Hungary is situated in the middle of the Europe, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Due to the influence of diverse geological formations and various climatic effects, an extremely rich biodiversity can be found here. There are more than 42,000 animal and more than 2,200 plant species, including a high number of endemic species.

The abundant biodiversity of Hungary will greatly enrich the natural heritage of the EU, the main aim of the NATURA 2000 network. It will also provide a foundation for new strategies based upon sustainable development.

The transposition and implementation of EU environmental laws within Hungarian national legislation, including for example the Habitat and Bird Directives, is an essential aspect of the process of adding new protected areas.

The preparation for accession started in Hungary in 2000, with the implementation of the Habitat Directive under the framework of the "PHARE-NATURA 2000" project.