Erdőteleki Alder Bog Wood Protected Area

The Erdőtelki Alder Bog Protected Area is located next to Erdőtelek. The village and its surroundings are rich in natural values and sights: several smaller and larger patches of the Hevesi Grasslands Landscape Protection Area are located around the village, showcasing the beauty and values of the saline marshes. An interesting feature of the area is that the alder bog developed on relatively dry ground.

Declaration of Protection

The proposer was the Department of Botany of the then Egri Teacher Training College. The proposal can be dated to May 1987. The area was declared protected by the competent district authority, then called the Ministry of Environment and Water Management (now the Ministry of Regional Development), with effect from 1 March 1989, by decree. The alder bog is currently managed by the Bükk National Park, and its supervision is exercised by the director of the Erdőtelki Arboretum.

Territorial Data

Area: 18.1 hectares

The nature conservation register number of the area: 206/TT/89.

Purpose of the area: “Preservation of the fauna of the alder and willow swamp as well as the original swamp oak plant associations.

Geographic Location

It is situated on the Hevesi Plain, in the northern part of the Great Hungarian Plain, specifically on the Hevesi sand ridge, near the northern edge of the inner part of the village of Erdőtelek, not far from road 3208 that runs through the settlement. Geographic coordinates: latitude 47°39’ N, longitude 20°21’ E.

Climate

According to Bacsó’s regional classification: I/b (the driest part of the Central Great Plain). The region’s annual mean temperature is 10 °C, with an annual average temperature range of 23.0–24.5 °C.

Geological and Hydrological Conditions

The protected area lies on Pleistocene primary soils in the right-bank catchment of the Tisza River. Its main tributary is the Hanyi Stream (total catchment area 304.7 km²). In the lower course of the Hanyi Stream bed, channel works were carried out in 1965, 1966, and 1971.

Several boreholes (4) have been drilled in the protected area by the Hungarian State Institute of Geology (MÁFI), intended to monitor groundwater level fluctuations.

Soil characteristics

According to the genetic soil type, beneath the alder carr that forms the central part of the area there is a slightly peaty, humus-rich soil, which at the edge of the protected area grades into meadow soils.

In the 1970s, soil sampling was carried out at several points of the protected area. Based on this, the soil pH shows weak alkalinity (measured in water 7.8‑8.3). CaCO3 is high, above 15 %; total salt content and Na content are low in all samples.

Flora

Phytogeographic classification: a forest vegetation type formed at the border of the Northern Central Mountains (Matricum) and the Great Plain (Eupannonicum) phytogeographic regions, shaped by the Borsodense-Agriense-Cirsicum phytogeographic unit.

The plant species of the alder carr are grouped according to the habitat types present here.

Among the rare species, several protected plants from both dry and swamp habitats deserve mention, including for example the Hairy shield fern (Dryopteris carthusiana).

The following habitat types occur in the protected area

Closed reedbed: Media:Reedbed.jpg

Moist meadow, grazed: Media:Grazed meadow.jpg

Alder carr: Media:Alnus glutinosa in water.jpg, Media:Stilted alder.jpg

Shrub forest

Fauna

The zoological data for the Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganaró Ganar? (typo) Actually: The zoological research data for the Erdőteleki Alder Bog Nature Reserve are available only in very limited quantity. Based on the observations made in 1990, mainly concerning vertebrates, the small patch of alder carr embedded in the dry steppe environment acts as an “oasis” attracting a rich fauna. This effect is reflected in the composition of the local fauna that reproduces there, and it is also significant for the passing bird populations.

Invertebrates

The invertebrate fauna can be considered rich both among the Arthropods (Arthropoda) and the Molluscs (Mollusca). Their detailed description and analysis have unfortunately not yet been carried out.

Several “red‑book” butterfly species (Lepidoptera) (mainly owlet moths – Noctuidae) occur in the area.

Vertebrates

The area was last surveyed for terrain walking, inventory and faunistic purposes in 1990. At that time 104 species were recorded, of which 81 were protected, 23 belonged to the non‑protected or huntable category. Some of the vertebrates occurring in the protected area are listed below:

Numerous amphibians (mainly frog species); highly protected predatory birds such as the Steppe Eagle (Falco cherrug), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), etc. The “red‑book” Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), European Hare (Lepus europaeus), Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Partridge (Perdix perdix), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) are also found here

occur. The aquatic avifauna and fish population are represented by especially large numbers

themselves.

Forestry

The alder forest has been cut several times over the years. Since its designation as protected, there has been no intervention or management, and there is currently no operative management plan. Wood extraction may be carried out only as part of nature‑conservation management, for the purpose of maintaining continuous forest cover.

Agriculture

The western side (K‑side) of the protected area is bounded by arable land where intensive agriculture is practiced. On the eastern side (É‑side) of the protected area, a mowing meadow is managed, which is also carried out as part of nature‑conservation management.

Game management, fishing

Only native game species may be maintained on the area, and the game population must be kept at a level consistent with the natural game‑supporting capacity.

There is no fishing activity in the protected area.

Location, accessibility

It lies directly next to the village of Erdőtelek, northwest of its centre, adjacent to the Arboretum. It can be accessed from the bordering roads or through the gate opening from the Arboretum.

Introduction

There is no regular visitation in the area, there is no exhibition facility in the area. In March 2010 a short nature trail plan was prepared for the protected area.