Livestock grazing is used for conserving biodiversity in larger areas in national parks. Movement is along short, less-than-a-day routes and among pastures. The pastures are used for feeding the stock and/or for grassland management when the grass must be kept low to protect habitat or species, e.g. the Hungarian meadow viper. To preserve genetic diversity of livestock, ancient Hungarian breeds are used for grazing.
1964
Hungary
National park directorates and paid employees or hired people ( horsemen, etc.)
The main product is land management. In addition, meat is produced.
Aggteleki National Park
Balaton Uplands National Park
Bükk National Park
Fertő-Hanság National Park
Hortobágyi National Park
Kiskunság National Park
Körös-Maros National Park
All types of farms exist in national parks. One of the oldest known farm was established in a recently designated national park area but abandoned before the designation of the national park. Some farms started when the national park was established. Thus, those farms are as old as our oldest national park which will celebrate its 50 years anniversary in 3 Farms are various due to the purpose of conserving/protecting genetic variability. Even though the majority of the farms are on lowlands, there are some exceptions. Balaton Upland, Bükk and Aggtelek are hilly, but all of them are located below 1000 m a.s.l.
The main purpose of all the grazing is to preserve genetic diversity. In the national parks ancient Hungarian breeds are grazing (grey cattle, hucul and lipicai horse, racka and cigája sheep), or breeds believed to have connection with the Hungarian history (przewalsky horse).
The majority of the movement is horizontal. However, some vertical movement can occur. The vertical movement is due to the location of the winter barn/stable and the available grassland/pasture area. The vertical movement is not “on-purpose” of getting access to better fodder or avoiding harsh winter conditions.
Horizontal
Markets are addressed and products are sold via social media and national park programs
Livestock grazing in national parks experiences different challenges. Drought, economic crises and war cause all input prices for farming to rise. Rise in input prices results in a decline in number of farms. Moreover, administrative problems with subsidies and bureaucratical problems occur. Not at least, hiring staff such as shepherds is a challenge. Although national parks are offering a good salary, the number of applications is very limited.
The reason for starting the practice was ecology (i.e., the protection of biodiversity).
The kind of animal and the specific breeds are selected to protect their genetic diversity.
The production systems of the farm vary. All types of production systems may occur.
Although meat is produced, biodiversity, landscape, environment, and climate all matters as the practice is connected to national parks.
Exchange on national competitions
The provision of saleable products is not the intrinsic purpose of the practice; however finding the market that is paying the price of high-quality products is always an important task.
There are several, however non-transhumance but general animal husbandry specific tradition, e.g. organizing festivals (e.g. sheep stew festival, sausage making festivals, etc. for the promotion of local products.
The grassland’s good ecological state and the target breed’s conservation are the most significant revenues.
The biggest challenge are climate change (drought), finances and bureaucracy.
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