Management of Lake Fertő: World Heritage and tourism University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy 7. Lakepromo Meeting & Seminar April 11-13, Aalborg, Denmark

Background 1979: Lake Fertő became a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme - unique natural resource - wild water of international importance - largest salt lake of the continent 2001: Lake Fertő became a part of the World Heritage as cultural landscape -based on the recommendation of the Hungarian-Austrian cross- border cooperation - historically Lake Fertő was a meeting point of generations for 8000 years - folk architectural tradition - castles from the 18. and 19. Century University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Map of the area University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Location of the cultural landscape The area of the World Heritage: Core zone: ha Buffer zone: ha Hungarian part: 31 % of the landscape - total area of the Fertő landscape within Fertő-Hanság National Park - settlements around the lake Austrian part: 69 % of the landscape - Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel and the Ramsar sights of the shore of the Lake - settlements around the lake - one of the most important part of the Austrian side is Rust (became a free royal town in 1681) University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Landscape Colorful geology and geomorphology: several climatites within the area resulting rich flora and fauna: - continental steppe lakes, submediterranian hills, subalpine mountains, salt steppes, mountains University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Cultural heritrage is a result of the harmony of nature and inhabitants. During past centuries, Hungarian population at the south and western part of the Lake mixed with German and Croatien people leaving outstanding and colorful mixture of culture, emergence of new customs, typical sttlement structures and buildings. Folk Architecture University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Castles from the 18 th and 19 th century Fertőd: the Esetrházy Castle (often called the Hungarian Versailles) is a beutiful composition of baroque architecture and nature. Joseph Haydn lived here for more than 2 decades. Nagycenk: Széchenyi Castle, is still one of the most popular place to visit in the area. In Nagycenk almost everything is connected to Earl Széchenyi and his family: castle, church, museum train, castle garden University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Nagycenk and Fertőd University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Programs The lake itself is a recreational area for inhabitants around the lake and for tourists as well. During summer, the lake is a very popular beach for swimming, surfing, boating and riding a bike. Naturally, there are thousands of possibilities to experience wildlife on the Lake. There are several guided tours both on foot or bike or by boat. There are several sailing competition in every year both national and international as well. University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Road for bikes Phare CBC project: road construction for bike tourists Euro State support for constructions out of which Euro was Phare support - the road forms a circle around the Lake, only a short item is left in the Hungarian side - the goal was to satisfy the increasing needs of bike tourists, decrease the burden of the environment, air quality improvement, - 29 % increase of the traffic of bikers km long road for bikes, 38 km in Hungary University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Hungarian Council of the World Heritage Fertő Area Founders: 10 Municipalities and the County Municipality Strategic partners: Fertő-Hanság nemzeti Park, Water Directorate, forestry companies Objectives of the Council: - preservation and improvement of the areas of Wolrd Heritage - development of a management plan - development of different sectors such as tourism in compliance with the preservation of the natural values - establish the cooperation between state organisations and municipalities 2003: the Council developed its Management plan University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Management plan Objectives of the management plan: - the preservation, improvement and integration into development goals of those values creating the base for the recommendation for World Heritage - the creation of an institutional system supporting the Heritage - the development of a strategy, future and short, medium and long term objectives in comliance with Austrian and hungarian effective regulations, regional and municipal plans, etc. - give general overview of the state of the values of the area - disseminate the importance of the Heritage and the values of the area - the assessment of the cultural and economic advantages - implementation of a sustainabel use - proposal for a holistic and strategic program including the set of priorities University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Short- and medium term objectives - preservation of natural resources (management plan for the National Park and Natura 2000 areas) - settlement and the environment: settlements cannot grow by damaging the environmnet - protection of landscapes: wind mills are deteriorating the landscape - establishment of a flourishing wineyard area: preservation of small structures of companies, mass production is not allowed - grasslands should be used as pastures - management of reed covered areas (for heating) University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Short- and medium term objectives -clear ownership structure - control of forestation - control of water surface level - cultural preservation: road for bikes, World Heritage knowledge, reconstruction of monuments, increase of the area of World Heritage - sustainabel agriculture and wine production - good marketing for products and for the area - improvement of infrastructure, cross-border cooperation in the field of public transport University of Debrecen Centre for Environmental Management and Policy