Record: Thunderstorms prompt 6 red alerts this summer in Hungary

Thunderstorms this summer have prompted the authorities to order six red alerts over five days, more than in the whole of an average year, the National Meteorological Service said on Wednesday.

Red alerts are issued by the National Meteorological Service when there is a danger of hailstones more than 2 centimeters in diameter and stormy winds resulting in damage over a large area.

Hungary adopts third National Biodiversity Strategy

Hungary’s third National Biodiversity Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for the long-term preservation of the country’s wildlife and natural resources and defines the goals to be met by 2030, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

The strategy prioritises topics such as protected areas, containing invasive species that damage natural ecosystems, as well as sustainable agriculture, forestry and game and fish farming, the ministry said in a statement.

Tasks defined in the strategy include halting the decline of pollinators, improving the resilience of ecosystems to climate change, developing the elements of the green infrastructure network and mitigating pollution that threatens biodiversity, it said.

Preserving Hungary’s biodiversity is vital to the well-being of present and future generations, they said. Biodiversity is also the foundation of food production, and is essential for ensuring soil fertility and pollination as well as water and air depollution, while also providing raw materials for medicine and wood, according to the statement.

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