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NATURE CONSERVATION AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE 143
presence and novel research methods in fieldwork, as well as their continuous
communication with practical spheres, the research group has won acknowledgement
for TEK and its research in the Hungarian scholarly and conservationist spheres
within a relatively short time (Cs. Molnár et al. 2010; Zs. Molnár et al. 2019;
Molnar — Babai 2021). In recent years, several publications by ecologists have
argued that traditional knowledge of nature is a living system of knowledge in the
21" century as well, and its research in Hungary and in the Carpathian Basin, as
well as its deliberation in practical matters may have an important role (e.g. Molnar
et al. 2009; Molnar 2012; Dénes 2013; Ulicsni et al. 2016; Varga et al. a, b 2017;
Bird et al. 2019; Babi 2021; Ulicsni — Babai 2021). It is generally true of ecological
investigations that its aims should include practice-oriented objectives. Alternatively,
the motivation for research might come directly from a conservation problem, for
instance: what role could wood pasturing have in preserving the natural values of
flood-plain areas? (Varga et al. 2019: 143). This is one reason for why it is important
to bring the results of research out of academia and into social and decision-making
spheres. Consequently, in many cases, popularizing is also an integral part of this
research (e.g. Varga et al. 2019; Varga — Bajomi 2021, http 4).
Examples of international conventions and initiatives
One of the most important platforms of conservation goals and supportive
regulations includes the various Hungarian and international agreements which
are the main tools for the promotion of “the interest of conservation” among
decision-makers. It is therefore significant that more and more international
conventions and practical examples call attention and stress that natural and cultural
diversity, as well as cultivated landscapes are of key importance for the natural
values of the world; protecting and sustaining them is the central goal of
conservation today (Fischer et al. 2012: 167-172; Rotherham 2015: 3405;
Schmeller — Bridgewater 2016).
Several examples can be cited from recent decades to show how traditional
landscape use, traditional ecological knowledge (Ianni et al. 2015) or a more direct
contact with the landscape (Celentano — Rousseau 2016) can be revived. One
example is the revived practice of pollarding trees in Italy (Coppini — Hermann
2007) and England (Read et al. 2010; Jorgensen 2013). A considerable amount
of knowledge can be added by research in landscape history (Foster et al. 2001;
Cevasco et al. 2015) and in traditional ecological research (Hunn et al. 2003).
Investigations in recent decades have confirmed that the greatest efficiency can be
achieved when all these studies and conservationist treatments take place with the
active involvement of local inhabitants (e.g., http 2; Mihék et al. 2016). The purest
examples are the areas preserved by the community (Berkes 2004; Varga — Bajomi
2021). This is also highlighted by several international conventions, of which the
Landscape Convention and the Natura 2000 network (Agnoletti — Rotherham
2015) are the most important in Europe. The latter was not created for the specific
goal of preserving biocultural diversity. Rather, it supports forms of cultivating
activities that promote the practice of using the traditional landscape in a way
favorable for habitat and bird protection (e.g. pasturing). This is also supported
by the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems project (http 3.),