature Conservation of the Ministry for Environment. To carry out this monumental project, the Phare programme contributed substantial financial assistance. This programme has been prepared on the basis of the first biodiversity conservation strategy, aid down by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS).

    The following key areas were given priority in the establishment of HBMP:

• The monitoring of endangered and protected natural values.
• The observation of elements with a diagnostic value in assessing the general state of the biota and communities,
• The study of the direct and indirect effects of human-induced changes, and changes of the environment.

    It was necessary to form a separate new service, which should run under the supervision of the already functioning nature conservation authorities. A Central Coordination Unit of the Service manages the national programmes, regional coordinators manage the local programmes (HBMS coordinators at each National Park Directorate), and an independent Advisory Committee reviews all the activities. The service is also cooperates with independent institutions: universities, research institutes, NGOs.

    A unique Hungarian General Habitat Classification has been published in the second volume of this series.

The Hungarian General Habitat Classification

A Euhydrophyte habitats
B Marshes
C Flushes, transition mires and raised bogs
D Rich fens, eu- and mesotrophic meadows and tall herb communities
E Colline and montane hay meadows, acid grasslands and heaths
F Halophytic habitats
G Dry and semi-dry closed grasslands
I Non-ruderal pioneer habitats
J Riverine and swamp woodlands
K Fresh deciduous woodlands
L Closed dry deciduous woodlands
M Open dry deciduous woodlands
N Coniferous woodlands
O Secondary and degraded marshes and grasslands
P Semi-natural, often secondary woodland-grassland mosaics
R semi-natural closed woodlands
S Forestry plantations
T Agricultural habitats
U Other habitats (Cities, Spoil bank etc.)

    A network of 5 by 5 km sampling quadrats is shown below. Mapping in these quadrats at landscape level yields the framework within which the more detailed community- and species-oriented repeated investigations can be carried out.

    The following task was preparation of monitoring protocolls. In October 1998 the Advisory Committee of HBMS drew up a list of ten projects that summarise and systematise the work of HBMS, and set up a list of priorities.

    The ten projects:

• 1. Protected and threatened plant and animal populations
• 2. Biocoenoses of surface waters and wetlands
• 3. Habitat pattern monitoring by mapping of 124 quadrats
• 4. Invasive plant and animal species and plant communities
• 5. Habitat monitoring of selected sites within the proposed Hungarian Forest Reserve Network
• 6. Biota of the Kis-Balaton Reservoir (running for 6 years)
• 7. Riparian biota of the Szigetköz region (Danube, running for 8 years)
• 8. Salt effected habitats unique to Europe
• 9. Species rich dry grasslands
• 10. Secondary hay meadows

1. the decrease of the water table has negative effects on species richness in the riparian zone
2. controlled mowing and grazing helps to protect hay meadows
3. alien, invasive species have a detrimental effect on natural communities
4. forestry management practices have an important effect on species composition
5. frequent water level changes have negative influence on the biodiversity of the Kis-Balaton reservoir
6. fragmentation of grasslands induces the loss of valuable species
7. climate change induces the dominance of xerotherm species