Highlights 23 extensive grazing by cattle, sheep and pigs has decreased since the 1940s 24  the number of habitat types used by cattle and pigs decreased significantly 25  use of non-pasture grassland habitats decreased, especially the use of stubbles 26 agricultural and conservation policies should cover all grazeable habitat types 27  sustainable extensive grazing need cooperation between various knowledge systems 28 *Manuscript Click here to view linked References  Abstract 29Many habitats in Europe have been managed by grazing for thousands of years. However, 30 extensive grazing systems are becoming increasingly rare in the region, and there is a lack of 31 understanding of the functioning of these systems. 32We carried out 147 structured interviews in 38 landscapes throughout the Carpathian Basin, with 3-33 5 informants/landscape. The number of actively grazing cattle, sheep and pigs, their year-round habitat 34 use and the proportion of herds actively tended were documented for four characteristic historical 35 periods (before, during and after socialist co-operatives and after EU Accession). We conclude that agricultural policies should take into account the full spectrum of habitat types 49 necessary for the effective operation of extensive grazing systems. We argue that conservation-50 oriented extensive grazing should use the traditional wisdom of herders but adapted to the present 51 situations. 52 53

We need complex thinking to manage habitats and conserve landscape values. We present the landscape changes between 1900 and 2013 of the Nagyberek, a huge, former marshy area along the south bank of Lake Balaton, with the help of the DPSIR Framework. We analysed the causal relations of driving forces, which induce landscape changes, and the change of habitat states from the nature conservation point of view. Our results show that the introduction of large-scale farming during the 1950-80s was the main driving force. The changes caused by the disruption of the natural water balance were too drastic and the ecosystem could not adapt to the new circumstances. The rapid changes also altered the self-identity of inhabitants and their relationship with the landscape. Landscape changes were analysed from the conservation biologist point of view. Accordingly the responses of the DPSIR Framework were selected from those laws and programmes which concern nationally and internationally important habitats. We argue that the DPSIR Framework can be used successfully to study the impact of pressures to analyse habitat and landscape changes in a complex way.

Between 2005-2011, distribution of protected plant species was mapped in the loess hills of Marcali-hát, the marshland of Nagyberek, the southern shorezone of Lake Balaton and Külső-Somogy hills (Somogy county). Altogether, 72 protected and 1 strictly protected species were recorded. 9 species (Menyanthes trifoliata, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Gymnadenia conopsea, Platanthera bifolia, Linum hirsutum, Aster amellus, Eleocharis uniglumis and Agrostemma githago) are new for the local flora.

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The multifaceted study of land-use changes and landscape history helps to understand the actual state of landscapes and habitats. The shore areas of Lake Balaton including the connected marshlands were significantly modified in the last 150 years. The traditional land use has almost completely disappeared from the southern shore areas; however the remnants of valuable wetlands are still represented. Our study area, the Balatonkeresztúri-rétek, is a highlighted nature conservation area and Natura 2000 site. Its land-use changes can represent the shifts of the whole marshland area of the southern shore. In our study the landscape history and the changes in land cover as an indicator of land use were followed up. The changes in land use were analyzed based on the surface covering data of historical maps and recent orthophotos using ArcGIS (ESRI) software. Each habitat of the study area was classified to the appropriate category of ÁNÉR (Hungarian General National Habitat Classification System). The changes in surface cover was compared and rated based on their naturalness status. Our results revealed, that the former, deep situated marshes, which were spotted with open water surfaces were replaced by reed stands characterized with different, mostly degraded status. The remnants of the original marsh vegetation and species have found refuge the pits of canals and peat or clay mines. The terms of existence of the natural vegetation mostly disappeared until nowadays, however some valuable habitats survived in the study area, thanks to the human activities.