Background The Turjánvidék Natura 2000 site (SCI) covers 9 740 ha, of which 5 304 ha is the southern area, and the target area of the project. The project will also target 2 022 ha of a recently designated Natura 2000 site, bordering the existing site to the south. The Turjánvidék site is one of the most extensive and continuously humid sand habitat systems in the Middle-Hungarian Region. The southern part of the Turjánvidék is a diverse mosaic of large natural habitats (mainly seasonally wet grasslands, fens and alluvial forest). The flora of the shooting range in the wet north-western part is bog forests and meadows, and protected ex lege. In the drier southern part, sandy steppes and woodlands are found. The area is home to the venomous viper (Vipera ursinii rakosinesis) and the park also cooperates with the ex situ conservation programme of the CONVIPURSRAK LIFE+ project). The directorate has carried out botanical research in the southern part of the Turjánvidék (including the Dabasi Turjános nature conservation area and the central and southern parts of the Táborfalva military shooting range). It also developed the Á-NÉR system based habitat map, the treatment plan for the Dabasi Area and the natural reserve management plan for the shooting range (with the Ministry of Defence). In the Dabasi area, moderate mowing is carried out during a restricted period in order to protect orchid species. One of the most serious problems facing the area is the shortage of water (due to drainage channels and decreasing precipitation). The sand steppes and inland dune thickets close to settlements are also affected by invasive species. Objectives The project aims to improve the conservation status of priority habitats and of the Hungarian meadow viper present in the southern unit of the Turjánvidék Natura 2000 site. The target habitats comprise alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (91E0), molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (6410), alluvial meadows of river valleys of the Cnidion dubii (6440), Alkaline fens (7230) and in the drier sand areas a mosaic of pannonic sand steppes (6260) and pannonic inland sand dune thickets (91N0). Specific objectives of the projects are to: Increase the groundwater level of the alder-ash gallery forest habitats near Dabas through the implementation of a water retention plan and water management; Eradicate invasive species from sand steppes and alder-ash forests and restructure the alien forest stands (chemical treatment, plantation etc.); Manage and extend the potential habitat of the Hungarian meadow viper, an endemic protected priority species, through the conversion of arable lands into grasslands and two non-indigenous forests into meadows, the use of cattle grazing instead of intensive mowing, and land purchase to avoid cultivation of energy crops.Expected results: Invasive plant species will be eliminated from 1 100 ha of sand grasslands and thickets; A total of 42 ha of non-indigenous sand forests will be converted into indigenous forests; Invasive plant species will be eliminated from 71 ha of alder-ash gallery forests; A water management plan will be drawn up, eight water management stations will be constructed, and water conditions will improve in 88 ha of alder-ash gallery forests, and in the whole project area; Cattle grazing will be introduced on 500 ha; 64 ha of enclosed arable lands will be converted into grasslands and 30 ha of alien forests will be transformed into grasslands to create favourable habitats for Hungarian meadow viper; A total area of 191 ha of arable land will be purchased and converted into grasslands; Illegal waste deposits (2 000 m3) will be eliminated from indigenous habitats, an illegal sand pit (1.3 ha) will be re-cultivated and gravel roads (41 crossing gates) closed; Two nature conservation training sessions will be held for environmental officers and communication material will be produced; Management and biodiversity monitoring will take place in 15 sample areas (min. 3 000 GIS records of flora and fauna); Dissemination material will be produced (2 000 brochures, project website, six information boards, 20 demarcation boards, a film about the project area, a newsletter, two press conferences and five ’Green Days’) and widely disseminated; An After-LIFE conservation management plan (updated management plan for the Turjánvidék Natura 2000 site) will be compiled.