Baktalórántháza Forest Nature Conservation Area (NCA)

Forest of Baktalórántháza Nature Conservation Area

In 1932 Károly Kaán put forward a proposal to protect the area. He writo the following lines: “The flora in the forest of Nyírség is very rich. Very rare plants are to be observed especially in the shady parts of the forest in the districts of Nyírbakta and Ófehértó. These forests consist of only hornbeams. Its flora does not appear in other parts of the Great Hungarian Plain”

The forest has been living here for hundreds of years and lies west of Baktalórántháza, extending from north to south. The continuous forest covers more than 1300 hectares but it is only partly protected. Only 2.75 hectares of the forest became protected in 1953. However, later this small protected patch of the forest was destroyed. Fortunately, in 1977 a new protected patch of 341 hectares was designated next to the destroyed habitat. As the main road No. 41 crosses the forest, it can be easily accessed. There is a pathway that leads to the forest and tourists are allowed to visit the area but only on the marked pathway. 

2. Destination and characteristics of the area 

Two forest types (hornbeam-grave-oak forest and mesotype-oak forest) can be found in the sandy region of Nyírség. They remained untouched which are close to the natural state in a large district. During the last decade the Hornbeam population has been expanding because of the lack of precipitation these years. The subsoil water level is decreasing which in spite of the damage of oak population is not significant.

The list of the fauna and flora has not been completed yet. To our knowledge, more than a hundred large mushrooms, 200-250 plant species, 150-200 members of the vertebrate fauna, including mainly birds. The presence of mountain species shows the connection to the hornbeam-oak forests of the hills. Among the sand mounds,   stagnant water creates microclimate with a high degree of humidity and rlatively low temperatures. These circumstances are similar to the climate of the hills. These special conditions are accountable for the settlement of mountain species on the Hungarian Plain.

The area is poor in surface waters. Rainwater can accumulate in the deeper holes among the sand-dunes, in the rainy period.  Always filled up Puddles with constant water level exist which are used by big games. Puddles provide a rich habitat for mud-variant plant associations. The whole forest has been growing on the rippling sand-drift surface. Hornbeam and pedunculate-oak-trees form the sandy hornbeam-pedunculate-oak (Querco robori-Carpinetum) forest. Although the name of the forest association is provided by the two species of trees,  some other species occur here additionally such as the Prunus avium, Field-maple and Field-elm. In the forest the Silver Linden thrive as a matter of curiosity on the warm and dry hillside. This species originally forms forests on the Balkans. The Convallario-Quercetum roboris is the other characteristic forest type of the area.

Mountain species such as the Sweet Woodruff are valuable plants of the ground-level which decorates the shady bottom with its small white flowers and covers widespread patches with its leaves. After winter, the Bulbous Corydalis and Solid-tubered Corydalis give the first colours for the rusty-brown dry fallen leaves. Countless stems of the Forest Violet are in flower in springtime together with their same species. Above the colourful carpet,  Dryopteris filixmas and Narrow Buckler Fern or Lady Fern spread out  large green bunches of leaves. After that the Lesser Periwinkle starts to glitter with its azure petals. A rare plant of The Great Hungarian Plain is the Coralroot Bittercress which colours the bottom of the forest before the trees come into leaf. Significant botanical values of our region include Melampyrum nemorosum subs. debreceniense and its relative, the Melampyrum biharense which is difficult to find. Hidden flowers and stems of the Asarabacca glitter with dark green leaves under the fallen leaves. Later Baneberry bows with its black berries. The large number of red berries of the Lily of the Valley and May Lily change the bottom of the forest to red. The Broad-leaved Helleborine, Marsh Helleborine, Common Twayblade, Bird's Nest Orchid and Lesser Butterfly Orchid are to be mentioned among small groups of Hungarian orchids.

Other large forests do not exist in the Hungarian Plain.  Baktalórántháza forest is a notable exception. Animals live here undisturbed because of its large size. The forest is abundant in insect species especially in those parts of the forest which are covered by old trees. The greatest insects of Hungary occupy the flowing fluid of oak trees. These invertebrates include the Great Capricorn Beetle and Stag Beetle. The Potosia aeruginosa comes into sight especially on umbelliferous inflorescences. The Forest caterpillar-hunter and Forest Cutterpillar-hunter find their prey on cracked barks of old oaks. On the brownish-yellow forest floor Ground beetle species Carabus cancellatus and Carabus coriaceus hunt.

In springtime, rainwater fills the puddles which provide suitable habitats for the reproduction of the Agile Frog, European Tree Frog, Common Toad, Fire-bellied Toad and Common Spadefoot. During the mating season the Rana arvalis changes its skin to a blue coloured skin.

The avifauna is very rich both in the number of individuals and species. In addition to the typical species of plain forests other species occur here. Common Buzzards, Goshawks, Honey Buzzard breed In the Baktalórántháza forest. The empty nests of Magpies offer excellent nest sites for the Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owls.   Characteristic oval holes of Black Woodpeckers  can occasionally be detected on old knotty trees.

Almost every relative of the Black Woodpecker occurring in Hungary  lives in Baktalórántháza. The White-backed Woodpecker is a rare vagrant. Ravens used to breed here withs its population nowadays stabilizing and its habitat further expanding. The "coo" of the rare Stock Dove is heard everywhere among the old trees in the mating season.

You can frequently meet the following mammals in this area: Beech Marten,Weasel, Eurasian Badger, Wild Boar, Roe Deer. Expert eyes easily find the footprints of the Red Deer and Fallow Deer. The Wildcat is resident here. The Red Squirrel prefers to feed on the fruits of the neighbouring pineforests. The hollows, cavities and cracks of old trees are occupied by 6-8 bat species.

Protecting the old oak and Hornbeam population is an important part of the nature conservation. The Baktalórántháza-forest provides vital conditions for plant communities particularly for old trees. These plants material of good quality and their growth shows excellent specifics. Conservation management need to protect the gene-pool of old oaks and Hornbeams. Oak trees reaching 25-30 m of hight and 70-80 cm width are rather common.

Conservation authority aims to extend the region and to connect it to the Hungarian network of forest reservations.