Natura 2000

Dropstones and bats – Conservation of caves in the territory of the Bükki National Park Directorate (Phase IV)

Dropstones and bats – Conservation of caves in the territory of the Bükki National Park Directorate (Phase IV)

  • Identification number: KEHOP-4.1.0-1-15-2016-00017
  • Beneficiary: Bükki National Park Directorate
  • Total budget: 380.000.000 HUF 
  • Implementation period: 2016-2021
  • Natura 2000 sites: HUBN10003 Bükk hegység és peremterületei, HUBN20001 Bükk-fennsík és Lök-völgy, HUDI20038 Nyugat-Cserhát és Naszály, HUBN20049 Mátrabérc-Fallóskúti rétek

The main objectives and measures

In line with previous projects and as their natural continuation, the project implemented by the Bükki National Park Directorate has aimed to conserve the conditions, to restore and modernise its significant inanimate natural values, that provide habitats for many protected and strictly protected bat species. The activities concern 38 caves and their surroundings, of which 25 are strictly protected, 11 are of particular importance and 2 are protected (map shows the concerned settlements). In order to protect their conservation status and the valuable wildlife of the caves, preventive measures were necessary. In most areas of intervention, what have been completed are the closing of the caves, reinforcement of entrances, removal of debris from the plugged sinkhole caves and making the routes accident-free, as well as building in security installations. In case of 10 caves, a new sealing was implemented and at 17 caves, the several decades old, damaged sealing was replaced. The information house of the national park in the Szalajka valley at Szilvásvárad was renovated and exhibiting places were established displaying the natural assets of the Szalajka valley related to the caves of the Bükk mountains. 

Good practices

Conservation of bats

The majority of the affected caves provide habitats for bats, so the interventions can be considered as habitat reconstructions, as well. The implemented actions enlarged the living place and possibilities of bats and other cave dwelling species, by establishing sealing and entrance installations that ensure their free movement all year round, while by barring illegal visitors, their tranquillity is also secured. The interventions terminated obstructions and blockages caused by leaf-litter and snow brought in by the wind, as well as the ice-jams being formed by the water adsorbed at the entrance during winter. From the 28 bat species that live in Hungary, more than 20 have been detected in the caves of the Bükk mountains. Only in the Kis-kőháti dolina, lives a mixed colony of 4-5 thousand bat individuals, of which Myotis myotis, M. blythii and M. dasycneme are the most abundant ones.

Ensuring research and management conditions

Ensuring the free accessibility of the caves have also enabled for nature conservation management and natural science research activities (speleological and biological). The establishment of the entrance joists inhibits the obstruction of the routes, which, in addition to the conservation of the bats, also supports the completion of management tasks and the research activities

Preliminary consultation and constructive cooperation

During the implementation of the project, the National Park Directorate (NPD) signed a cooperation agreement with the owners of the affected areas, informed the stakeholders about the planned actions, their timing and duration.  In some cases, the NPD took their recommendations into account and modified the original plans. Due to the special character of the works, the officer of the NPD responsible for caves continuously kept contact and was in discussion with the building contractor and was present in person during the works. In certain cases, the rescheduling of the work was needed, because of weather-related and other non-predictable circumstances, but the building contractor was always a cooperative partner.

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