Conservation of alluvial habitats of community interest on the Szabadság Island and side channel in Béda-Karapancsa pSCI)

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Background: Up to 94% of Hungary’s open river floodplains have been lost since the middle of the 19th century. Alluvial forests in the remaining floodplains are under considerable pressure all along the Danube, as well as other rivers in Hungary such as the Tisza, Drava, and Raba. At present, there are very few opportunities to conserve these alluvial forests in an undisturbed condition for the long term. This is in part due to the forest management practices that are widely used on open floodplains. Szabadság Island and the Danube's side-arm in the Lower-Danube region of Hungary have potential for conservation measures in its alluvial habitats. The island is naturally isolated from the surrounding land by the river. This increases its utility as a pilot area for experimental conservation management measures, since the island can be ‘left alone’ after the initial habitat restoration works, and this should allow natural processes to take over on the site. Objectives: The DANUBEISLANDFOREST project’s main objective was to demonstrate a long-term, sustainable conservation model for white willow (Salicion albae) alluvial forests in Hungary. A core aim is to eliminate or mitigate the factors that threaten the habitats of Community interest. To achieve these goals, the project consortium intended to clear the project area of invasive species and non-native tree plantations and restore the appropriate water flow in the side-arm to improve water availability for white willow forests during low water periods and to facilitate an undisturbed ecosystem, where natural processes are predominant.

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