Short presentation of the protected areas

The Pogány-havas Association is administrator of two Natura 2000 sites: Depresiunea şi Munţii Ciucului (Csík Basin and Csík Mountains) Special Protected Area (ROSPA0034) and Munţii Ciucului (Csík Mountains) Site of Community Interest (ROSCI0323) (see map). The task of the administration is the maintenance of the favorable conservation status of protected species and habitats, with the participation of local communities.

ROSCI0323

The Csík Mountains Site of Community Importance covers and area of 60.045 hectares, and it was designated for the protection of 13 habitat types and 15 species of plants and animals as well as the ecological integrity of the area. The landscape is composed of a mosaic of grasslands and forests, one highlight being the species-rich mountain hay meadows. It is estimated that the area is the largest continuous mountain hay meadow landscape in the Eastern Carpathians. Mountain hay meadows are a vital element of the cultural landscape and local socio-economic system, which is largely based on traditional farming. Local communities play a key role in the maintenance of mountain hay meadows, thus they perform a crucial conservation activity and provide a valuable service to society. See our award -winning documentary about mountain hay meadows here. The site is home to four species of plants of community importance: Lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), Siberian ligularia (Ligularia sibirica), eastern pasquefower (Pulsatilla patens) and Carpathian tozzia (Tozzia carpathica), also home to the large carnivores specific to the Eastern Carpathians: brown bear, wolf and lynx. Other species of community interest include:

• otter (Lutra lutra)
• yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
• great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)
• Carpathian newt (Lissotriton montandoni)
• bullhead (Cottus gobio)
• Transylvanian lamprey (Eudontomyzon danfordi)
• Transylvanian bush-cricket (Pholidoptera transsylvanica)
• marsh fritillary (Euphydrias aurinia)

ROSPA0034

The Csík Basin and Csík Mountains Special Protected Area is a 51.784 hectares site, covered by secondary grasslands (meadows and pastures) in the basin and by spruce and mixed forest on the slopes. The corncrake populations that inhabits the wet meadows of the basin are some of the most important in the country. Hay meadows and wet hay meadows are also a crucial habitat for white stork, the local stork population shows a growing tendency and is one of the densest population of Romania. Forests of the surrounding mountains are home to important capercaillie populations, birds of prey, several  owl and woodpecker species. The complete list according to the standard form contains the following species:

• boreal owl (Aegolius funereus)
• lesser spotted eagle ( Aquila pomarina)
• hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia)
• European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
• white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
• black stork (Ciconia nigra)
• short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
• marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
• hen harrier (Circus cyaneus)
• Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus)
• corncrake (Crex crex)
• white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)
• Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
• black woodpeckery (Dryocopus martius)
• collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)
• red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
• Eurasian pigmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum)
• red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
• honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
• three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)
• grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus)
• spotted crake (Porzana porzana)
• Ural owl (Strix uralensis)
• capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)

The standard data forms of the two Natura 2000 sites can be downloaded here: ROSCI0323 & ROSPA0034.

A film by Juhász Ágota, about the link between man and nature through the species-rich mountain hay meadows of the Eastern Carpathians.