Forest Climate Adaptation Forum established

(Photo: NAK)

András Mocz, Deputy State Secretary for Forests at the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted at the meeting that the general deterioration of the condition of forests is a European phenomenon, primarily caused by significant changes in weather conditions and, as a result, a negative change in the water management of forest soils. The negative effects of climate change do not spare Hungarian forests either; due to the water shortage that has lasted for several years, several of our forest stands have already been weakened to such an extent that their rescue requires immediate intervention. The effects of climate change are being felt significantly on domestic forest stands. He mentioned the Southern Great Plain Forestry as an example, where the destruction of primarily Scots pine and pedunculate oak forests can be detected. In relation to the destroyed stands, the forestry sector has an obligation to reforest, where they must take care of the new forest. Based on the forecasts of forestry climate researchers, domestic production conditions may change to such an extent within a few decades that they will no longer provide a viable environment for the current forests or woody vegetation in general. Therefore, due attention must be paid to saving forests as our outstanding national treasure, he added.

Many actors are involved in the process

The forum, established under the leadership of the State Secretariat for Forests and Land Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the National Chamber of Agriculture, aims to promote the adaptation of forestry to climate change with the participation of professional and scientific organizations, public and private actors, and social organizations. András Mocz highlighted that there is already research background, data, and international good practices that also need to be evaluated. The most important issues will be processed in the form of thematic working groups under the coordination of the NAK. SOE ERTI proposed an iterative, practical/field-based learning process. WWF drew attention to the role of indirect social benefits and natural adaptation processes, emphasizing the gradualness, humility, and site-specificity of adaptation. The representative of the Deputy State Secretariat for Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Agriculture requested that natural succession processes be taken into account during adaptation planning. Participants agreed that in most cases there is scope to improve the adaptive capacity of forests. The key could be to restore forests to their natural state or to develop tree stands that are not expected to become extinct under changing climatic conditions and are able to maintain the living conditions of forest communities.

AM