Hungary

Hungary is a land locked country with a terrestrial area of close to 93,000km² and bordered by 7 other countries. It consists largely of plain but also number of mountain ranges as well as Lake Balaton, the largest lake in central Europe. The highest point is Kékes at 1,014m. Hungary has a population of 9.7 million people and a population density of 105 people per km².

of land covered

by protected areas

species protected

under EU law

habitats protected

under EU law

Protected areas in Hungary cover a total of km² on land and include a diverse network consisting of Natura 2000 sites and nationally designated areas.

Percentage of area covered by protected areas

Currently, of Hungary terrestrial territory is designated as protected areas, slightly below the EU value of 26.4%. The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target of reaching 30% protected area coverage at the EU level by 2030.

Number of protected areas

Hungary has a total of protected areas, comprising sites designated under national laws and recognized as Natura 2000 sites. These Natura 2000 sites are designated under the Birds Directive, encompassing Special Protection Areas, and the Habitats Directive, encompassing Sites of Community Importance. Many sites are designated under both Directives.

Number of protected areas

Protected areas designated

under national laws

Designated sites

in the Natura 2000 network

Distribution of protected areas between national designations and Natura 2000

In Hungary, more than a half of the protected areas are designated exclusively as Natura 2000 sites. The rest consists mainly of Natura 2000 sites overlapping with national designations, with a small portion covered solely by nationally designated areas ( ).

Spatial distribution of protected areas network

Protected areas designated under national laws

Designated sites in the Natura 2000 network

Size distribution of protected areas network

The majority (35%) of protected areas in Hungary are 1-10km² in size and the proportion of smaller protected areas (less than 1km²) is 29%, which is lower than the EU average. About 2% of protected areas are larger than 1,000km².

Natura 2000 sites

Natura 2000 sites in Hungary cover species and habitats from the nature directives. The number of species and habitats protected in each site varies depending on the location of the site, the biodiversity in the region, the designation being used, and the features the site is being created to protect.

Species protected in Hungary under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Hungary hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 15% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 50% of the species protected under the Birds Directive.

species protected under EU law

species under the Habitats Directive

species under the Birds Directive

Conservation Status of species: Habitats Directive

In Hungary, the share of species assessments with good conservation status ( is approximately equal to EU level corresponding to 27.5%. However, the share of assessments with bad conservation status ( is higher than at EU level, which is 20.6%.

Protected species composition by taxonomic group

In Hungary, the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 52.2%. They are followed by arthropods, accounting for 13.9% of protected species, and mammals, representing 9.6%.

Conservation Status by Taxa

In Hungary, the assessment of species groups reveals that fish have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 83.3%. Following behind are amphibians, with 50% of species in good conservation status and reptiles, standing at 41.6%. On the other hand, reptiles exhibit the highest percentage of species in bad conservation status, reaching 25%. Most of the assessments of the species groups reported by Hungary have a poor conservation status.

Habitats protected in Hungary under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. Hungary hosts habitat types, which is approximately 19.3% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.

habitats protected under EU law in Hungary

Conservation status of habitats

In Hungary 13.3% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is slightly below the EU average of 14.7%. The proportion of assessments indicating a bad conservation status, amounting to 20.8%, is below the EU average of 35.8%.

Protected habitat composition by group

In Hungary the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of forests, accounting for 28.8% of the total. Following closely behind are grasslands, encompassing 26.6% of the protected habitats.

Conservation status by group

In Hungary the assessment of habitat groups reveals that rocky habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 80%. Following behind are bogs, mires and fens, with 20% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, sclerophyllous scrub and dune habitats exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%.

Hungary is predominantly characterised by two main types of ecosystems: agroecosystems, which cover 65.8% of the country, followed by forest ecosystems occupying 23.2% of the land area. While urban areas account for 6.8%, Hungary has relatively smaller proportions of rivers and lakes (1.7%), heathlands (1.6%), and wetland ecosystems (0.9%).

In terms of the protected area network, agroecosystems constitute the largest portion, covering 45.4% of the protected areas, reflecting the importance of conserving and managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity. Forest ecosystems make up 43% and rivers and lakes account for 6.7% of the protected areas, emphasizing the significance of protecting nature within aquatic ecosystems. Wetlands contribute to 3% of the protected areas, while urban areas represent 1%, and heathlands comprise 1%.