‘There is no deforestation in Hungary—our forests are safe,’ declared State Secretary for Forests and Land Affairs Péter Zambó declared in a video shared by the Ministry of Agriculture. Zambó firmly rejected recent online claims suggesting widespread forest destruction, calling them misleading and based on false assumptions.
Zambó emphasized that deforestation—defined as the uncontrolled, permanent removal of forests—is strictly prohibited under Hungarian law. According to the national Forest Act, forested areas must be maintained, and any change in land use is only permitted in exceptional cases such as public infrastructure development, and even then, only under close regulatory supervision.
He explained that when trees are cut for professional reasons—such as forest ageing or disease—it is the legal duty of forest managers to regenerate the forest. Whether this involves selective logging, clear-cutting, or phased harvesting, these are all part of the natural renewal process and do not qualify as deforestation.
Zambó underlined that the Forest Act is clear: the purpose is to preserve, maintain, and develop forests, not to reduce or eliminate them. Claims to the contrary, he said, are either mistaken or intentionally misleading.
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Clear-cutting, he noted, is a globally accepted and regulated forestry method used in specific conditions, especially where certain light-dependent tree species or ageing forests are involved. Without such renewal efforts, Hungary’s forest sustainability goals could not be achieved.
Zambó pointed to a recent example that highlights the contradiction in the current discourse: in 2025, WWF Hungary awarded its ‘Climate-Friendly Forest Manager’ prize to eight forestry programmes, six of which were state-owned companies. One recipient, Nyírerdő Ltd, had previously been accused by WWF of unnecessary clear-cutting in protected areas.
Ironically, the award-winning Nyírerdő programme included regulated clear-cutting, which the WWF later praised for its nature-based approach to regenerating sun-loving oak species in the Sóstó forest near Nyíregyháza.
Zambó also addressed misunderstandings surrounding recent amendments to the Forest Act, which some critics claimed would enable unrestricted deforestation. In reality, he explained, the changes tighten restrictions—particularly in protected forests.
The maximum permitted area for clear-cutting has now been limited to three hectares, a significant restriction compared to the previously uncapped allowance. All forest interventions remain under strict authority control, and no ad hoc logging is allowed.
These revisions, supported by the National Forest Council, aim to give authorities the flexibility to respond swiftly to climate-driven forest degradation while ensuring long-term ecological protection.
Zambó concluded by stressing that Hungary’s forest governance is transparent, professionally managed, and geared toward sustainability. The involvement of government oversight, forestry experts, and environmental authorities all serve the goal of preserving forests for future generations.
‘Through the work of foresters, we gain climate protection, clean water, biodiversity, noise and dust barriers, recreation, and renewable wood resources,’ he said. ‘We do not destroy our forests—we renew them.’
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Author: Ádám Bráder
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