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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.),
