Háros Island floodplain forest natural reserve
<p class="Norml1" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="FR">The original or near-native floodplain forests along our major rivers have also been depleted. This protected area of almost 60 hectares lies on the right bank of the Danube in the foreground of the Pleistocene terrace between Budafok and Nagytétény.</span></p>
Basic information
- The area was declared protected in 1993 by the Minister of the Environment and Spatial Development by the Decree of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Development No. 31/1993 (XII. 2.), and was extended in 2009 by the Decree of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Development No. 15/2009 (IX. 17.) on the extension of the Háros-sziget floodplain forest conservation area and its conservation management plan
- Register number: 265/TT/93
- Extent: 59,4 ha
- Administrative boundary concerned: Budapest, XXII. district
Brief description of the protected natural values
Háros Island is now only a peninsula, because the northern part was filled in and connected to the shore when the river was regulated in 1911. A botanical survey of the lush vegetation of the 'island', which is frequently flooded by the Danube, has revealed a complete succession of low and high floodplain successions, including a softwood forest dominated by willows and poplars, and a hardwood forest of oak, ash and elm. Among the botanical rarities, the presence of the native and protected ligneous vine, the summer peat and the winter hellebore are noteworthy. In early spring, the snowdrops and the starflower of the Ligurian Lily of the valley are interspersed with a carpet of white and purple flowers. The raised habitats of the wild grape curtains are home to a rich fauna of arthropods. From these habitats, zoologists have found specimens of two species of jumping insects, hitherto unknown in our country. The former military use of Háros Island (barracks and harbour) has completely isolated it from the outside world. The area is not open to visitors, it is still unspoilt and has not been forested or wild managed for decades, with trees either falling in storms or dying on their feet. Wild grapes, hops and blackberries cover almost the entire forest, encroaching on both living trees and dead trees, making this ancient Danube forest, which has remained a messenger, completely impenetrable. The floodplain forest provides an undisturbed nesting and migratory habitat for a rich bird fauna, but also for the riverbank's permanent inhabitants, the red-bellied nightjar, the marsh turtle and the beaver.
Sadly, human activity has not left this abandoned area untouched either: rubbish, reinforced concrete elements, building remains, debris, tyres and, last but not least, ammunition have grown up in the vegetation as a relic of abandoned military use. Floods on the Danube leave a mass of plastic bottles in the trees along the banks.
Main threats, specific protection tasks
The main threat is the spread of invasive plant species in the area, in particular the spread of green maple, which is a ubiquitous threat to our riverside forests. Among the herbaceous species, Japanese bitter-grass and Canadian goldenrod are degrading the area.
There is significant waste pollution, both from military waste left behind and from waste arriving and remaining in the tide. In order to protect natural assets, invasive species need to be controlled, waste disposal needs to be carried out, the area needs to be kept undisturbed, and the impact of flooding on floodplains, which is important for the establishment and maintenance of floodplain forests, needs to be ensured.
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