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EU Nature Protected Forest Levelled To The Ground?
HUNGARIAN ENDANGERED SPECIES THREATENED BY DEFORESTATION
By
Andras M. Badics
 Hungarian
nature experts have long criticized a lack of control
over EU environmental funds and nature
protected networks. One of the EU's ecological
networks currently in the spotlight is the so-called
'Natura 2000', that was established to protect the
most seriously threatened habitats and species
across Europe. In a recent scandal, a complete
forest on 180 hectares belonging to this network
is said to have been "cut down" in North-Eastern
Hungary's Sajolad region, threatening several
endangered species in Hungary. Police in Northern Hungary
said they have launched an investigation based on
allegations from Ferenc Zsak, President of
the Nature Conservationists of Eastern Hungary
(TTT). Zsak claims that 98% of the forest in the
Sajolad region had been illegally deforested,
most likely for financial gain.
 "We have photos to prove this," Zsak told
Diplomacy and Trade. "The forest has
been seriously damaged by theft and illegal logging activities." He
fears that the worst blow was dealt by the foresting company
'Eszakerdo' that is responsible for what it called "formal" deforestation.
Zsak says, "Even formal deforestation should
have been prohibited under a 1999 law,
which states that only three hectares may be
deforested and only during a certain period, while
the entire area is still under the protection
of the Natura 2000 network. How was the company
ever able to acquire permission to fell all the trees
it did?" He says international activists
have submitted a petition to the European
Commission, raising their voices for increased environmental control
in Hungary. Gabor Salamon, Director of Aggtelek National
Park, responsible for Natura 2000 rules
in the region, says the deforestation in
the Sajolad region conforms to all Natura 2000 regulations.
 "Most
of the forest was stolen before the site became a part
of the Natura 2000 network, " he said. Salamon also questioned the
greens' concerns on whether the forest had in fact
disappeared altogether. "It's there but it's not
visible to the ordinary observer," he said. Ecologist
Gabor Vitez who specializes in the Sajolad
region and explains that the current crisis has led
to a significant decrease in the population
of several endangered or 'red-book' species.
 "Concrete
numbers will only be known after the winter
is over, but we can't rule out extinction for some
species in the region," said Vitez. Felling of such
mature oak trees and destroying their
surrounding ground vegetation has diminished the habitat
of a long list of the forest's fauna. Effected species
include the scarce fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas
maturna) and the ground beetle (Coleoptera
carabidae). Vitez says he hopes it is not too late and
that these animals will not disappear forever in
the region. "With a little luck, the
ecosystem could restore itself, " he said.
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