16 years of successful transboundary cooperation
16 years of successful transboundary cooperation
From the Eastern Alps– 2.070 m –
across the Leitha hillson the western shoreof Lake Neusiedl– 450 m –
to the Seewinkel and Hanság area– 115 m –
… in nature
A steppe lake:
From the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – located in two counties – to a lake separated by state borders
1802
… in nature
A steppe lake:
In history up to 450 km2 of size, regulated by a channel since the end of the 19th century, nowadays 320 km2 large
1886
… in nature
115,80 m above sea level: The bilateral water management commissionis acting to keep this level through a sluice system
… in nature
One dynamic region in two states: • EUREGIO• MAB-Reserve• RAMSAR-Site• WORLD HERITAGE site• NATIONAL PARK
… in nature
… Cooperation since decadesBoth states decided in 1988to establish a joint National Park, that should overcome the borders of two different political systems
The Iron Curtain
1989
… Cooperation since decades
Opening ceremony of the joint National Park on 24th April 1994
At the beginning the joint National Park was about 140 km2, in the meantime it has grown to some 300 km2
… in nature
The Core Zone of the Park in the southern part of the lake consists of diverse ecosystems in the lake as well as on the landside
The habitats
Reeds and the meadows form a buffer between the agricultural area, the settlements and the lake
The habitats
Soda lakes, even more shallow than Lake Neusiedl, are essential habitats – both for breeding and migrating birds
The habitats
The soda lakes are filled with rain water in spring, whereas most of them fall dry in high summer
The habitats
Soda steppes in the Seewinkel area represent the westernmost of their kind in on the continent
The habitats
Alder forests in the Hanság part of the National Park
The habitats
Meadows covered by rain water, located behind the natural sand dam along the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl
The habitats
… The cultural heritageTo preserve the open grassland means to preserve the habitats of hundreds of endangered species
Austrian CattleAberdeen AngusWhite Donkeys
… The cultural heritage
Hungarian Grey CattleWater BuffaloesRacka Sheep
… The cultural heritage
Mowing the meadows in the Conservation Zone of the Park – at the end of the breeding period
… The cultural heritage
Cutting the reeds in wintertime, before the start of the breeding period
… The cultural heritage
Reconstruction of habitats:In the south-eastern area of Lake Neusiedl, and in the Hanság
… The cultural heritage
Research & MonitoringMapping the vegetationMonitoring bird botulism
Ringing birdsMonitoring zooplankton
Research & Monitoring
Visitor management
Information and steering of visitor flows alongside the habitats
Visitor management
Infrastructure:Observation platformsFormer border towers
Visitor management
Infrastructure:Information panelsHides for birdwatchers
Visitor management
Education & ecotourism„Heron‘s Castle“ at Sarród,the new education centre at Fertöujlak,the information centre and the education centre at Illmitz:
Presentations, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, education programmes…
Visitor programmesGuided toursHabitat excursions
Education & ecotourism
Birdwatching tourismStudy groupsPublic relation activitiesPress work
Education & ecotourism
The Environment Education Centre of WWF Austria in the National Park
Nature experience for childrenBirdwatching for school classesWorkshops in the „Heron‘s Castle“
Education & ecotourism
Exchange of experience to study groups from across Europe
Education & ecotourism
– 1988 Lake Neusiedl Conferences on the scientific level
Cooperation
1988 – 1992 Joint planning commission for the National Park
1994 Joint ‚opening‘-ceremony of the National Park
Habitat management based on the same objectives and the same methodology
Harmonized management of the fish fauna of Lake Neusiedl
Special simultaneous countings of birds
Mutual support in the design of visitor programmes and education programmes
Training of guides
Editing of information material, e.g. maps
Cooperation
Joint concept and project for the reduction of traffic in the sensitive area of Lake Neusiedl (2002 - 2007)
Joint development of the management plan for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lake Neusiedl (2002/2003)
Integrating touristic attractions of the Hungarian National Park area into the touristic marketing in Burgenland (from 2002)
Cooperation
First National Park to be rewarded with the ‚Diploma for Transboundary Cooperation‘ –handed over by the EUROPARC-Federation in May 2003
Cooperation
Transboundary EU co-funded projects in the Fertö - Hanság / Neusiedler See - Seewinkel NP
Cooperation
PHARE CBC programs (- 2004) in Fertő-Hansag NP (HU):
Reconstruction planning of NP bulidings –project budget: 30.000 €
Joint eco-touristic guidelines, maps for visitors – project budget: 20.000 €
Joint monitoring of fish-stands of Fertő/Lake Neusiedl – project budget: 25.000 €
Cooperation
Interreg programs (2004-2007) in Fertő-Hansag NP (HU)
• Csapody István Nature School and Visitor Center in the buliding of former military (frontier’s) base – project budget: 200.000 €
Cooperation
Interreg programs (2004-2007) in Fertő-Hansag NP (HU)
• study trails and NP information boards in Fertő-Hanság NP (HU/DE languages) – project budget: 36.000 €
Hany Istók Study Trail: 7 boardsTőzike Study trails: 5 boardsInformation boards along the Fertő/Neusiedler See
cycle-road: 4 boards Andau-bridge: 1 boardKócsagvár: 1 boardÖntésmajor: 1 boardNyirkai-Hany: 2 boards
Cooperation
Hungary-Austria ETC programs (2008-):
2 projects:
PaNaNet
Fertö-Neu-Nat
Cooperation
PaNaNet (Project budget: 1.949.000 €, duration: 2008-2013)Networking of National and Nature Parks in the West-Pannonian Region
Partners:RMB (LP) (A)Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel (A)Fertő-Hanság NP Directorate (H)Balaton-felvidéki NP Directorate (H)Őrségi NP Directorate (H)
Activities:• Development of eco-touristic infrastructure• Joint PR and marketing activities (broshures, maps, folders, books, albums, dvd-s, newsletters)• Joint events (conferences, trainings, workshops, study tours)• Development of new eco-touristic programs
Cooperation
Activities:• Infrastructural development at Seewinkel-Hof (WWF) education center• Joint development and implementation of new joint env. educational programs for local and regional schools• Joint development and implementation of new joint ecotouristic NP programs• Joint NP exhibitions (in Illmitz and Fertőújlak)• A series of leaflets and thematic NP brochures• Joint NP newspaper for 60.000 households• Joint NP monography• Joint NP film
Fertö-Neu-Nat: budget: 848.000 €, duration 2009-2012)Partners:Fertő-Hanság NP Directorate LP(H)Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel (A)WWF Austria (A)
Cooperation