Borsodi Mezőség Tájvédelmi Körzet

The area of the Borsodi Mezőség Landscape Protection Area is 17 932 hectares. The Landscape Protection Area falls under the administration of the Bükk National Park Directorate.

Location

The landscape protection area lies east of Mezőkövesd, spread over the quadrilateral formed by Mezőnagymihály, Csincse, Mezőcsát, and Tiszabábolna.

Characteristics

The Borsodi Mezőség Landscape Protection Area is a transition zone between the Great Plain and the Bükk region. The landscape’s appearance was shaped by the combined influence of the Tisza River, the rivers flowing from the mountains (Eger Stream or Rima), streams (Kánya Stream, Ostoros Stream, Tardi Ditch or Orosz Ditch, Salamonta Ditch, Lator Stream or Nád Ditch, Kácsi Stream, Csincse Stream, Little Csincse), and the native grazing livestock, the shepherding people. The purpose of declaring it protected is to preserve the species‑rich flora and fauna of the still‑untouched steppe habitats, the meadow grasses living in the natural steppe environment, as well as the landscape and cultural‑historical values.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation of the area consists mainly of rich, low‑lying, soft‑wooded lime forests, with some oak‑elm‑hornbeam forest patches, and on the calm waters, marsh marigold, water crowfoot, and white dwarf rose grow. Further from the river, on the marsh layers, several species of lady’s‑slipper orchids (e.g., veil‑leaf and yellow lady’s‑slipper) bloom, and marsh marigolds flourish. The vegetation of the saline areas is similar to that of most saline habitats of the Great Plain: sheep’s fescue, chamomile, honey‑grass and salt‑tolerant knapweed make up the majority of the saline meadows.

The fauna of the area is similarly rich. In addition to the insect fauna characteristic of the salt marshes, the bird life is spectacular: besides the common reed warbler, red-legged crake, the wetland herons (grey heron, red heron, great egret, bittern), the rare and endangered black-tailed godwit and curlew also breed in the area. In the dry meadows the hidden sounds of grasshopper warblers and larks are heard, in the reed areas the ash-colored lapwing, in the forest patches the blue tit nests. The red tit also breeds in the area, and the hazel grouse that nests in the Bükk appear regularly hunting for voles. A particularly valuable member of the rich bird life is the lapwing, whose population of about 40–50 individuals lives here. Characteristic amphibian and reptile species are the fire-bellied toad, the pool frog, the brown tree frog, the green leaf frog, the spotted and the striped newt, the water skink and the agile lizard. The Mezőség also provides habitat for numerous mammal species. Common here are the roe deer, European hare, fox and badger. On the short-grass meadows the vole occurs and, in places, the golden jackal as well. Recently the only certain population of striped field mouse lives here. On the pastures the presence of grey cattle and the interbred bison is characteristic. This ancient breed helps maintain the local habitats.