Hungary launches major afforestation program amid climate pressures

The Hungarian government will launch a large-scale afforestation program worth tens of billions of forints (tens of millions of US dollars) to combat climate pressures, Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced Thursday.

Approved in its first reading, the program will offer non-repayable grants through 2030 to plant millions of trees and create hundreds of hectares of forests, waterfront promenades, and green corridors across the country.

The initiative focuses on drought-resistant tree species, urban tree maintenance, forest restructuring, and invasive species control. Magyar stressed that tree planting will be paired with water-retention measures to bolster resilience against heat, drought and extreme weather.

Environmental group "10 Millio Fa" (10 Million Trees) welcomed the move as "a good start" while calling for broader ecological reforms.

The announcement followed Hungary's hottest August since records began in 1901. Severe summer drought also lowered Danube River levels, forcing temporary output cuts at the Paks nuclear power plant and triggering emergency water-management measures.