Two hundred thousand trees were planted on National Arbor Day

The Foundation presented its package of policy and public policy proposals entitled “Népliget Manifesto” at the opening ceremony of the action day in Népliget. According to the foundation, the ecological baseline of Hungary can no longer be treated as a sectoral issue: nature policy must be an independent, priority national strategic area that precedes and determines economic policy decisions.

The most important commitments and demands:

• A separate, protected green infrastructure chapter in the budget
• A mandatory, public ecological balance before every major investment
• A real-measurement environmental impact tax for construction and nature-damaging developments
• Investing the funds collected in local, municipal and civil society cooperation in green infrastructure development
• Treating forests as climate infrastructure, independent ecological audit of state in the operation of forestry farms
• Launch of a national soil and water retention program
• Mandatory minimum urban tree and shade regulations
• Institutionalized partnership involvement of civil organizations
• Planting and caring for one tree for every eighth-grade and high school student in the given settlement

The opening event was held in Népliget, which is managed by the Main Garden, as part of a family day organized together with tree planting and enriched with diverse programs. Nearly 150 organizations joined the initiative announced by the 10 Million Trees Foundation this year with their own tree planting projects, and plantings were carried out at 200 locations across the country. The organization provided a 19 million forint grant, 24 winners of which launched a separate project related to the day. Of the participating organizations, Krisna Völgy offered the most plantings with a forest plantation of 55,000 individuals.

The civil collaboration was also supported by more than 30 nurseries and nurseries, and a national gardening store chain provided a 30 percent discount on seedlings and planting tools during the week of the campaign.

The largest of the organization’s own projects was implemented in Pölöskefő in Zala, where a hardwood oak forest consisting of 15 tree species was planted on six hectares. In addition, forest restoration planting also took place in Tápióbicske, which was implemented as part of the EU-funded CLIMANATRES Danube Interreg project. During the planting, the scientifically based habitat restoration methodology developed in the project was applied, which prioritizes the creation of natural forest structure and climate-adaptive tree species composition. Participation in the program is also a new challenge and opportunity for the 10 Million Trees Foundation, as we can work together with participants from five countries to create greener, more natural habitats, crossing the borders of Hungary.

The central event held in Népliget in Budapest featured professional discussions, family programs and community planting. At the event, Iván András Bojár, head of the European Climate Pact partner organization, the 10 Million Trees Foundation, emphasized: “We are doing this because we cannot wait for someone else to solve the climate crisis for us. For us, tree planting is not a campaign, but a change in attitude. Every tree planted is a sign that we take responsibility for our environment and think about the future as a community. If many of us take this simple step, it will mean real change.”