The development of demonstration plants is a technological, educational and attitudinal reform

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

Péter Zambó reminded at the event held within the framework of the program serving the development of demonstration plants: one of the largest continuous, closed forests in the country is located in the Mátra, which is not only a natural treasure, but also an economic, educational and ecological resource. The government views these forests as a foundation that is indispensable for the sustainable future of society – he added. He pointed out that the event held at the Mátra Forestry Technical School also proves that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Forestry Sectoral Knowledge Center are planning for the long term, as the program aimed at developing demonstration plants has reached a new level with its 750 million forints of support, and in addition to the tools, it also provides a modern approach, knowledge and real professional progress.

According to him, forestry tractors, digital tools and – for the first time – drones are also arriving at the institutions

“These are technological innovations that have become indispensable in modern forestry,” he underlined. As an example, he mentioned that drones enable precise mapping and monitoring of difficult-to-access areas, while forestry tractors adapt to terrain conditions and make forest management work more efficient. The equipment worth over HUF 116 million that has just been handed over – a high-performance Finnish-made Valtra forestry tractor, as well as 6 training drones, an infrared camera and a thermal camera – “opens up new dimensions in knowledge transfer and enables forestry students to confidently enter a digitally controlled, sustainable professional world,” the state secretary said. He explained that the management of mountain forests has always required special professional expertise. The changing precipitation distribution due to climate change, extreme weather events, increased erosion and the preservation of biodiversity pose challenges that only prepared, dedicated professionals can respond to. The Mátra region faces these challenges year after year, which is why the question of how to coordinate nature protection, economic needs and social expectations is becoming increasingly important here, he said. That is why it is important that education is based on the most modern knowledge and technologies, he noted. According to his explanation, the “Support for Demonstration Farms” program affects 5 agricultural vocational training centers across the country. “Today’s handover ceremony is another step in a long-term strategy and policy construction that seeks and finds a common intersection of economic, ecological and social needs in the sustainable management of forests,” the State Secretary emphasized.

AM/MTI