jabbrv-ltwa-all.ldf jabbrv-ltwa-en.ldf Despite high population densities, valuable plant communities persist in various isolated habitat fragments in many cities around the world. These include several sand grasslands in Budapest, which are notable for their species richness and the presence of rare, protected species such as Hippophaë rhamnoides. Since 2006, efforts to restore natural open sandy grassland habitats have been ongoing within the Újpest Sea buckthorn Nature Conservation Area. The objective of these initiatives is to reduce the prevalence of invasive woody species and to preserve the fragmented sandy grassland ecosystems. The objective of our research was to evaluate the efficacy of conserving the habitat of Hippophaë rhamnoides and restoring natural sandy vegetation over a 15-year period. Furthermore, the objective was to ascertain which Festuca species are dominant in the area. The impact of these interventions was evaluated through the analysis of coenological data across 10 quadrats per plot, with each sample plot representing a different year of shrub removal. By employing a systematic approach to habitat management, over 40% of the protected area has been successfully converted into grassland. In the undisturbed central region, where natural open sandy grasslands have always existed, the dominant grass species is Festuca vaginata. However, in areas where shrubs have been eradicated, Festuca pseudovaginata and Festuca tomanii have emerged as the dominant species. Keywords: Festuca pseudovaginata, Festuca vaginata, Festuca tomanii, habitat restoration, Hippophaë rhamnoides, sandy vegetation