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HU040
Mátra
Location Hungary, Heves,Nógrád
Central coordinates 20o 0.00' East  47o 49.00' North
IBA criteria C1, C6
Area 58,122 ha
Altitude 164 - 1,014m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society



Ornithological information An important area for raptors and other forest species.

Site description A range of narrow mountain ridges situated between the Zagyva river and Tarna creek, including the Kékes summit, the highest point in Hungary. The vegetation is dominated by oak Quercus forest on acidic soils, with submontane Quercus, Carpinus, Fagus forests at higher altitudes. Large tracts of land are planted with spruce Picea, and the forested area as a whole is intensively managed, whilst orchards and grasslands are mostly abandoned. A popular area for recreation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia breeding  1997-2000  10-20 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1997-2000  3 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  1997-2000  3 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca breeding  1997-2000  4-5 breeding pairs  -  C1, C6  Vulnerable 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo breeding  1997-2000  3-4 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos breeding  1997-2000  20-30 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Gyöngyösi Sárhegy Nature Conservation Area 186 protected area contained by site 186  
Gyöngyöspatai Havas - HUBN20050 Habitats Directive 325 protected area contained by site 325  
Gyöngyöstarjáni Világos-hegy és Rossz-rétek - HUBN20048 Habitats Directive 327 protected area contained by site 327  
Mátra - HUBN10006 Birds Directive 37,307 protected area contained by site 37,307  
Mátra északi letörése - HUBN20047 Habitats Directive 780 protected area contained by site 780  
Mátrabércfallóskúti-rétek - HUBN20049 Habitats Directive 1,507 protected area contained by site 1,507  
Mátrai Landscape Protection Area 12,526 protected area contained by site 11,863  
Nyugat-Mátra - HUBN20051 Habitats Directive 1,499 protected area contained by site 1,499  
Recski Hegyes-hegy - HUBN20044 Habitats Directive 161 protected area contained by site 161  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland  90%
Shrubland Scrub  5%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Forestry plantations; Other urban and industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards and groves  5%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 90%
nature conservation and research 50%
tourism/recreation 30%
urban/industrial/transport 5%

Management considerations High levels of grazing pressure from game species such as red deer Cervus elaphus are restricting forest regeneration.

Protection status National Partial International None186 ha of IBA covered by Nature Conservation Area (Gyöngyösi Sárhegy, 186 ha). 11,863 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Protected Area (Mátrai, 11,863 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mátra. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife