Resource information
Sustainability and multifunctionality, two key principles, which will determine future development in any activities. On the basesof these principles, society as a whole has already outlined future expectations towards rural areas. Rural functions (economic, ecologicaland socio-cultural ones) have been declared in European Charter for Rural Areas. To what extend can different rural development initiativesmeet these functions? The question may be answered by using the method of multifunctional rural resource analysis (NAGY, 2007). Thepaper is investigating the potential for Hungarian grasslands by using this methodology. It is concluded that our grasslands, as land usesystems in their present conditions can participate in integrated rural development in the most balanced way compared to other land usesystems in the county. Economically their potential is good. Ecologically their potential is outstanding. The socio-cultural potential ofgrassland use in Hungary is also outstanding due to the historical roots. As a future prediction the relative importance of the three grasslandfunctions has been outlined in integrated agriculture and rural development.
