Planting 100,000 Trees by 2026: A Green Initiative
The National Tree Planting Program, launched in 2019, is seeing promising progress as forestry companies and municipalities in Hungary have planted 184 million trees in recent years. The Minister of Agriculture, István Nagy, shared this positive update during a press conference held in Leányfalu, located north of Budapest, as part of a local tree planting campaign.
Nagy emphasized the strategic importance of the country’s forest assets and outlined the goal of increasing the current 24% of total forest area to 27%. Forests play a crucial role in creating a sustainable and healthier environment, making the afforestation of settlements a key aspect of the program. So far, 56,000 trees have been planted in 1,500 towns and villages, with a grant of HUF 2.5 billion (EUR 6.2 million) from the ministry.
In further development of the Country Afforestation Program, farms will have the opportunity to apply for a total of HUF 64 billion (EUR 159 million). This initiative aims to compensate farmers for the loss of agricultural income due to afforestation over a 12-year period following planting, while also providing area-based payments. Special support will be provided for the creation of forest belts, tree lines, and wooded pastures.
The upcoming spring planting period is set to kick off in two weeks, with an increased number of trees – 21,300 in total – to meet the high demand from over 1,700 interested municipalities. By spring 2026, rural municipalities are expected to surpass 76,000 trees planted, with a target of reaching 100,000 by the following year.
The government is committed to investing significantly in the preservation and enhancement of forests, with a budget allocation of 310 billion forints (EUR 771 million) – three times more than the previous period. Notably, a majority of forests have been planted in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Hajdú-Bihar counties in recent years.
Through these efforts, Hungary is taking important steps to protect and expand its forested areas, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for the nation.
