Grasslands contribute to the ecological diversity of our cultural landscapes. In the last centuries, the most important trend was a constant loss of this valuable asset due to urbanization and the intensification of cultivation. Studies focusing on grasslands are not so abundant, and especially analyses on the spatial trends of grasslands in Eastern-Central Europe are scarce. Focusing on Hungarian local studies, we analyze our results from a macro-regional perspective, with a draft study of the V4 countries (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). The authors employed GIS and statistical methods to analyze data to explore trends of changes of grasslands in V4 countries, Hungary, and in three micro-regions of different landscape character. These include an open landscape, partly intensively cultivated (micro-region of Csorna), and two more diverse landscapes with different proportion of forests (micro-regions of Gönc and Veszprém). Our results show that very complex, sometimes opposite processes influence the area of grasslands. In spite of the fact that an increase in the area of grasslands is witnessed at both the national and the international level in absolute values, recently, unfavorable processes have started, and there are certain landscapes where grasslands are threatened especially natural grassland by forestation and grasslands where soil conditions are suitable for crop production. Our results showed that despite the different landscape conditions, the majority of grassland has been turned into arable land and into shrubs and forest area. The loss of pastures due to urban sprawl is a dominant process just around the built-up area of city of Veszprém in the most urbanized study area.

The post-socialist era resulted remarkable changes in urban landscape in Eastern Europe and in Hungary. The special circumstances caused moderate level of urbanisation and special patterns of urban sprawl, traceable in land use changes. The urban sprawl and suburbanisation became an important trend around smaller Hungarian cities as well. Regulators are eager to rule the evolution of spaces, however, it is hard to control all aspects of land use. The research presented in this paper shows the dynamics of new artificial areas with the help of land use changes from the Corine Database for the functional urban area around Veszprém and attempts to find the most important policy responses to the growing artificial surfaces after transition. The research questions are: What are the most important trends in changing in-built areas in a small city after the transition? What kind of new artificial areas appeared and where are they situated? Were the land use plans and nature protection effective tools for manage urban sprawl? With the help of Corine land use changes between 1990-2018 the most important spatial changes are shown, and the different peri-urban areas are compared around the core town. Attention is drawn to the importance of regulation for sustainable land use and protection of resources. It also highlights the importance of the regulatory power of municipalities. Changes in the environment of Veszprém may give inspiration for the rethinking the relationship of urban-rural, and catchment area and core town.

Recently the planning of green infrastructure (GI) has become a general practice around metropolis (Paris, München, Budapest, etc). A complex methodology is required that goes beyond the scope of traditional green surface systems. However, there are various policy implications in the EU, the smaller towns are lagging to apply them. The paper presents a potential evaluation method through the case study of Keszthely, HU. As Keszthely at Balaton Riviera, is a popular touristic target of CEE, the environmental planning is an essential part of sustainable development. After a literature analyses of assessment methods of GI and ecosystem services, the aspects of GI have been valued on grade scales, based on field surveys and indicators. The current status of the GI was surveyed which is a base for further development and monitoring activities. The paper introduces the methodology, which contributes to preservation of ecosystems.

A zöldinfrastruktúra (ZI) fogalma egyre fontosabbá vált mind Európában mind hazánkban. A ZI a zöldfelület-rendszer egy sajátos, rendkívül komplex értelmezése. Tanulmányunkban ismertetjük a ZI sajátosságait és Keszthely példáján bemutatjuk értékelésének lehetőségeit. 2016-ban készült el Keszthely zöldinfrastruktúrájának felmérése. A munka során eddig nem alkalmazott mérési módszertant alakítottunk ki az egyes infrastruktúra elemekre. Az ökológiai minőség, esztétikum, ökoszisztéma-szolgáltatások és használhatóság szempontjait értékeltük 1-3-as, illetve 1-5-ös skálán terepi felmérés és különböző indikátorok mentén. Az ökoszisztéma-szolgáltatások esetén olyan csoportosítással éltünk a szakirodalom alapján, mely a társadalmi szereplők számára is értelmezhető, így a különböző egyeztetések során megkönnyítik a közös munkát. A módszertan segítségével felmértük a ZI állapotát Keszthely belterületén. A cikk a módszertant és annak alkalmazott eredményeit mutatja be, mely sikerrel alkalmazható más hazai települések esetében is.

A Kárpátok-régió elhelyezkedése és a természetvédelmi területek a partnerországokban / The location of the Carpathian region and nature protection areas in the partnercountries (forrás/source: vúkoz)