The Bicaz-Hăşmaş National Park is a national reserve in the Eastern Carpathians. It is the only national park in Szeklerland. It spans across an area of 657.5 km². The national park was decided to become one in 1990. In terms of its conservation status it can be divided into two parts: 78% of the park is strictly protected, while 22% constitute a protected area.
The Hăşmaş Mountains is a geologically, geomorphologically varied area with distinct climatic factors have enabled a wide variety of flora and fauna to thrive here.
Based on the results of several researches carried out in the protected area of the park 1147 superior plant species were identified, of which 29 are hybrid and 99 are subspecies. Most of territory of the national park area is covered with spruce, however, mixed forests are not that uncommon, sub-alpine pastures and meadows, and limestone rocks covered with rare and native plant species. The park also has endemic plant such as the the Békási csűdfű (Astragalus pseudopurpureus), which is to be found only here in the world. In addition, many rare and protected plant species can be found here, such as the savin juniper (Juniperus sabina), herbich (Silene zawadzkii), waldsteinia (Waldsteinia geoides Will.), the garland flower or rose daphne (Daphne cneorum), the common yew ( Taxus baccata), the lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) or the valiant blood (Nigritella rubra).
The local fauna is also very rich in species. Among the species of butterflies we highlight the Mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo) and the Comma (Polygonia c-album); when mentioning reptiles and amphibians we mention yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata), the marsh frog (Rana ridibunda), the Alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), the Carpathian Newt (Triturus montandoni), the crested newt (Triturus cristatus), the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the common toad (Bufo bufo) and the common frog (Rana temporaria), the viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), the common European viper (Vipera berus) and the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca). Rare bird species: the wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), the Eurasian Three-Toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia), the raven (Corvus corax), the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the Ural owl (Strix uralensis) the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and large-sized mammals: red deer (Cervus elaphus), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the wolf (Canis lupus), and last but not least the lynx (Lynx lynx).
