Sas Hill Nature Reserve
The Sas Hill nature reserve is a Natura 2000 site (HUDI20009), located on the edge of the 11th and 12th districts of Budapest, Hungary. The 30-hectare nature reserve is the habitat of several unique species, the refuge of Budapest's ancient flora and fauna. It is a genuine biodiversity hotspot regarding vascular plants, spiders, reptiles and other groups. The nature reserve welcomes visitors with an 850-meter-long guided trail, a visitor centre with interactive games and a wheelchair-accessible lookout spot.
A unique feature of Sas Hill is that temperature variation on the two slopes of the hill has created two different microclimates. While the bare southern slope is characterised by a sub-Mediterranean climate, the bushy northern side is that of a highland climate. This means a temperature difference of 5 °C at least, however, sometimes the difference can even be 15-20 °C. Furthermore, Sas Hill can be divided into two considerably different parts based on natural and seminatural habitats. Areas with dolomite bedrock at higher elevations are covered mostly by rocky grasslands (Rupicolous pannonic grasslands (Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis), Sub-Pannonic steppe grasslands). Southern foothills with the bedrock of marl clay and loess are inhabited by shrubs (Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa etc.) and trees (Fraxinus ornus, Quercus pubescens etc.).
The potential vegetation in this area is the SAC Natura 2000 marker habitat: Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens. The landscape history of the two parts is also different since the areas near the peak with exposed dolomite rocks were never suitable for agricultural activity, however, southern slopes were used for vineyards and orchards for several hundred years. Consequently, conditions near the peaks are more natural, however spreading of alien plants poses a danger for the natural dolomite vegetation and fauna. The characteristic habitat is a mosaic of grasses and bush forests which is rich in endemic and relict species. One of the special species of the northern slope is the Hungarian blue grass (Sesleria sadleriana). The most invasive shrub species is Syringa vulgaris. On the southern slopes of foothills after abandonment, spontaneous succession processes took place that resulted in forming shrubs (and later trees) containing associations, however spreading of alien species must be considered, too. Here, populations of some unique orchid species such as Ophrys apifera, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis purpurea and Cephalanthera damasonium can be found. In connection with grasslands, the Natura 2000 marker species like Dianthus plumarius regis-stephani, Pulsatilla grandis and Seseli leucospermum have significant stands in the area, while in the reforesting area the Lucanus cervus, a Natura 2000 marker species can be found.
Erosion has resulted in multiple rock formations of special shapes such as the Bear Rock and Beethoven Rock.
The mascot of the natural reserve is the European copper skink, which was discovered by Hungarian botanist Pál Kitaibel on Sas Hill. In return, he is commemorated in its Latin name (Ablepharus kitaibelii).
Sas Hill is a project area in the LIFE4OakForests (LIFE-16/NAT/IT/000245) project that runs under the title ‘Conservation management tools for increasing structural and compositional biodiversity in NATURA 2000 oak forests’. The project aims to develop and apply conservation management tools for increasing structural and compositional biodiversity in NATURA 2000 oak forests.
The biodiversity of oak forests is declining as a result of intensive human use. With the nature conservation interventions of the LIFE4OakForests project, the goal is to reverse this process. The project aims to promote the regeneration of the forests and to restore the diversity of forest structure, native tree species composition and microhabitats. As a result, the protected forest mammals, birds, insects, plants and fungi will be preserved and their populations will increase. The project is co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE program.
Objectives of the LIFE4OakForests project include: increasing the biodiversity of EU priority oak forests in the National Parks’ managed protected Natura 2000 sites by restoration; suppressing invasive species and converting these areas back to oak forests; demonstrating the best practices of the oak forests nature conservation management; and finally, increasing the public awareness about the importance of the forests’ biodiversity.
