Government reacted on concerns regarding extended felling

Firewood production remains sustainable in Hungary, the agriculture ministry said in a statement on Saturday. As part of the effort to combat the energy crisis, in a decree published on Thursday the government eased restrictions on felling, drawing criticism from opposition parties which said the measure undermined climate protection efforts.

In the statement, Agriculture Minister István Nagy said forestry was an important part of tackling the energy crisis. The measures will not entail clear-cutting, reducing the size of forested areas in Hungary, or harming their condition, he said.

In an effort to combat the energy crisis brought on by the war in Ukraine and Brussels sanctions, the government is working to ensure that people can use firewood instead of gas wherever possible, he said.

The government has banned the export of firewood from the country and instructed state foresters to increase production, and eased regulations to further facilitate that process.