STUDIES ON BOTANY, LANDSCAPE HISTORY, AND NATURE CONSERVATION ISSUES IN ABANDONED VINEYARDS OF THE BALATON UPLANDS

ABSTRACT

Data on protected plant species and the main characteristics of local landscape history and historical land-use patterns are presented for altogether 11 abandoned vineyards around Aszófő, Balatonudvari, Dörgicse, Örvényes, Pécsely and Vászoly villages (Central Transdanubia, Hungary). The main reasons for abandonment were the vine-pest epidemic and the nationalization, and later the conversion of previous garden plots to holiday sites. Built-up areas have increased during the past two years due to the covid-19 pandemic, which leads to the deterioration of previously re-vegetated grasslands. Succession is ongoing in every sample area. I found 32 protected plant species and present their localities on maps. After the evaluation of the list of vascular plants based on their social behavior types and ecological indicator values (SBT, Val, TB, WB, RB, NB, SB) I state that the current vegetation of the studied abandoned vine parcels refer to close-to-natural conditions. Their conservation value is emphasized by the fact that I found protected plants in every study area. However, several endangering factors threaten these parcels (except for one site), such as built-up, plowing, conversion to garden;as well as scrub encroachment and afforestation. I add suggestions for the conservation management o each studied parcel. © 2022 Szent István University, Institute of Nature Conservation and Landscape Management. All rights reserved.