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