Rinyaszentkirály Forest Nature Reserve
The aim of declaring the area protected was to preserve the once natural plant associations of Inner Somogy and the areas along the stream Rinya, as well as to protect the habitat of animal species typical here, with special attention to the while-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) that has been breeding here for decades.
Forming a part of Inner Somogy, the area is located 120-130 m a.s.l., with quicksand bedrock and with a natural vegetation cover of various types of broad-leaved forests. Because the groundwater table is relatively high, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) is the dominant forest species. At higher floodplain areas, there are also oak-ash-elm gallery forest, with Hungarian ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) as a typical species. In the intermittently waterlogged areas, alder forests of various types form the potential vegetation.
The herb layer is quite variable, with common primrose (Primula vulgaris), black bryony (Tamus communis), water violet (Hottonia palustris) and Kievan nettle (Urtica kiowiensis) being the characteristic protected plants in the area. Among birds, regular nesters are the strictly protected white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and black kite (Milvus migrans), the protected raven (Corvus corax), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis).
The area is strictly protected with no public access allowed so as to avoid any disturbance.
Declared to be protected: 3/1984. (XII. 13.) OKTH decree.
Size of the protected area: 62.8 ha