Abstract: The concept of housing estates is closely connected to urban developments after World War II., most significantly in the residential developments of former Socialist countries. Since the 1950s many new public functions have appeared in housing estates, and a variety of different design styles and fashions have changed. The goal of our research is to clarify, how the green surfaces of these housing estates influence the present urban ecological system of Budapest and to determine principles and physical data, which might have an influence on today’s open space- and green-system planning. In our research, the sizes and proportions of green surfaces and tree canopy, the multi-leveled vegetation and the proportion of fragmented green surfaces are analyzed on different testing sites. These data are evaluated in the light of relevant building codes for residential developments effective in each period. Areal and spatial photos help to evaluate the present plant-coverage by the help of Vegetation Index. The edification of our research is that these housing estates have developed an extremely high vegetation index by the present day. Thanks to their large open spaces, proper supply of green surfaces and significant index of tree canopy, these housing estates have a good urban ecological effect today.

Keywords: green surface norms, city climate, multi-leveled vegetation, fragmented greens, tree canopy

Abstract: Nowadays a new research field is the application of the so called landscape indicators which serve the description and evaluation of landscapes. In this study we analyze landscape functions and ecosystem services in rural landscapes. We summarize most of the services/functions of the landscapes and analyze its balanced functioning in the case of micro-region of Csorna situated in Western-Hungary. The micro-region is comprised of two major landscape units. One is the Hanság, Tóköz which still preserved the values of the former vast marshland. The analyzed indices show that the population can not really enjoy the benefits of natural values; the recreational and cultural-educational functions are inadequate in spite of the high rate of protected areas. The ratio of cultivated areas is very high Looking at the landscape aesthetics functions the protected areas are of high value but in the cultivated areas especially plough fields the planting of elements of mosaic like and the traditional landscape such as vegetation along canals, forest belts, trees and greater areas of pastures should be enhanced. The second part of the micro-regions is Rábaköz which can be characterized by high intensity of cultivation. Here we revealed that the habitat (and regulation) and information (aesthetics, recreation, education) services are inadequate.

Keywords: carrier function, ecosystem services, micro-region of Csorna, multifunctionality, sustainable development

Abstract: Considering the social demands lakeshores have many special functions, such as: landscape protection functions (e.g. special habitat, buffer-function) and land use functions (e.g. recreation-tourism, public places. The shore of Lake Velence (Hungary) was evaluated according to four viewpoints: pressures, naturalness, buffer-function and suitability for changing shore fortification. A detailed survey of the lakeshore was made by dividing the shoreline into 100 m long and 50-50 m wide sections to land (riparian zone) and to water (littoral zone) directions. According to the results low pressures, being characteristic for more than half of the lakeshore are partially due to the land use peculiarities. It is mainly the sections near boat harbours and ship docks which have connection between pressures and naturalness and which are pressured to critical extent, being heavily modified at the same time. Areas with good buffer-capacity are typical between the reed-works of Pákozd and the boat harbour in Sukoró. It is mainly a short shore section in Velence that can be considered to have advantageous features for changing shore fortification.

Keywords: lakeshore assessment, shoreline restoration, Lake Velence, landscape architecture

Abstract: The allée is one of the oldest instruments and forms of landscape architecture, which has often been used from the Antiquity for the expression of visual and functional relationships, for the delimitation of space, or for the pictorial creation of movement. The several hundred years old allées of the late baroque age, which still live among us as the witnesses of bygone times, represent a special value throughout Europe. The longevity and the respectable size as such bestow a certain value upon the trees. However, the allées also stand for a garden art, landscape, culture historical and natural value, which in a summarized way are called cultural heritage. Furthermore, the gene pool of the proven longevous, high tolerance tree specimens is a natural and genetic heritage of scientific signification. The age of the trees and allées is finite. Even with a careful and professional care, the renewal is inevitable, which, beyond technical problems of landscape architecture might raise many scientific, nature conservation, yes, esthetical and ethical questions. This is why there is no universal methodology, but there are aspects and examination procedures of general validity with the help of which a renewal can be prepared. The renewal concept of the lime tree allée in Nagycenk aims at the protection and the transmission of the value-ensemble embodied in the allée. One part of the value-ensemble is the spiritual, cultural heritage, the extraordinary value of the landscape-scaled, landscape architectural creation planted and taken care of by the Széchenyis. On the other hand the two and a half centuries old trees represent an inestimable botanical and genetic wealth. Its transmission and preservation is a scientifically important program coming up to the Széchenyi heritage. After the registration of the originally planted old trees, the complete nursery material of the “Széchenyi limes” necessary for the replanting can be produced by vegetative propagation. The gradual replacement of the stand with its own propagation material, by the carefully raised nursery trees of the same age can be a model for the gene-authentic renewal method – a novelty even at an international level.

Keywords: historic allée, preservation of gene bank heritage, nature conservation, renewal and protection of cultural heritage

Abstract: Over the last decade the ecological footprint (EF) methodology has become widely used for estimating the biocapacity and the impact of human consumption in terms of global hectares. Although it represents a very impressive method for calculating the EF and biocapacity of an area, problems can arise regarding the incorporation of ecological factors into the calculation process. In this study we point out some problematic issues with use of the current EF methodology from an ecological point of view, taking as our focus forest biocapacity in Hungary. The EF concept ignores the differences in productivity of different species and forest types and their associated ecological values as well. We argue that the ecological ‘quality’ of different kinds of forests and tree species should be reflected in EF calculations in order to obtain a more accurate estimation of biocapacity. The presence of invasive and non-local species may reduce biodiversity and crowd out native tree species. As a result we distinguish between three main forest types (natural, cultural and energy forests) and additionally suggest the introduction of an additional parameter which refers to the ‘naturalness’ of the specified forest types. Results show a 15% increase in forest biocapacity when incorporating the naturalness factor.

Keywords: ecological footprint, biocapacity, forest footprint, yield factor

Abstract: Modelling the budburst dates are vital tools in viticulture, amongst others, for learning the response of the plants to climate change. We compared two budburst date models for Kékfrankos, the most important red variety of Hungary. The one is based on the accumulated effective heat sum with optimized starting date. The other one considers also the chilling effects and predicts the date of dormancy brake as well. The models were fitted and validated on phenological observations from 1977- 2003 in a plain region of Central Hungary, Kecskemét. The optimization was made for the root mean square of the deviance between the predicted and the estimated dates measured in days.

Keywords: Vitis vinifera L., Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), chilling effect, degree day, climate change

Abstract: Under global climate change we mean the observed increasing tendency of the yearly mean temperature together with the more and more frequently occurring extreme events (floods, frosts, droughts, heat waves). The border of the sites suitable for grapevine growing and the growing regions are defined mainly by climatic conditions. Quality wine production can be maintained between the isothermals of 10-16°C yearly mean temperature. Though Hungary is expected to remain amongst the regions with good quality grapevine growing conditions, according even to the most pessimistic forecasts, the expected frequency and the impact of extreme climatic events are rather serious warning signs. Continental climatic conditions in Carpathian basin can generate stress effects which can cause negative economic consequences through quality and quantity unsuitability. In this study some impactful climatic indicators are analysed which are of high importance in grapevine production. Historic data are compared with regional climate model predictions of RegCM 3.1 with A1B scenario, concerning to the Central Hungarian grape growing regions.

Keywords: grapevine, climate change, climatic indicators, Central Hungarian region, climatic risk