The support of forestry and nature conservation NGOs is of prime importance, as their work complements and expands the activities of the state forest and nature conservation in several areas, for which they now also provide additional resources, the Minister of Agriculture said in a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture (AM).

István Nagy reminded that the active participation of these organizations is indispensable in maintaining biological diversity and in continuously maintaining and increasing the area covered with trees in the country. Protecting the created world is in the common interest of all of us.

However, nature conservation is a special area, since the state effort, the legislation, and the field work of more than 6,000 colleagues of national parks and forestry companies are extremely important, but without the support of local residents, local governments and civil organizations, it would not achieve its goal, he added.

The head of the ministry explained in the announcement,

Hungary is in an extremely unique situation, as almost a third of its entire territory has remained in a state close to nature.

However, these areas have been fragmented due to human activity, and maintaining a good nature conservation status requires the continuous intervention and work of national parks and forests.

István Nagy emphasized that in order to preserve our natural treasures and increase the areas covered with trees, the ministry cooperates with the Hungarian Association of Conservationists (MTVSZ), the Hungarian Ornithological and Conservation Association (MME), the WWF Hungary and the National Forestry Association (OEE) in a number of professional tasks. .

This strategic partnership is now moving to a higher level by the fact that these organizations will be partners of the Ministry of Agriculture in practical professional work, for which they will also provide the necessary additional resources.

In the announcement, the minister also touched on the fact that MTVSZ carries out extensive information activities regarding the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and helps the integration of nature conservation aspects into sectoral policies, especially with regard to programs implemented from EU development funds.

The WWF plays a pioneering role in registering the highest biodiversity of domestic forest stands, laying the foundation for the scientific methodological background of the exploration work and in the broad presentation of our national natural forest resources.

In their cooperation with the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Association, the ministry and the organization regularly share data on the occurrence and risk factors of protected species.

It is also thanks to this that the state nature conservation is able to fulfill Hungary's obligation to report to the European Union on the implementation of the bird protection directive to a high standard, explained the head of the ministry. The minister stated that OEE is one of Hungary's oldest and largest professional, green civil organizations of the forestry society.

The association uses the support for environmental education, knowledge dissemination, attitude formation, and registration tasks related to forests. In addition to all this, the organization also pays special attention to sustainable and close to nature forest management - emphasized István Nagy in the announcement of the AM.

MTI

MTI Photo: Tibor Illyés