While forests are increasingly celebrated for their importance, grasslands deserve equal attention. Far from being mere empty expanses, natural grasslands are indispensable ecosystems. Their remarkable biodiversity, water retention capacity and soil protection functions make them critical allies in the fight against climate change.
The first volume of the Conserving the Wildlife of the Pannonian Grasslands book series has been published as part of the Grassland-HU LIFE Integrated Project, coordinated by Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd.. Focusing on vertebrate species, the publication not only provides a comprehensive overview of grassland wildlife, but also serves as a practical guide for land managers and farmers.
One significant side effect of globalization—particularly international trade and tourism—is the intensifying biological invasion, during which certain organisms arriving from distant lands not only establish themselves in our country but, by proliferating in massive numbers, transform our natural environment. This process has a negative impact not only on our natural heritage but often on agricultural management as well.
Staff members of the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., Renáta Bocz (integrated project manager of Grassland-HU LIFE IP) and Olivér Váczi (project leader of CitellusLIFE), discussed this year’s "Mammal of the Year" in an episode of the Greendex podcast. The focus was on a species that is now strictly protected and serves as an essential ecological keystone species for the survival of entire ecosystems.
An outstanding photograph is conceived in the mind long before it is captured in the field. This philosophy is closely associated with Dr Zsolt Kalotás, wildlife photographer, founding member and first president of the Hungarian Nature Photographers’ Association (naturArt). In addition to serving as a juror for the Secrets of Grasslands photography competition, he is the recipient of numerous awards and honours. More than 8,500 of his nature photographs have been published in books, conservation magazines, specialist journals and environmental publications. We asked him about the competition, in which the fifth round challenges entrants to present the beauty and diversity of grasslands from a broader perspective.
The fifth round of Secrets of the Grasslands, a nature photography competition, aims to draw attention to the beauty and diversity of grassland ecosystems. In this year’s edition, one of the challenges set for entrants is landscape photography.
The professional community of the Vadonleső (Wilderness Watcher) Program has selected the Steppe polecat as the 2026 Mammal of the Year. This community data collection initiative is operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd., with the cooperation of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the Budapest Zoo.
It is a well-known fact that the extent of ecologically significant habitat patches in agricultural areas is declining. Recognizing this, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan has announced a new funding opportunity for agricultural land users titled “Investments promoting the creation and maintenance of semi-natural and wetland habitats.” This grant supports the establishment and maintenance of grassy and shrubby strips on arable land, as well as the creation of wetlands on both arable and grassland areas.
On January 14, 2026, the Hortobágy National Park Directorate hosted the first event of this year’s eight-part educational Farmers' Forum series. The forum was organized in connection with the Grassland-HU LIFE Integrated Project.
The outstanding importance of Hungary’s grasslands – as highlighted by Bertalan Balczó, Deputy State Secretary responsible for nature conservation - is demonstrated by the fact that two thirds of the country’s protected plant species and around half of its animal species are associated with these habitats. “The Secrets of Grasslands” Photography Competition was organised for the 5th time with the aim of raising public awareness to ecological importance of grassland habitats.