Background Hungary’s population of the globally threatened great bustard (Otis tarda) decreased dramatically in the latter part of the Twentieth Century (from 8 557 in 1941 to no more than 1 300 individuals by 1988). The population of this priority European species was stagnating and the bird’s long term conservation status in Hungary remained threatened. Objectives The LIFE project’s main objective centred on increasing the size of Hungary’s great bustard population by 10% in the project area during the project lifespan, and by 50% within 10 years. Stakeholder cooperation was considered essential to achieve these targets so the project involved partners from five National Parks, four NGOs, a university and the Ministry of Environment. All work at the project sites was also coordinated with other great bustard conservation actions underway at national level. Nine main sites (Mosoni-síkság, Kiskunsági szikes puszták, Solti-síkság, Dévaványai-sík, Kis-Sárrét, Bihari-síkság, Hortobágy, Borsodi-Mezőség and Hevesi-sík) were ear-marked for habitat restoration and species conservation support by the LIFE project. These sites were to be classified as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive and the project involved preparing management plans for the prospective SPAs. Results Project results exceeded initial targets and bird census identified a growing population of the great bustard within the SPAs. A population increase of 11.4% was recorded during the project period. LIFE staff noted 629 breeding females and identified the locations of 294 nests, containing a total of 515 eggs. Figures from winter monitoring in 2009 revealed a total of 1 582 individuals. Seasonal analysis showed that interventions (such as clearing snow from nests and providing winter food) acted as an incentive to prevent birds from migrating south during winter. Efforts invested by the LIFE project partners are attributed to the successful specie’s restoration results and key outputs from this cooperation work were the nine management plans that were produced, one for each SPA. The plans’ long term conservation measures were validated in September 2008 by Hungary’s Ministry of Environment and Water. Coordination with other Ministries ensured that each of the SPAs was included as an eligible area for agri-environment assistance under the national Rural Development Programme. This will help fund important practical aspects of the ongoing conservation work. Practical work carried out during the project was facilitated by purchasing 1 999 ha of land to allow greater control of the habitat restoration actions. These included converting 573 ha of arable land into grassland and a further 224 ha of alfalfa was established to help provide seasonal feed for the birds. In total, LIFE helped to manage 336 ha of alfalfa in a ‘bustard-friendly’ manner. Some 311 ha oilseed rape was also sown to provide primary winter food. Other core conservation works led to 2 584 ha of grasslands being managed by low intensity grazing, or by mowing after breeding seasons, and 1 848 ha of fallow land was established and/or maintained for one or two years as a beneficial breeding habitat for the bustards. LIFE partners were aware of the importance of reducing disturbance to the birds during display and breeding periods, since this influences successful reproduction, and so 18 gates were installed at four project sites to limit public access. Nine observation towers were also constructed to help manage public access during sensitive times. Mortality rates were addressed by involving a power company in the project partnership. This resulted in reducing bird-strike risks by burying 11 km of electricity cables in Borsodi Mezőség and adding 1 400 pieces of colourful ‘firefly’ material on electric lines at six project sites. In addition to investments in habitat quality, the LIFE project also proactively involved local people in order to strengthen their understanding of the basis for the conservation work, and raise awareness about the potential socio-economic benefits that were available from green-tourism and agri-environment payments. As part of this information campaign, 96 farmers’ meetings were organised, 20 000 information leaflets were printed and a special video film for farmers was produced for their meetings. Hunters were also informed about their conservation roles at meetings, by a documentary film and via 4 000 brochures. A host of other communication materials was produced and disseminated effectively by the project. Full details are available in the Layman’s report.