Hungary will spend HUF 57.8 billion (approximately EUR 160 million) over the next four years on a nationwide tree-planting and urban greening programme, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Sunday. The plans include planting at least 12 million saplings, creating more than 1,300 hectares of new woodland and making towns and cities better equipped to cope with increasingly intense heatwaves.
The government has now approved the details of the programme, which was first announced in September. Magyar said this summer had made it clear that climate change was already affecting everyday life, making it increasingly important to improve living conditions and reduce the impact of extreme heat.
Of the total funding, HUF 18.2 billion will go towards nationwide afforestation, while HUF 39.6 billion will support greener settlements.
Millions of new trees and better forest protection
The nationwide afforestation programme aims to plant at least 12 million saplings over the next four years and establish more than 1,300 hectares of new forests. It also includes planting trees along 20,000 kilometres of canal sections.
The government will allocate a further HUF 4 billion to projects that make existing forests more sustainable, while HUF 1 billion will fund an integrated forest fire prevention action plan.
More parks and cooler city streets
The larger share of the funding, HUF 39.6 billion, will be used to improve green spaces in towns and villages. The government plans to distribute this money through four types of municipal funding schemes, open to every settlement in Hungary.
The allocation includes:
- HUF 14.9 billion for creating new public parks and connecting existing green spaces.
- HUF 10 billion to reduce the urban heat island effect by removing concrete and other paved surfaces wherever possible and replacing them with green areas.
- HUF 10 billion to renovate existing parks and green spaces, plant new vegetation and replace dead trees.
- HUF 4.4 billion to make the grounds of public institutions, including schools, nurseries and medical clinics, greener.
The urban heat island effect occurs when built-up areas absorb and retain more heat than surrounding rural areas. More trees and vegetation can provide shade and help cool the air, making public spaces more comfortable during hot weather.
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Long-term planning rather than just planting trees
Magyar stressed that the programme would focus on sustainable projects rather than simply increasing the number of newly planted trees. He said planting would need to take local climate conditions, water availability and the characteristics of each settlement into account.
The government also intends to involve forestry organisations, water management experts, landscape architects, researchers, municipalities and local communities. Professional organisations will help prepare projects so that smaller settlements without the necessary expertise can also apply for funding.
The aim is to ensure that newly planted trees and renovated green spaces are properly maintained and survive in the long term, rather than drying out after their first summer.
