The spring planting season of the urban afforestation program has begun; following the program’s launch in 2020, the 100,000th tree is scheduled to be planted this year, announced Agriculture Minister István Nagy on Monday morning in Jánossomorja, Győr-Moson-Sopron County (northwestern Hungary).
The minister, who is also the Fidesz member of parliament for the region, emphasized that the urban afforestation program is the largest urban afforestation initiative since the change of regime, aimed at greening rural settlements with fewer than 10,000 residents and improving their environmental conditions.
István Nagy emphasized that Győr-Moson-Sopron County is also an active participant in the program; since 2020, 5,775 trees have been planted, and an additional 230 trees will be distributed throughout the county during the spring season.
In the current planting phase, 20 common birches, 27 early maples, 16 American linden, 17 European ash, and 30 small-leaved linden, along with 120 globe-shaped sycamore trees will be planted on the streets of the towns; of these, 10 American linden, 10 early maple, and 10 European ash will be planted in Jánossomorja this time,
he listed.
The minister stated that tree planting provides effective assistance in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, which is why the large-scale afforestation program launched by the government does not stop at the boundaries of municipalities.
“We are committed to preserving and expanding forests; we view them as a strategic asset. We are working to further improve the condition and adaptive capacity of domestic forests, expand their area, and ensure that the farmers involved in their maintenance can remain competitive,” the minister added.
He also noted that, in the interest of a more livable environment, the government has set a goal of increasing the country’s forested area from 24 to 27 percent. With this goal in mind, the National Afforestation Program was launched in 2019, under which nearly 200 million trees were planted nationwide, he said.
Strategic thinking about forests is also reflected in support policies; between 2014 and 2023, 67 billion forints were allocated to afforestation under the Rural Development Program, and an additional 64 billion forints are available in the CAP Strategic Plan to increase the proportion of forested areas,
he noted.
He added that the subsidy system not only supports the establishment of new forests but also their post-planting care. The forest planting call for proposals offers the opportunity to create new forests or establish industrial-scale tree plantations, and farmers will receive compensation for lost agricultural income for 12 years following the planting.
The minister also noted that special attention is being paid to the creation of field-protecting forest strips, tree-lined avenues, and wooded pastures, which help agricultural areas contribute to climate change mitigation. In this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture’s partners include, the Blue Planet Foundation and the Hungarian National Bank.
István Nagy stated that under the “Forest of Newborns” program, state forestry companies have already planted more than four million trees and created 620 hectares of forest, while more than seven million trees have been planted under the model afforestation program.
Via MTI; Featured image: Hungary Today
The post Urban Tree Program Is Set To Reach 100,000 Milestone This Spring appeared first on Hungary Today.
