Practice in conservation and conservation biology: the role of scientific research

Abstract

This paper overviews the relationship between practical nature conservation and academic research, and how research can benefit nature protection. Research can have various roles in the manifold tasks of national parks in Hungary (management, authoritative work, nature preservation, monitoring). In management, an understanding of the dynamic change of spatial patterns (e.g. habitat-mosaic structures) and of the natural systems, and of the factors influencing these changes is essential. Only with this knowledge is it possible to devise adequate management, to choose between preservation-type or conservation-type strategies, and to implement habitat rehabilitation or reconstruction. While the formulation of general action plans to protect individual species requires research and planning at the national level, national parks tend to be interested in local or regional research. However, national level planning and rapid actions are necessary in several distinguished areas. For instance, it is essential to establish and maintain an easy-to-use nature conservation information system, which can be used to address practical problems. As a first step, the uniformisation and widening of the accessibility of databases currently under development are necessary. Such an information system could provide help in developing management plans and in making decisions necessary for habitat conservation and authoritative activities by the parks. The information system can ultimately be a tool for measuring the productivity or efficiency of national parks in fulfilling their tasks of management and preservation by monitoring the changes in the status of natural values. Conservation biology, after clarifying its basic concepts, can be a „common denominator” as a unifying basic principle in the relations between managers and researchers.